*** NEW PANEL MEMBERS CONFIRMED:  PETER OBORNE, DAILY MAIL COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR OF THE TRIUMPH OF THE POLITICAL CLASS & FERDINAND MOUNT, AUTHOR OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION NOW AND FORMER VICE-CHAIR OF THE POWER INQUIRY***

Following on from the successful conference held at Oxford University last year, the launch of a special issue of Parliamentary Affairs examining the constitutional reform movement twenty years on from the founding of Charter 88 will take place at Portcullis House, Westminster on 9 December 2009 from 6pm.  All are invited to join special issue editor Dr. David Erdos (Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford), Unlock Democracy, and Oxford Journals for a free evening of lively discussion and debate on the past, present, and future of UK constitutional reform.  Alongside David, the confirmed members of the panel are:  Ferdinand Mount, former Vice-Chair of the Power Inquiry and author of The British Constitution Now (who will chair), Peter Facey, Director of Unlock Democracy, Peter Oborne, political columnist and author of The Triumph of the Political Class and Dr. Tony Wright MP, Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee.  The panel will address three overarching questions which are of as much interest now as twenty years ago when Charter 88 was first launched:

·         What have been the central strengths and achievements of the constitutional reform movement?

·         Where might it have taken a wrong turning, either strategically or in terms of philosophy?

·          Where do we go from here in order to achieve democratic and constitutional renewal?

Those seeking further information please contact david.erdos@csls.ox.ac.uk.  Further information on the issue itself is available at http://pa.oxfordjournals.org/current.dtl and http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/parlij/specialissue.html.  A Podcast discussing the issue is also available at http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/parlij/podcast.html.

N.B.  This is joint event between the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (University of Oxford) and Unlock Democracy.  Promotional photos may be taken at the event and it may also be Podcast.  A list of attendees may also be distributed to those participating in the seminar. 

Please note that you must clear Parliamentary security procedures in order to get to this event.  This can take 10-15 minutes.