Following the recent cinema release of The Iron Lady, Northern Ireland Conservative Future (NICF) and Queen’s University Belfast Conservative Future (QUB CF) held their inaugural debate in the Students’ Union of Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday 7th February
The debate, which was attended by over 30 people, spanning all ages and political persuasions, was an opportunity to evaluate the considerable legacy of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving modern Prime Minister and, to date, its only woman PM, and to consider its relevance today.
Dean Russell, Down Conservative Future Deputy Chairman, and Conal O’Hare, QUB CF Chairman, defended Thatcher’s policies and enduring achievements, from rescuing the British economy and society from inevitable decline to restoring Britain’s place in the world.
Speaking against her legacy were Ed Simpson, the Green Party’s North Down Constituency Office Manager, and Boyd Black, the N. Ireland Labour Party’s General Secretary.
They highlighted Thatcher’s record on social housing, social mobility, the negative effects of her economic policies and the consequences of the miners’ strike.
However, the general consensus from the debate was that Thatcher’s transformative policies, strong leadership and promotion of individual liberty and responsibility radically changed the relationship between the individual and the state and made Britain a more confident, prosperous and aspiring country.
After the debate, Dean Russell said, “Tonight’s debate proves that there is a real appetite in our community, from people of all ages, to discuss national politics - past, present and future. I would therefore encourage young people, in particular, who are turned off by what passes for political debate at Stormont, to come to upcoming Conservative Future debates as we seek to offer a growing political voice to the post-ceasefire generation.”
Speaking on behalf of Conservative students at Queen’s University Belfast, Conal O’Hare said, “I am excited about the prospects for Conservative Future at QUB and across N. Ireland in 2012. A growing number of students and young people are interested in the potential to change things through politics and are turning to new outlets for political expression, which says much about the failings of the traditional parties representing N. Ireland.”
The next NICF debate in the 2012 season will be on the subject of grammar schools; final details are yet to be confirmed.