Friday 24th February 2017, 1-8 pm – The Guildhall, Cambridge
This is an open event, and those attending will include representatives from the local business community, Universities, the public sector and community groups. The aim is to move beyond the Remain/Leave question and start a new conversation on ‘where do we go from here?
Attendance is free, but attendees must register via Eventbrite here
The afternoon’s discussion will feed into the Cambridge Brexit Report, whose preparation is being led by policy teams from The Wilberforce Society, and which will be published on Monday 20th March 2017.
Davide Martino, of Cambridge for Europe, says: “'The question on the ballot paper last June was extremely broad, and with this conference we are trying to give it a bit more substance. The country decided to leave the European Union, but even the government seems unsure just how to go about doing so. We will be opening up the question to the whole Cambridge community, whether they voted Remain, Leave, or not at all in the Referendum. We have been working hard to create a format which would be as inclusive and open as possible, and we hope that our roundtables, moderated by volunteer local residents, will provide an accessible and stimulating platform for discussion among all who attend the event.”
Matteo Mirolo, speaking on behalf of the Cambridge University European Society, adds: “As the Cambridge University European Society, we seek to reflect Cambridge’s diversity and to be welcoming and inclusive. Working with our partners, we aim for this conference to bridge the different communities and perspectives across Cambridge and offer an opportunity to come together to discuss our post-Brexit future. What issues are most important for the people of Cambridge and what would you like the government to prioritise during the negotiations? We look forward to examining these questions at our conference!”
The agenda for the conference is:
Community Panels: 1:20–3:20 pm
An opportunity to hear from local residents and The Wilberforce Society policy teams about the potential impact and opportunities of Brexit on the economy, agricultural policy, the UK's different regions, the pharmaceutical industry, universities, and our human rights.
The panels will be divided by topic, and run in two separate rooms (Council Chamber and Large Hall):
1:20 - 2pm Economy / Pharmaceutical Industry
2 – 2:40pm Regions & Devolution / Education & Research
2:40 – 3:20 pm Agricultural Policy / Human Rights & constitutional Implications
Keynote Discussion: 3:50–4:30 pm
Large Hall, Cambridge Guildhall
A lively discussion on the future of the Greater Cambridge community and the rest of the UK as negotiations to leave the EU begin. Participants will include Andrew Atter, founder and Chief Executive of Pivomo, Prof Iain Martin, VC of Anglia Ruskin University; Francoise Lefevre, a partner at Linklaters; and Dr Victoria Bateman, Lecturer in Economics
Roundtable Discussions: 5–7.30 pm
Large Hall, Cambridge Guildhall
A chance for you to discuss what really matters to our community, and what direction the negotiations to leave the EU should take. Introduced by Daniel Zeichner MP, and moderated by a range of local residents and students.
There will be 26 moderated roundtable discussions, each of which will focus on one of 13 specific themes ranging from the economy to immigration, and from the environment to the NHS. All ten people on each table will be encouraged to contribute, so as to single out the priorities which matter most to the Greater Cambridge community, and to sketch out some negotiations outcomes likely to benefit, or to impact negatively, on us.
19:30-20:00: Closing statements
Large Hall, Cambridge Guildhall
Conference - Cambridge and Brexit: Discussing our Future
The Conference is led by Cambridge University student organisations, which aim to build on the legacy of the local cross-party Remain to promote dialogue within the Greater Cambridge community on European themes. In addition to the Conference, students are being trained to go into local schools and sixth-form colleges to talk about Europe: the EU, Brexit, and also the cultural, linguistic, or culinary diversity that makes our continent rich.
Cambridge Brexit Report
The Cambridge Brexit Report is a first attempt at mapping the future of Cambridge after Brexit, and is being prepared by teams of editors which include local residents, academics, entrepreneurs, students, politicians, and other members of the Cambridge community. These will be complemented by the Conference’s proceedings and conclusions, particularly the output of the Roundtable discussions.
The Wilberforce Society
The Wilberforce Society is the first student-run political think tank to have been established in the UK, based at Cambridge University. We facilitate a unique, mutually beneficial dialogue between Cambridge students and national policymakers, across all areas of public policy, from the domestic to the foreign, from the social to the economic.
We operate like any other such organisation but have no political affiliation, incorporating the wide range of views of students at the University of Cambridge. We work to produce practical yet innovative proposals with their viability and consequences always in mind. Unlike most student political organisations, we avoid ideological battle and focus on creative solutions to real world problems. http://thewilberforcesociety.co.uk/
Cambridge University European Society
The Cambridge University European Society is a pro-European organisation and the Cambridge branch of the Young European Movement UK. We are a platform for those of all European nations – inside and outside the EU – and those interested in all things continental.
CUEUS is run by students and is open to all at Cambridge University of any political stance, whether for or against Europe. We offer a range of events, from socials and formals to debates and discussions, aiming to provide a warm and enjoyable experience for our members whilst encouraging people to consider and develop their opinions of Europe.
Membership of the Society brings automatic membership of the Young European Movement and the Young European Federalists, detailed below. In short, joining CUEUS means discovering a range of European events and Cambridge students during the term, and improving skills, meeting new Europeans, and travelling Europe during the vacations! http://cueus.yem.org.uk/
Cambridge for Europe
Cambridge for Europe is the local campaign to ensure that people in Cambridge and its wider region fully understand the arguments for continued membership of the European Union and how important the issue is to them as individuals, their families, and their communities. We bring together the people of Cambridge from a wide range of organisations. Although some of the campaign leaders are engaged with political parties, we are not a party political body. http://www.cambridgeforeurope.co.uk/