Previous Events

Polly Toynbee, Columnist and commentator, The Guardian
Anthony Seldon, Author, Blair
John McFall MP, Chair, Treasury Select Committee
Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Minister for police reform
John Prideaux, Economist (chair)

Tony Blair has transformed British politics, changing the Labour Party from a perennial loser into a formidable general election-winning machine. But what will his legacy in government be? Were the hopes of 1997 - economic stability, higher levels of spending on public services and cleaner politics - fulfilled? The economy has grown steadily since 1997 and spending on public services has shot up. But has Tony Blair's government paid too much for too little? Is British politics now cleaner than it was nine years ago? And will Tony Blair be remembered for a huge redistribution of wealth shifting Britain decisively to the left? Or as the prime minister who invaded Iraq and pushed through 'Tory' reforms?

Over a billion people lack access to clean and safe water – most of whom live in poor countries. Every year, 3 million children die from water borne diseases. As if this wasn’t enough, water shortage hampers the growth of industry and agriculture which is so crucial for development and the elimination of poverty.

98% of the water supply in poor nations is controlled by public institutions. Unfortunately, this translates into gross inefficiency in the management and delivery of water, a distinct lack of property rights and pricing which is politically motivated.

There is, however, hope. Increasingly, markets are operating with more room for private initiatives, some of which have delivered striking results.

Fredrik Segerfeldt author of Water for Sale (Cato Institute, 2005) will discuss the challenges and benefits of private water management, with a comment by Gérard Payen of AQUAFED.

Is Russia's energy policy a sinister attempt to recreate its old sphere of influence - or even empire - using pipelines instead of tanks? Or is it an overdue, and justifiable, attempt to put relations with its former satellites on a businesslike footing? Should Russia be criticised for a communist-era hangover in its energy policy or praised for behaving like real capitalists. Are western critics of Russia being hypocritical, hysterical or just prudent?

Chair: Edward Lucas, The Economist.

This event will take place from 7pm -8pm (cocktails to follow) on 25 April at the Hotel Amigo.

Is free trade the only way of raising people in the developing world out of poverty? Could protectionism for poorer countries be an effective tool to level the global playing field? Or would this just lead to unsustainable economic policies as each nation retreats into isolationism? Would the comprehensive removal of international trade barriers improve the lives of people in the poorest countries? Or should we be considering less uniform policies that genuinely work in the interests of all?

Health care education is the consumer's Rosetta Stone. Public policy institutes, pharmaceutical companies, health care professionals and patient advocates, along with government must be allied in the drive to deliver information to patients, for it is, ultimately, about saving lives and saving our health care systems.

Moreover, increasing information to patients will improve disease awareness and aid in defeating patient non-compliance estimated to cost billions of euros a year in increased emergency room visits, unnecessary surgeries, expensive hospital stays, and lost productivity.

Yet, which kind of reform is needed is hotly debated. Should pay-as-you-go systems be tweaked only slightly? Is there a role for the market in providing pensions? If so, how extensive should that role be? What are the benefits to the citizen? To the government? What can be learned from countries that have already reformed? Is the Chilean model suitable for the ailing systems in Europe? Or is the Swedish approach to reform more appropriate?