News and Events

Big Tent digital Meet the Leaders with Sally, Baroness Morgan of Huyton and George Freeman MP, 21st September 2020

This is the first of many digital events exclusively available to Patrons, Friends and Sponsors; if you would like details of future Foundation events please email georgie@bigtent.org.uk

The Foundation Board believes that whilst the Big Tent was triggered as a response to the political crisis of binary extremism following the EU Referendum, events of the last four years have served to highlight the ongoing and deepening need for the Big Tent core mission: creating a forum to resist the lazy dog-whistle politics of destructive extremism for a more inspiring, positive, challenging politics of bold reform – locally and nationally – to unleash the energy of a New Generation.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Meet the Leaders with Charles Clarke, former Home Secretary and co-author of The University Challenge at The Fox Club, June 23rd 2020

Postponed until further notice

It is regrettably difficult for us to make firm plans for physical events going forward. When government guidelines allow us to proceed, this promises to be a fascinating evening with Charles Clarke. Invitations will be dispatched when we have a new date and we’re confident that it can go ahead. The evening is being generously donated by John Kinder and will include wine and canapés.

If you would like to receive an invitation to this and other subscription only events please join the Big Tent as a Patron or Friend

We shall be organising these informal salons both digitally and physically over the coming months, with speakers from across the political spectrum.

Please contact georgie@bigtent.org.uk for more information.

Meet the Leaders with the Rt Hon Penny Mordant MP and George Freeman MP, February 2020

After a series of highly stimulating Meet the Leaders in 2019, Rt. Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, former Secretary of State for Defence and George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, (and founder of the Big Tent) joined over fifty of us on February 11th for our first post election, 2020 Meet the Leaders evening, kindly hosted by Susan Walton and David Hawkins.

Meet the Leaders with Baroness Morgan of Cotes and Polly Mackenzie, CEO Demos, November 2019

A brilliant evening kindly hosted by Susan Walton and David Hawkins in London. Approximately 30 of us gathered to listen to Nicky’s insights into life in politics first as Education Secretary and then Culture Secretary with Polly fielding questions.

 

Meet the Leaders with the Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, November 2019

Jesse’s audience were thorough in their questioning – the conversation was wide-ranging with a bias towards questions which drew on his experience as Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Big Tent thanks Oliver Pawle and Korn Ferry for their support and generosity in hosting the event.

Meet the Leaders with the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and George Freeman MP

The evening was held during the Summer 2019 Conservative leadership campaign giving a select group of Big Tent Patrons and Friends an opportunity to examine Michael’s beliefs and policies. The evening was generously hosted by Dimitris Panagopoulos in Central London.

 

 

Big Tent held its second annual Leaders’ Summit at the end of October, kindly hosted by KPMG.

It brought together over 100 of the UK’s most senior sector and business leaders, journalists and politicians to discuss what’s next for democracy, navigating politics in a digital age, how we can make politics feel truly UK-wide and much more. We were joined by a superb array of speakers including the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP, Julia Hobsbawm OBE, Sir Craig Oliver, Dr Yasmin Fitzpatrick, Matthew D’Ancona and many others.