Welcome to the Oxford University Society of Belgium's first ever debate! 

The debate will take place in the cellar of the Cercle des Voyageurs, a venue located in central Brussels. The event is open to Oxford students, alumni, Cambridge students, alumni, and other persons individually invited. You are invited to bring a partner/friend.

The speakers are:

William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth MEP

William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth is a UKIP member of European Parliament for South West England, elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2014. Although he is Deputy Chairman of the party at present, William has not always been UKIP. Indeed, he sat as a Conservative Peer and was with the Tories until 2007. William is also one of ours, an Oxonion of Eton College, Christ Church, and later Harvard. While at Oxford he was also involved in the Conservative Association and the Oxford Union.

Clare Moody MEP

Clare Moody is a Labour Member of the European Parliament for the South West England, elected in 2014 as the lead candidate on the Labour list. One of the many Labour politicians to show opposition to Jeremy Corbyn, earlier this year she called for the Labour leader to stand down. A strong remain campaigner, she has since been arguing against a UK invocation of Article 50. Clare has been involved in a plethora of sectors: regional officer for Unite the Union in Bournemouth, leading her to work under Gordon Brown in 10 Downing Street; her various roles within the Labour Party both in the UK and abroad; and having stood as Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012. 

Jacqueline Foster MEP

Jacqueline Foster is a Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the North West of England, elected in 1999. She worked in British Airways for 25 years, though her association with the Conservative Party stretches even further, serving at one point as the Vice Chairman of Twickenham Conservative Association, then later she was elected the Deputy Leader of the Conservative delegation of MEPs in 2013 and 2015. She has been a solid Eurosceptic throughout her political career, coming out against Britain joining a single European currency, and tweeting on June 24 “The people have spoken!”, calling Brexit “one of the biggest democratic exercises this country has ever seen”. 

Catherine Stihler MEP

The evening will begin with a dinner, after which our invited guests speakers shall take the floor and present their case. The motion before the house is "This House Believes that Democracy Failed in 2016". The debate will follow a formal structure of two speakers on proposition and two on opposition. Guests attending will also have the opportunity to contribute. 

If you have any questions regarding the nature of the debate or the event itself, please do not hesitate to contact Emily at [email protected]c.uk or Benjamin at [email protected]a.eu.

Tickets include attendance and dinner, and can only be purchased in advance via this website. 

All the best,

Emily Dillistone, Caroline Calomme, Sarah Forest, Ruben Kubiak, Benjamin Hartmann
(Organisation team)