Speaking in Oxford

Go to Oxford on Thursday evening to address Oxford University Liberal Democrats. Confess to them that this is my old stomping ground (Ox Poly!) and where I took my first political steps – both campaigning to save art and stop the poly becoming a University (we won – but as Oxford Brookes now clearly exists – only temporarily) and also marched against ‘Maggie Thatcher – Union Snatcher’ when Maggie was Education Minister trying to take away student unions. I even threw flour-bags at her effigy – street cred or what? Another campaign, which, although it worked in the short-run – Student Unions were saved – ultimately failed to dent her passage to Prime Ministerial greatness. Oh well.

I used the bulk of my speech to meander through the ills of modern society and more pointedly – the ills of the Labour Government and its mantra of over-controlled micro-management of public services, onslaught on civil liberties and put forward my strategy for winning seats at the next general election. Had a really enjoyable discussion afterwards – and it all seemed to go well – and then back to London by around 1am.