BCC to host authentic, open debate on the future of British business
12/03/10 | 15:21
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, today welcomed the news that Lord Mandelson and Ken Clarke had agreed terms for their debate next Thursday at the BCC Annual Conference: ‘Preparing for Change’.
David said: “At 12.45 on Thursday 18 March, voters will finally get a chance to see two of the biggest players in British politics debate the future of UK business in an unrehearsed, authentic and open fashion.
“Unlike the debates arranged by the party leaders, our conference session: ‘Who should business vote for in 2010?’ has no strict rules, no coaches and no rehearsed sound bites. Lord Mandelson and Ken Clarke are going to have to make their case in a straightforward and spontaneous way, by answering direct questions from amongst the BCC’s 100,000 members who represent five million employees.
“Jon Sopel, one of our most experienced journalists, will be there to ensure fair play. If you have a stake in the future of British business I encourage you to watch the BCC Business Debate - you will not be disappointed.”
For more information on the conference programme and for a full list of speakers, please visit www.bcc-preparingforchange.co.uk.
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Media Contact:
Sam Turvey
Tel: 020 7654 5813
Email: s.turvey@britishchambers.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
For media accreditation or interview bids please contact the BCC press office on 020 7654 5813 or 07825 746812.
The conference opens at 12.30pm with a keynote speech by David Frost, and takes place at Bafta (195 Piccadilly).
Given the limited amount of space for cameras, Sky News will provide a pool feed of David Frost’s speech and the Mandelson/Clarke debate. The feed will be available from 12.15-14.00 via local end booking. Interested broadcasters should contact Sky’s satellite operations planning on 020 7585 4417 for the local end. Other broadcasters are encouraged to bring their own camera for any interviews or filming after 14.00.
Directions and venue information: http://www.bafta.org/195-piccadilly
An evening reception will also be held at Bafta from 17.30-20.00, which the media are more than welcome to attend. The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, will speak at the reception.
If you can’t make the conference in person, why not watch it online with BCC TV? Click on the link for more - http://www.bcc-preparingforchange.co.uk/?page_id=202
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the National Voice of Local Business.
The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.