Bradford
New Event: Election Special
Just when you thought it was safe to turn the news back on, here comes another election. But who should you vote for? Which party is best for you and your family? Whose policies should you be voting for? Find out on 30th May at Politics in the Pub’s election special.
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When: 30th May
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Where: Bier keller, Morley St.
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Tickets: Get your free ticket today
For an election special, we’ve got a special format. We’ve invited a representative from each of the five main parties in Bradford: Labour, Conservatives, LibDems, Greens and UKIP. Using a Question Time style, we’ll be asking them your questions, allowing them discuss the topics which are most important to Bradfordians this election. You can propose questions on our Facebook page, and we’ll also send attendees an email a few days before asking for questions; if your question is picked, we’ll let you know a day or two before.
Our Panel:
We’ll update you on panellists this weekend and send an email to all attendees once we have biographies for all the panelists.
Get past the spin and beyond the scare stories; come and meet those in the know and find out which party really represents you.
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When: 30th May
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Where: Bier keller, Morley St.
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Tickets: Get your free ticket today
How do you solve a problem like Darley St? Regenerating Bradford
- Darley St Royal Visit mark_davies_photography.com
How do you solve a problem like Darley Street? Bradford Politics in the Pub and Bradford Civic Society want to show you what’s happening now, what’s coming to Bradford’s Independent Quarter and ask you what you think should be done to make sure ‘Top of Town’ doesn’t end up on Skid Row.
When: 11th April 2017 – 7.15pm
Where: The New Beehive; 169-171 Westgate BD1 3AA (some parking is available to the rear and there’s a pay & display right next door on St Thomas’s Road)
Tickets: Get your free ticket here.
We’re delighted to announce a long-term association with Bradford Civic Society, with 
‘How do you solve a problem like Darley Street?’ being the first of many joint debates which will enlighten, empower and engage Bradfordians and encourage all of us to take more interest and responsibility for what happens in our city and district.
‘How do you solve a problem like Darley Street?’ will bring together three fervent and diverse people who are driving Bradford’s regeneration forward. Knowledgeable, expert and passionate, our panel will show you what’s going, which problems are being overcome, and the direction Bradford’s taking as well as putting forward their diverse views on what the next steps should be.
Our Panel:
David Craig is an adopted Bradfordian running his own multi-disciplinary design and architecture studio based in Bradford, and is a director of Assembly Bradford, the co-working space in Rawson Place. He is also a trustee of Shipley’s Kirkgate Centre. Having designed a number of venues in Bradford, including The Record Café, The Beerhouse and Bradford Brewery, David is passionate about the city he is at the heart of regenerating as he follows his passion for spaces and places.
Simon Cooke is leader of the Conservative Group on Bradford Council and an expert on regeneration. A regular Politics in the Pub panellist and firm favourite no matter which side of politics your beliefs reside, Simon’s indefatigable efforts to move Bradford District forward and his unrelenting attacks on nannying fussbucketry has won him many admirers across the political spectrum as well as a critic or two for his uncompromising, often firebrand, style.
Alex Ross-Shaw is a Labour councillor for Windhill & Wrose. As portfolio holder for Regeneration, Pleanning & Transoprt, Alex is the perfect person to reveal what’s going on in Bradford’s Top of Town and plans for the future, including the plans to move, improve & relocate the city’s existing markets.
You – arguably the most important part of today’s panel – are interested in the city’s future, want to see a vibrant centre of the district are keen ensure Bradford’s Independent Quarter regeneration keeps apace and that Top of Town doesn’t lose out to Broadway’s draw. Bradford Civic Society and Politics in the Pub will be asking you what should happen, where we should go and what Darley St and beyond should look like. We’ll gather your thoughts and present them to the council for their consideration, ensuring your ideas are put to those with the power to realise them.
In Speaker’s Corner will be Alan Hall, Chair of Bradford Civic Society.
When: 11th April 2017 – 7.15pm
Where: The New Beehive; 169-171 Westgate BD1 3AA (some parking is available to the rear and there’s a pay & display right next door on St Thomas’s Road)
Tickets: Get your free ticket here.
Our venue:
We continue to take you on a trip round Bradford’s pubs; we hope to remind you that there’s a city out there waiting to be explored, to show you new places and give you a reminder that Bradford’s home to a few gems. The New Beehive falls into the latter category for most but if you’ve never been to the Beehive, you’ve not yet experienced a true joy and a wonderful part of Bradford’s public house history.
Listed as one of CAMRA’s nationally important pub interiors, the Edwardian beauty is still lit by gaslight giving it a warm, cosy and friendly ambiance, about as far away from the modern craft ale bar interiors as you can find. To step into The New Beehive Inn is to step back in time, so where better a place to discuss how Bradford can retain its rich history and its unique charm as it pushes forward into 21st Century?
