The former deputy prime minister, Lord Heseltine, will launch a week-long policy summit at the University of Manchester with a public address on devolution, deprivation and aspiration.
Heseltine, who served as secretary of state in both the Thatcher and Major governments, will open a five day programme, also featuring Newsnight presenter Evan Davis and some of Britain’s leading academics and politicians, aimed at shaping the national debate and showcasing the University’s place at the policy table.
Lord Heseltine is a long-standing champion of cities and the regions. His government-commissioned review No Stone Unturned: in pursuit of growth, published in 2012, highlighted the need to boost growth outside London and decentralise public spending.
He was also involved in the launch of the recent City Growth Commission. He will speak further on the topic of devolution at Policy Week.
The annual series of public lectures, debates and workshops, this year entitled ‘Addressing Inequalities’, is hosted by policy@manchester which works to mobilise the University’s tremendous resource of knowledge to influence all areas of policy-making, from health, education and welfare to climate change and employment.
Speakers will include many of the University’s leading experts, including Prof David Hulme, Professor of Development Studies and Executive Director of the Brooks World Poverty Institute, shadow cabinet members Alison McGovern MP and Lucy Powell MP, Prof Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford and author of The Great Housing Disaster and Prof Kate Pickett, author of The Spirit Level and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York.
Prof Colin Talbot, director of policy@manchester, said: “Manchester Policy Week brings our expert academics together with those involved in shaping policy – and those people at the receiving end – to debate the pressing issues of our time.
“We have one of the largest and best concentrations of academics doing policy-relevant research in the UK and internationally. Policy Week gives us the chance to showcase and share our great breadth and depth of expertise.”
Lord Heseltine will gives a 45 minute opening address at Manchester Town Hall, on Monday 3 November, to an audience of 200. The event is open to the public but booking is required.
On Friday 7 November, the BBC’s Evan Davis will host ‘The big debate: what should we do about inequality?’ featuring politicians from the three main political parties.
Themed days will address health, education and urban policy inequalities. Discussions also include:
– Transatlantic trade and investment partnership. Cash bonanza or risky deal? Tuesday 4 November, 7pm
– A seat at the table is not enough: National and international perspectives on gender. Friday 7 November, 11.30am
– ‘They spend it all on booze and fags!’ Debunking misconceptions of welfare spending in the UK and around the world. Friday 7 November, 3.30pm
Policy Week is a flagship initiative of policy@manchester, an initiative to showcase the great contribution of Manchester researchers to the development of public policy in the UK and internationally.
All events are free to the public and all those with an interest in policy. Events take place on the University campus and in Manchester city centre and run from 3 November 2014 to 7 November 2014.
Tickets and the full programme are available from www.manchester.ac.uk/policy/week
