Welcome to CAER.....

CAER will also be in attendance at:

Monday 4th October, 12.30 – 14.00

Who’s Afraid of Electoral Reform? Co-hosted with the Electoral Reform Society

What does voting reform really mean in the UK? The issue of electoral reform has been perhaps one of the most contentious on the Coaltion's agenda and has led to passionate debate from all three main parties. This discussion will seek to address the concerns that have been levied at the proposals for the Alternative Vote.

With all eyes on the upcoming referendum, are there misconceptions surrounding voting reform? What potential is there for AV to be a viable voting method in the UK, and what might a renewed approach to reform look like amongst Conservatives? Looking to Australia, how has the 'preferential vote' served to benefit the centre-right there, and what lessons can be learned from this experience?

Speakers: Mark Harper MP, Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform; David Alexander, Former Adviser to John Howard former PM of Australia; Michael Brown, political commentator for the Independent and former Conservative MP; Phillip Blond, Director, ResPublica; Carina Trimingham, Campaigns Director, Electoral Reform Society (Chair)

Events:

CAER at the Conservative Party Conference

This year's event will discuss the AV referendum and you are most welcome to attend:

Time: 4.30pm

Date: Monday, 4th October

Venue: The Freedom Zone, Austin Court, just outside the main security entrance to the ICC

http://www.austincourt.theiet.org/

Chairman:	Peter Facey, director of Unlock Democracy

Speakers:	Douglas Carswell MP
	John Strafford, Conservative Campaign for Democracy
	Dan Hannan MEP (tbc)
	Ryan Shorthouse, Bright Blue

CAER will also be in attendance at:

Monday 4th October, 12.30 – 14.00

Who’s Afraid of Electoral Reform? Co-hosted with the Electoral Reform Society

Invitation

Wednesday, 21st July 2010

17.00-19.30

Garden, European Parliament Office, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1

A summer party: The Conservatives and electoral reform - an uneasy alliance

Why are we being asked to accept AV or FPTP? Market forces should apply giving the electorate a choice of electoral systems

Following the disastrous election of 1974, electoral reform had many Conservative supporters. Since then, electoral reform has largely been off the Westminster agenda, except for the debates about which PR system to adopt for the assemblies and the European Parliament.

Coalition with the LibDems means that electoral reform is now firmly back on agenda – even though most Conservatives are still silent.

Come and listen to some sensible thinking on the subject and then enjoy a glass of wine and excellent catering in the cool garden of the European Parliament’s London office – before it moves to the old Central Office building in Smith Square this autumn!

Is AV the best system or one cobbled together in a frenzy of coalition bed-making? An electoral system specialist will be on hand to answer your questions to tell you what it means for your seat

Speakers:

Chairman: Peter Kellner, President of YouGov

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP , Vice President, European Parliament

Douglas Carswell MP , co-author of The Plan and director of Direct Democracy

Keith Best, former MP for Ynys Mon and chairman of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform

Ryan Shorthouse of Bright Blue, "Supporting progressive ends based upon Conservative principles."

Peter Kellner Chairman, President of YouGov

RSVP :

Spring Forum

Dr Tim Bale, speaker at the spring forum, considers a hung Parliament and the history of the Conservative Party

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/02/tim-bale-how-the-conservative-party-has-made-the-journey-from-the-political-wilderness-of-the-1990s-.html

Manchester 2009 Conference Events:

This year's www.conservativeelectoralreform.org (CAER) event has a Dragons' Den Democracy theme, loosely based on the TV programme and we are inviting ConHome readers to take part.

Last year's 'Have I Got Seats for You', (also loosely based on the TV programme), included a star line up with two teams testing their knowledge on constitutional matters, electoral reform, international politics and history.

This year, with the MPs' expenses debacle and the all-party view that Parliament needs to be cleaned up, with the threat of constitutional change being thrust upon us by a desperate Prime Minister, CAER will be staging one of its memorable and fun fringes challenging the status quo of our democracy.

MPs, journalists and activists will pitch their ideas to a panel of constitutional affairs experts and judged by the panel and audience, concentrating on Parliament, the EU and Lords Reform.

ConHome pitchers should outline their ideas in no more than 400 words with the following three titles: Reform of the Lords, Reform of the EU, Reform of Parliament. The best will be chosen to pitch to our panel of experts. Please ensure that you have a conference pass for the secure area and are available on the event day.

Please send your entries to:

Janice4batley@aol.com

Dragons and pitchers include:

Eleanor Laing MP, shadow justice minister

Matthew Elliott, The Taxpayers' Alliance

Peter Facey, Unlock Democracy,

Anthony Barnett, Our Kingdom,

Jonathan Isaby, ConHome

Philip Blond, the 'Red Tory', Respublica

John Strafford, Conservative Campaign for Democracy

Douglas Carswell MP, author of The Plan and autumn Bill for Open Primaries

Michael White of The Guardian

Dr Ken Ritchie, CE Electoral Reform Society

Lewis Baston, joint author of The Political Map of Britain

Oliver Rowlinson, Member UK Youth Parliament

Donal Blaney, Young Britons’ Foundation

Event details:

Date: Wednesday, 7th October
Time: 12-30-2pm
Venue: Manchester Central, Exchange Room 2 (secure area)