Tickets are limited and we expect this event to sell out, so please book today.
When: 11th April 2017 – 7.15pm
Where: The New Beehive; 169-171 Westgate BD1 3AA (some parking is available to the rear and there’s a pay & display right next door on St Thomas’s Road)
Tickets: Get your free ticket here.
‘The Killings of Tony Blair’ with George Galloway
Former Bradford West MP George Galloway will be back in the city this Monday for a special screening of his documentary ‘The Killings of Tony Blair’ at Picturehouse at the National Media Museum. To make the screening even more special for his former constituents, there’ll be a Q&A session about the making of the film, what drove him to create it and what it demonstrates about the state of politics today, led by Politics in the Pub’s own Dermot Bolton.
Thanks to Picturehouse, we’ve got two pairs of tickets to give away to friends of Politics in the Pub. To win a pair of tickets, simply comment on our Facebook thread with the question you’d like to ask George Galloway following the screening. Questions should be about the themes and topics of the film, such as Tony Blair’s time as prime minister, his decision to invade Iraq or his business dealings since leaving office. Dermot will select his two preferred questions and will contact the winners on Saturday morning. The winners will each receive two tickets for the screening on Monday 1st August at 8.30pm, and will be invited to ask their questions during the Q&A session.*
‘The Killings of Tony Blair’ is a feature-length documentary, co-written and presented by George Galloway, and combines testimony from prominent observers, ambassadors and statesmen to paint a vivid picture of Blair’s time in office and what he’s done since leaving Number 10, suggesting that his actions reveal “a messianic pursuit of personal glory and financial reward.” ‘The Killings of Tony Blair’ comes at an important, even chaotic, period in British and international politics, and is a “timely and thought-provoking exposé which denounces the corruption of the UK’s political elite,” exploring Blair’s premiership, his decision to join the American invasion of Iraq and his role as a peace envoy.
Tickets for this special showing on Monday 1st August at 20.30 can be purchased from Picturehouse at National Media Museum, online, or by calling 0871 902 5756 (calls cost 13p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge).
*Dermot will choose the questions he thinks are most suitable and his decision is final.
New Event – Brexit: what next for Bradford & Beyond?
What will the EU vote mean for Bradford and the country? Focus has been on the markets, the pound and trade, but how will affect Bradfordians, our local economy and our council? Join four outstanding speakers, including the Susan Hinclcliffe, leader of the council, and Simon Cooke, leader of Bradford Conservative group, to hear how they think voting leave will change our lives, and ask questions about what’s around the corner.
- When: Wednesday 27th July – 7.15pm
- Where: Bier Keller, Morley St, Bradford (just behind The Alhambra)
- Get your free ticket today.
Our expert panel will share how they think the vote to leave will affect you and your family in Bradford. You’ll also have the perfect opportunity to ask questions about what plans for leaving have been made, how the vote might affect you, and what we can expect over the coming weeks, months & years.
Our panel:
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe is leader of the council & the ruling Labour group, and campaigned for Remain during the referendum campaign. She has been a councillor for Windhill & Wrose since 2011, and has previously stood for election as MP for Shipley. She was previously on the council’s Executive as portfolio holder for Education, Skills & Culture. A successful business person as well, Cllr Hinchcliffe is the bête noir of the T&A comments section with any story about her always causing gnashing of teeth below the line.
Cllr Simon Cooke is leader of Bradford’s Conservative group and one of the District’s most senior and outspoken politicians, and campaigned to Leave. We’re delighted to have him return to our stage. Cllr Cooke serves the people of Bingley Rural with passion, is never one to duck an argument or gloss an opinion, and is arguably the District’s most outspoken politician on social media, using Twitter and The View from Cullingworth blog to share, discuss and argue his ideas… especially his personal crusade to shine a light on ‘nannying fussbucketry’.
Emma Pentelow is a director of The Pentelow Practice, a Principal Partner Practice within 
St. James’s Place a FTSE 100 Wealth management firm with offices in both Skipton and Leeds. Emma specialises in working with Owner Managed Businesses and has an interest in later life advice and planning. Schooled at North Halifax High she’s worked in Woolworths, been a bar manager and a chamber maid. She graduated from Glasgow University with an MA in Management and Sociology, and worked in industry for several years before being persuaded by her dad to train as a financial advisor within his practice. She now manages a portfolio of 233 private and corporate clients.
In addition to two of Bradford’s most powerful politicians, we’ll be announcing further panel members shortly.
To find out how the Leave vote will affect you, your District, your council and beyond, join us for our latest – dare we say final? – EU Referendum debate. Get your ticket today.
