Events, events, events: Fabians look east and north

I am speaking at a Fabian Eastern Region conference today, being held in Cambridge, which has a strong line-up of speakers to lead discussion of how how Labour can reconnect in the South and East, and the response to public spending cuts. Tickets are £10, including lunch. The full agenda is below. I hope to be able to tweet some reaction at @nextleft.

In Rotherham in a fortnight's time, on Saturday 19th March a northern conference '31 '51 '81: why did Labour stay in opposition sees a very strong line-up of historians, commentators and politicans look at the lessons from history - including an intriguing session with David Owen in conversation with Gerald Kaufman. The event is held in association with Unite, Tribune and Progress as well as the Fabians. It is necessary to book tickets, which are £10 or £2 concessions.

Here's todays agenda. More Fabian local society events taking place this month are listed below too.

Next Left – Creating an Alternative
Alex Wood Hall, Cambridge. 5 March 2011


AGENDA

9.30 – 10.00 Registration and Coffee

10.00 Welcome and Introduction
Brian Keegan

10.00 – 10.45. Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms MP

10.45 – 12.00. ‘Southern Discomfort Again?’
Patrick Diamond
Daniel Zeichner
Sara Ibrahim
Chair: Brian Keegan

12.00 – 1.00 Lunch


1.00 – 2.30 ‘Fairness After the Cuts ’
Cllr Sandy Martin
Professor Mary Evans
Sunder Katwala
Richard Howitt MEP
Chair: Anne Campbell

2.30: Discussion of creating a Cambridge Fabian Society.

Here are some of the other Fabian Local Society events taking place this month.

10th March, 7.30pm Warwickshire - Colin Crouch on The Strange Death of Neo-Liberalism. 7.30pm, Friends Meeting House, 28 Regent Place, Rugby. Contact: ben_ferrett@hotmail.com

11th March, 8pm Brighton - Alternative Vote with Malcolm Wicks. Community Base, 115 Queens Road Brighton. Contact: mairemcqueeney@waitrose.com

24th March, Reading - Alternative Vote, with Yes and No speakers. Contact: tonyskuse2000@yahoo.co.uk

25th March, 8pm Peterborough - Lord Desai on “The disadvantaged – Must they fail?”, Ramada Hotel, Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough. Further details from Brian Keegan, brian@briankeegan.demon.co.uk

25th March, 7.30pm Bournemouth - Jim Knight, Lord Knight of Weymouth, on Can Education be redesigned to increase social mobility?, The Friends Meeting House, Wharncliffe Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth.

25th March, 8pm, Brighton - The local government campaign, with Cllr Gill Mitchell, Shadow Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council. Venue: Community Base, 115 Queens Road Brighton. Contact: mairemcqueeney@waitrose.com

30th March, 8pm South-East London - Barry Gardiner MP on “How sustainable is the Labour Party?”, plus AGM. 105 Court Lane, Dulwich, SE21 7EE. Details from Duncan Bowie, duncanbowie@yahoo.co.uk

If you're also running a local Fabian event you'd like us to flag up here on the blog, do let us know in the comments or by email. If you'd like more information on Fabian Local Societies, see the online contacts list or contact Local Societies officer Deborah Stoate on debstoate@hotmail.com