New Politics Society Executive: What does the future hold for the Lancaster Union?

As the Lancaster University Politics Society (LUPS) elected its new executive committee last week, we wanted to reflect on the inaugural meeting of the Lancaster Union last term and what the future holds for the concept.

On Monday the 24th of March, LUPS met in the Great Hall to hold the inaugural debate of the Lancaster Union, a concept modelled on other university unions, such as the Oxford Union and Cambridge Union, which hold regular debates with subject experts to hold debates in a formal setting, with many speakers wearing black-tie and meeting in grand halls and debate chambers.

The inaugural debate concerned the motion “This house believes that socialism works”. The proposition speakers were Jez McGurk, Professor Dr. Gavin Hyman, Pavol Potocar and Daniel Alexander. The opposition speakers were Connor Winter, Christian Merritt, Joseph Baxter and Ben Perkins. Most speakers held positions within political societies on campus or the politics society, with Gavin Hyman appearing as the only university lecturer to speak at the event. Dr. Hyman teaches philosophy at Lancaster University and has written on socialist thought within Britian and the British Labour Party, most recently through his work with Mark Garnett and Richard Johnson, Keeping the Red Flag Flying: The Labour Party in Opposition since 1922.

Speakers had 10 minutes to make their speeches, after which audience members could ask questions, and following the main speeches there were more audience questions. Various ideas were discussed, including the definition of what constitutes socialism, Marxism, economics, public healthcare and the human rights violations that have taken place in socialist countries.

Despite being the first event, it was well attended by more than 60 people. In a vote after the debate, 32 members of the audience voted for the proposition, 15 voted for the opposition. Regarding the debate, Connor Winter, then-General Secretary of Politics Society, Chairman of the Lancaster University Conservative Society, and the opening speaker for the opposition said: “It was a pleasure to be a part of the Lancaster Union's inaugural event. The executive team of the Politics Society was especially impressed with the attendance and the performances from both sides, and we would love to host a similar event next year! Though, at times, the debate did veer off topic so we will try to moderate it more closely in future. Huge thanks to everyone who participated!”

Attendees were encouraged to wear black tie, and the event, which started at 7pm continued until 10, with a short intermission. We wonder whether the new Politics Society will continue to hold future Lancaster Union events, and what the future holds for the concept.