Why do I love Bradford Politics in the Pub? In a world of 10 word answers, we get thousands.
I’m quite the Twitter addict and spend far too much time on social media so, in essence, I’m a connoisseur of memes – I’ve seen ‘em all: cats in hats; inspirational quotes; life-affirming ditties. Can we reduce politics to memes? Jez we can! We select facts which suit our needs, wiggle and jiggle and squeeze them into bite-sized chunks, stick them over a picture of, you know, whatever, and set them free to wreak havoc on whoever their intended victim is (because, let’s face it, they’re rarely positive).
The EU Referendum has brought up its own set of memes: I’ve been lectured on the wastefulness of the EU by Colombo, Sponge Bob Squarepants and Micky Flanagan; I’ve been told that voting out is racist by Nigel Farage, Oswald Mosely and Darth Vader; I’ve had every world leader’s face in my face telling me to face facts (but only the ones appearing on the meme – not the other bad facts!). Each fact – cutting, succinct and blithely wrapped up with its own pretty picture – screaming “Behold, for I am the truth – thou shalt have no other truth before me!”
Others are equally blithe: Leave keeps repeating its own falsehoods, like the £350m a week we (DO NOT!) send to the EU every week; Remain plays the race card every day, not understanding that a deck with that many cards of the same face must be rigged; and, today, I was horrified to see Craig Woodhouse, Chief Political Reporter for The Sun, write “Presumably Cameron and the Remain camp agree with this, given it’s from “experts” they love so much?”, like knowledge, understanding, research and being an ‘expert’ is a bad thing and these people, with their education and learning and thought, are bad.
It made me wonder: are we wandering to the world of The West Wing? Aficionados of Bartlett’s presidency like me (see, I do deal with old media, too) will remember Jed’s second election and the ten word answers. Bartlett had a problem: he was too smart to lead, too smart to make decisions and too smart to be trusted. His knowledge, intelligence and ability made him unelectable – and he needed to connect with everyday people by becoming an everyday person. In the end, intelligence and faith in electorate won out, I’m glad to say – but it isn’t in this election. We’re stuck looking for the ten word answers, feasting on memes and wandering blindly into the future, the vision of which was laid out by fictional words forcibly attributed to fictional characters. In, out, left, right, it’s just on, on, on.
All we get are 10 word answers and this question – hell, any question – needs more than that. Like Bartlett, I want the next 10 words, and the next and the next.
A lawyer, an economist and a businessperson walk into a pub…
But then I went to Politics in the Pub – (I’m biased – I’m one of the organisers) – and had a proper talk about the future. There weren’t any politicians, just experts in their fields. I listened to an economist, a lawyer and a business person talk with eloquence, experience, nuance, subtlety and, above all, at length. They said what happens now, what might happen in the future and the possible consequences of both votes. They didn’t threaten me with unfettered immigration or a £30billion budget, they didn’t treat me as a traitor or a racist, and, above all, they didn’t insult my intelligence. They could have – they were all cleverer (and certainly more knowledgeable) than me – and I didn’t understand absolutely every ramification and repercussion of what they said. How could I? I’m not an expert in these areas. But they didn’t pull intellectual punches – and in this far-reaching vote, the effects of which will be felt by the UK, EU and the world for years, if not generations, to come, why should they?
I love Politics in the Pub because it gives me the next 10 words, and the next, and the next and the next. Politics in the Pub gives me the next 10,000 words and it gives me a chance to ask difficult questions and receive difficult answers.
Everyone is entitled to vote – as it should be – but wouldn’t that cross in the box carry more weight if you’d sought out long, complicated articles, shared nuanced, balanced conversations, and heard passionate arguments from knowledgeable people? Mine does.
If you want to know why this debate was so great, take a look at Bradfordzone’s live blog – and make sure you come to our future events… and I’ll kindly ask you not to refer me to this article if you see me retweet, share or even create a meme; after all, hypocrisy is the new, erm, something.
EU Referendum 2 – Politics without the Politicians
The referendum debate rages on… but is the quality of the discourse increasing with its volume? If you want a little more than how Hitler would vote and how Putin’s keeping abreast of the situation, the next Politics in the Pub’s for you.
- WHEN: 15th June – 7.15pm
- WHERE: 1875 Bar & Restaurant, Ivegate BD1 1SW
- Tickets are free and available here
As the politicians move ever further apart, with every claim countered and every fact parried, we wanted to hear from those without political skin in the game. They’re knowledgeable, they’re educated, they work with, in and sometimes despite the EU every day… and none of them are looking for your vote. We’ve handpicked the guests because of their experience and interest, but, most of all, their ability to given a neutral, reasoned, nuanced to an argument that grows more polarised by the hour.
