Current affairs debated at Warwick Question Time 2018
Current affairs debated at Warwick Question Time 2018
Friday 5 Oct 2018On Monday 1st October, a packed Butterworth Hall played host to the sixth annual Warwick Question Time
The popular event organised by the Department of Economics and the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS), provides a platform for students to engage with politicians, policy makers and academics on major issues and questions that concern the world.
This year's event debated current affairs and the questions ranged from Brexit, international trade and migration to artificial intelligence and fake news . The event attracted over a thousand students and guests, who took their seats to watch this year's panel: Dharshini David, author, economist and broadcaster; Christina Lamb OBE, one of Britain's leading foreign correspondents and best selling author; George Grant, former security analyst, foreign correspondent and a Conservative Party Candidate for Bradford West in 2015 and 2017 general elections; Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington and two current Warwick students: Louise Sodergren (Economics) and Harry Ford (PAIS).
Chairing the event for the first time was Professor Chris Anderson, Professor of Politics and Economics at the University of Warwick.
Economics and Politics students asked questions which put the panellists to the test and opened up an interesting debate. The questions had been selected from over a hundred questiions submitted by students and selected by the Question Time organisers. The questions reflected topics frequently debated in the media in the last few weeks including: How can freedom of speech and misinformation coexist in a free society? Is it still possible for the UK and EU to reach a Brexit deal and how the West's relationship with China will evolve after recent events?
Warwick Question Time brings the university experience to life. I couldn’t think of a better way to start the academic year - as scientists and thinkers, we are always asking questions and looking for answers; as a learning community, we do so together at a time when the challenges we face seem more complex than ever.
This is the third one I’ve been to and was the liveliest, probably because of two innovations: not having a theme to the questions which meant they felt more topical and having two students on the panel.
After the event, students were given the opportunity to speak to panellists during the drinks reception that took place within the Warwick Arts Centre atrium. Those who attended said they enjoyed the event and the opportunity to engage in the debate. The annual Question Time event forms part of the induction for newly arrived Economics and PAIS first year students at Warwick,
Missed the event? Watch the show on our Youtube Channel..
For those of you that missed the event or would like to watch the debate again, the full length video is now available on our YouTube Channel here.
