BIG unequal?

Our man on the scene said...

"Points for and against the Big Society initiative were keenly argued by academic staff from the University of Portsmouth in a public debate held on Monday. (October 15)

The Oxford Union-style debate was on the motion: “This house believes that the Big Society initiative will lead to a more unequal society.”

Professor Dan Finn and David Carpenter spoke for the motion, while Dr Paul McVeigh and Dr Nancy North spoke against it.

Before the start of the debate 55 of those attending indicated they were for the motion and 25 indicated they were against it.

Following the debate, and comments from the floor, a concluding vote showed that 65 were for the motion and 32 against.

The debate, which was held at a lecture theatre in the university’s St Michael’s Building, attracted a large audience and is one of a number of events organised for Portsmouth Local Democracy Week 2010."

So what did you think?

Democracy??? What's that?

This week is Local Democracy Week 2010 and we have planned a range of activities and events to get you thinking about politics and government- more importantly how you can influence it!!

The sharp eyed amongst you will have already noticed our ten objects- drawn from the city museum archive. They are a quirky collection so get your thinking caps on. We have just posted the details on the first two. We wanted to pick things that you could go and see in person and also that drew parallels with today's politics. As we press on at the council with canvassing for the electoral register, the poll book is a handy reminder of how the franchise has changed, whilst "The Battle of Southsea" raises a number of questions about the use of public space, the right to protest, let alone how to respond!