Following two hours of persuasive views on both proposing and opposing sides, as well as heart-felt contributions from the audience made up of leading members of the business community from across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, the majority voted decisively against the motion.
It was concluded that a vibrant East Anglia does not need full economic devolution by 74 ‘Nos’ to 23 ‘Ayes’.
Lord Norman Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and one-time President of the Cambridge Union, made for a perfect speaker of the house to moderate and control six debaters, senior business experts chosen for their keen interest in the future success of East Anglia, on the evening. These speakers included:
Dr Nik Johnson – recently elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Doug Field OBE – Joint CEO of East of England Co-operative and former Chair of the New Anglia LEP
Iain Wright – Managing Director, Reputation & Influence, ICAEW
Fiona McGonigle – Business Engagement and Innovation Lead for Anglia Ruskin University Peterborough and Director of Workforce Transformation Solutions Ltd
Laragh Jeanroy, Managing Partner, East Anglia at RSM and past president of ICAEW East Anglia
Catherine Stewart, Trustee, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
Event organiser Gareth John, Council Member of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) and Chief Executive of local accountancy training provider First Intuition, comments on why debate is so important: "For me the specific motion chosen wasn’t really the point. The point was the debate itself…the exercise of free speech, the exchange of ideas, the willingness to listen to opposing views and contrary opinions. After listening to each debater, I myself ended up voting against my original position.”
Positive feedback quotes from some of the many attendees:
Lizzie Bradbury, Marketing Manager at COEL – “So much tradition and history in this beautiful building, and the debate itself took on a theatrical flow. One character stole the show with his calm and authoritative presence; the one and only Lord Lamont. An excellent evening with enlightening and thought-provoking comments.
Nick Heath, Trustee at Cambridge Union Society “Thanks for arranging the excellent debate, it worked well, so much better than a zoom conference. I was delighted to see the CUS space being used, in the past it has been something of a ‘hidden treasure’.”
Harriet Panter, Financial Controller at Newmarket Equine Hospital – “I thought the debate was an excellent event; a historical moment actually, having the privilege of witnessing something so momentous. I found myself engaged interested and dare I say it…laughing!”
Doug Field OBE, Joint Chief Executive of East of England Co-operative “Despite being on the losing side of the debate I really enjoyed the experience of debating in the Cambridge Union – so much history!”
Tim Howes, Client Director at First Intuition – “What a tremendous evening in such an iconic venue with so many articulate and intelligent people, I felt somewhat dumbstruck.”