Building Blocs : A day of ideas to dismantle the Blue Wall – Lewes, Sussex.

The ‘blue wall’, previously safe Tory seats where despite losing in 2019 Labour, and the Liberal Democrats, did proportionately better than elsewhere. Heavily concentrated in the South East these will be a key battleground towards ensuring Rishi Sunak leads his party to defeat at the next General Election

This will be a day of big ideas towards dismantling the Blue Wall. Featuring key figures in the fields of voting behaviour, progressive patriotism, the competing attractions of the radical and the moderate, co-operation between opposition parties. Four big questions, some answers, prepare to be informed, intrigued and inspired.

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Opening session

How blue is the Blue Wall in 2022?

Tim Bale co-author The British General Election of 2019 . Tim is a frequent contributor to a range of publications including The Observer and Financial Times .

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Discussion

Carry on England, or can the progressive and the patriotic ever be reconciled?

Introduced by John Denham Labour MP Southampton Itchen 1992-2015, a former Labour Minister and currently Director The Centre for English Identity and Politics.

Panellists

Gerry Hassan one of Scotland’s leading political commentators, a regular contributor to The National and Scottish Review Gerry’s latest book is Scotland Rising : The Case for Independence.

Kojo Koram writes on issues of race and empire for a range of publications including the Guardian and Tribune, Kojo is the author Uncommon Wealth : Britain and the Aftermath of Empire.

Vron Ware in her book Return of a Native : Learning from the Land Vron combines writing on race, colonialism and feminism with insights stretching from the parish to the distant horizon and topics ranging from Brexit to eco-politics.

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An exchange

Sweet Moderation or Bitter Disappointment?

In conversation

Adrienne Buller and Mathew Lawrence Adrienne is Director of Research and Mathew Founder and Director ofThe Commonwealth, a thinktank that designs ownership models for a democratic and sustainable economy, Adrienne and Mathrew are the co-authors Owning the Future : Power and Property in an Age of Crisis.

Jonathan Freedland columnist the Guardian and presenter Radio 4’s The Long View.. `In 2022 Jonathan’s play Jews.In Their Own Words took the stage at The Royal Court and his latest book The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Tell the World was published..

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Closing Roundtable

How to Builid a Bloc to Dismantle the Blue Wall

Introduced by Clive Lewis Labour MP for Norwich South since 2015 and a candidate in the 2020 Labour Leadership election. Clive is a key figure in the Compass campaign Win as One for electoral co-operation berween the opposition parties.

Discussants

Beccy Cooper Labour leader Worthing Borough Council , Labour PPC Worthing West 2017, 2019 General Elections

Kate Chappell Chair Lewes Labour Campaigns committee, Labour PPC Lewes 2019 General Election

Nancy Platts Co-ordnator Politics for the Many the trade union campaign for proportional representation, Brighton and Hove Labour city councillor, Labour PPC Brighton Kemptown 2015 General Election

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In between, lunch, tea, coffee and cake at our very own Keir Hardie Café visit our pop-up Ideas Market featuring an extensively stocked bookshop including book signings with all our author-speakers. And then join us for afters at the historic Lewes Arms.

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All welcome

Tickets If you can please purchase a solidarity rate ticket, the extra helps us offer the low-price standard tickets.

Our events invariably sell out, we strongly advise booking early to avoid disappointment.

Presented by Lewes Constituency Labour Party in association with ASLEF and Unite the Union South East Region