4th March: Michael Foster MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities

'Equality: What it Means for You.'

Canterbury Christ Church University's series of political debates continues with Mr Michael Foster MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities.

Mr Foster's talk on Thursday 4th March is the fourth in a series of
public debates which have featured the PPCs and the current MP for Canterbury and Whitstable. It is part of the 'Making Politics Matter' campaign, in which well known local and national politicians discuss key issues and encourage public debate.

Mr Foster's talk is entitled 'Equality: What it means for you'. Dr David Bates, Programme Director of Politics and International Relations stated: 'The issue of equality is going to be central to the upcoming General Election. We look forward to hearing what Michael Foster has to say about what is a highly contested topic.'
James Dee, President of the 'Making Politics Matter' Initiative, said: 'We are very fortunate to have such a well regarded politician to come to Canterbury Christ Church and give a talk on a topic that has such importance to people from all walks of life. It is going to be an informative, lively and stimulating evening for all'.

The debate will begin at 7pm, at the University's Old Sessions House lecture theatre, North Holmes Rd, Canterbury, and is open to all.

About Michael Foster
Michael Foster was first elected as Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye on the 1st of May 1997. He was appointed Government Minister for Equalities in June 2009.
Born and educated in Hastings he married his wife, Rosemary, in 1969. They have two sons, five grandchildren, and live in Wishing Tree Road, St Leonards on Sea. A lifetime member of the Labour Party, he joined whilst still at school, and has been active in Local Government for over 30 years. Michael Foster was Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for the Hastings Constituency in the 1970s but did not stand again for Parliament until his successful bid in 1997. He retained the seat of Hastings and Rye in the General Election of June 2001 (with an increased majority) and again in 2005.
He is a Solicitor by profession and an Employment Law Specialist holding a Master of Laws Degree in Employment Law. He is a member of the Society of Labour Lawyers, the Christian Socialist Movement, the Fabian Society and Park Road Methodist Church in
St Leonards.
In terms of a Parliamentary career Michael Foster was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General from 1997 to 2003 when he resigned as a result of the Iraq conflict. He also served on the Select Committee for Standards and Privileges from 1997 to 2003 and was appointed in 2005 to the Select Committee on Works and Pensions. In the June 2009 reshuffle he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities.
He takes a special interest in Poverty issues, Equality issues, Animal Welfare and Climate Change. He was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the County in 1993, one of the
youngest appointed at that time.

17th March 2010: ESRC – Making Politics Matter

ESRC – MAKING POLITICS MATTER
Crunch or crisis?

Turbulent times for the British economy

How serious was the recent economic crisis?
How did it come about?
With Britain’s recession apparently at an end, is this crisis really over?
How are we likely to feel its effects in the future?

Come along and participate in this debate, which will bring together the general public, social scientists, and those ‘in the know’.



Part 1: What can social science tell us about the financial crisis?


Dr Gioia Pescetto (Dean, Faculty of Business and Management, Canterbury Christ Church University)

The recent crisis was not merely the consequence of market failure, but rather of systemic failure. This talk will maintain that risk is central to an effectively functioning financial system, but that such risk needs to be managed.


Professor Chris Pickvance (Professor of Urban Studies, University of Kent)

Effective reform to the economic system can only be achieved if the current capture of government and regulators by the banking industry is challenged. For reform to be a success, a widespread public debate is required.



Part 2: Voices from the public and private sectors


Richard Ascough (Secretary of the GMB Southern Region)

A key argument will be that public service workers ought not to have to suffer for an economic crisis that was not their making. Why should the tax payers take the pain, while the bankers take the gain?


Roger House (Chair, Federation of Small Business, South Eastern Policy Unit)

It will be argued that small businesses – and particularly ‘micro-businesses’ are essential to the recovery of the British economy. Accordingly, government ought not to stifle these small businesses with time-consuming, costly bureaucracy.



Thursday 17 March 2010
7pm-9pm

Augustine Hall
Augustine House
Canterbury Christ Church University
CT1 2YA

Refreshments provided

No need to book. Everybody welcome.

This event is part of the Economic and Social Research Council Festival of Social Science and the Making Politics Matter initiative at Canterbury Christ Church University

26th February 2010: 'Have Your Say' Jean Samuel

Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Canterbury and Whitstable addresses ‘Making Politics Matter’

Jean Samuel, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Canterbury and Whitstable will give a public talk on Friday 26 February, 7pm as part of the Making Politics Matter initiative at Canterbury Chris Church University. Jean Samuel’s talk is entitled:


'Rights and Benefits of holding Personal Data– Balancing the Individual and Society'


From our DNA to our health records; from our credit rating to our party going the capacity to record, store use and share personal data is phenomenal. The mechanisms for regulating it lag behind.

Are you in control of your personal data?

Why would you ever share it - it's yours isn't it?

But if it can help you and others, why would you not?



Dr David Bates, Programme Director of Politics and International Relations at the University said: ‘We are delighted that Jean Samuel will be giving this talk at Making Politics Matter. This is clearly one of the most topical and contentious issues of our time – we look forward to hearing Jean Samuel’s views, and crucially, the views of the public.’


The event will begin at 7pm on Friday 26 February Old Sessions House, Longport, Canterbury Campus.


About Jean Samuel
Jean is Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate and is looking forward to fighting the seat in the next General Election.
She has lived in Whitstable with her husband since 1989 and her three children attended the local state primary school. Two are now in secondary education in Canterbury and the eldest is at university. Jean’s mother shared the family home until her recent death.
Jean has always worked, full or part time, and appreciates the challenges of being a good Mum, getting the best from child care while delivering at work. Jean has been school governor at three schools.
She started her career in the BBC’s archives in London then moved to work at Pfizer in Sandwich. More recently she has set up her own business as an Interim Manager. She is currently working for Schering-Plough She has also been Executive Director of a small local company specialising in information management.
Jean has been an active member of the Labour Party for over 20 years and at the BBC was ‘shop steward’ for her union branch and was active at Union conferences.
Jean’s late father was in the RAF for many years and she grew up in forces’ housing and her family routinely moved around the UK and she went to six different schools. The fifth of six children, she was a beneficiary of school meals, a state education and, later, a University grant. As a new member of the work force in London in the 1980s she lived in and helped run a Housing Co-operative in Deptford where housing issues sharpened her growing sense of social justice and what happens when people do not know their rights.
This background drives her political philosophy of balancing rights with responsibilities while supporting people to succeed by hard work and on merit. She is committed to Labour's goal ' to put power, wealth and opportunity in the hands of the many, not the few.'