If you want to know what it’s really like for business in Europe, how the EU actually affects our laws and the truth about the economic argument, you’ve got to come to EU Referendum 2.
Our Panel
From business, Andrew Mason, MD of New Mason Design*
As an employer, an entrepreneur and a trader, Andrew is well-used to working within building regulations, employment law and importing goods, so will be a great person to hear how the EU affects, for good or ill, British businesses.
New Mason Design is a Bradford-based company specialising in breathing life back into historical buildings, marrying traditional architecture with modern technology, so Bradford, with its wonderful but often unloved architecture, is the perfect marketplace.
Andrew was born in Shipley and had a varied career before graduating from Warwick as a mature student. He travelled Latin America and South Africa working in social housing, getting held up at gun point twice in the process, before returning to Yorkshire. He started working on Bradford’s regeneration 20 years ago and has been hooked ever since. Outside of breathing life back into Bradford’s unloved gems, he is a keen reader, walker & gardener and enjoys the odd pint – so I know we can help him out with the last one.
From academia and economics, Dr Mark Baimbridge, Senior Lecturer in Economics at University of Bradford*
Mark is an expert in Britain’s relationship with the EU, his research interests including European economics, political integration and the Eurozone. He has written widely on the subject of economics and Europe, including reporting to the Treasury Select Committee on globalisation and business investment.
Mark is excellently placed to tell us about how the EU affects academia and the possible economic impact of Brexit.
From the law, Debbie Jukes, Head of Professional Knowledge at a leading UK law firm*
Debbie is now Head of Knowledge at a global law firm which has over 3500 lawyers worldwide, and is responsible for, amongst other things, the research team and legal libraries. Her team has been actively involved in researching and educating the firm’s clients on the likely impact on them Brexit in legal terms – providing training, seminars, briefings and helping clients build contingency plans. She is corporate/ and commercial lawyer having specialised for over 20 years in advising clients on mergers & acquisitions, long term commercial contracts, outsourcings and joint ventures, particularly in the financial services sector.
Debbie is naturalised Yorkshire. She grew up near the Welsh border before seeing the light and moving to Yorkshire nearly 30 years ago for work. She’s a regular at Politicsw in the Pub, bringing along her 18 year old son who, as a politics student, is now capable of out arguing Debbie and the entire family on anything and everything – so we’re offering her family counselling rather than the customary pint given to speakers.
If you want to hear from experts in their fields, people who, together, know the EU inside and out, and can tell you what it’s really like now and could be like after the referendum, book your ticket today.
*Please note, all our panellists are appearing in a personal capacity and any views they express about the European Union or the forthcoming referendum are personal views and are not necessarily the views of their employers and should not be inferred as such.
Event Update: EU Referendum 1
The biggest question we’ll be asked this year is “Europe: leave or remain?” Politics in the Pub is delighted to bring you all you need to know to make up your mind.
- When: Thursday 31st March 7.15pm
- Where: Bier Keller, Morley St, Bradford BD7 1AQ
- Tickets: Free from Eventbrite
Tim Iredale, BBC’s political editor for Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, and will stand between our two heavyweight guests to ensure that you get the answers you want. Tim, a proud Yorkshireman and Bradford resident, is one of the region’s foremost political journalists, fronting Sunday Politics and Look North’s Hull programme. He once said his scariest moment was asking John Prescott about ‘that punch’ – so we knew that he was the man to come between Richard Corbett and Philip Davies in a Bier Keller in Bradford.
Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, is an outspoken proponent of #VoteLeave and will spell out the reasons Britain 
should be out of Europe. Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, Philip was the first MP to publicly call for Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and will do his utmost to convince you that we’re better off out.
Richard Corbett, MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, is a passionate Europhile and will be 
telling you exactly why we’re #StrongerIn. Richard is Deputy Leader of Labour Members of the European Parliament and speaks four languages. He describes himself as “the most boring person you can safely vote for” but we know he’ll enthral and engage you in the EU.
We’re delighted to be again ‘on the road’ and what a perfect place for an EU debate we have: Bradford’s Bier Keller on Morley St. We’ve put the oompah band on hold as our guests will have all the oomph needed to convince you.
Tickets are limited so make sure you book today.
Poetry with a Punch: Politics, Poetry & a Pub
Politics in the Pub is delighted to be part of Bradford Literature Festival and bringing you Poetry with a Punch, a poetry revue with a finely honed political edge.
Poetry with a Punch has an outstanding line up of political poets who’ll leave you angered, enraged and thoroughly entertained: multifaceted John Hegley will join Bradford’s own Nick Toczek, artist & spoken word performer Asma Elbadawi, writer & artist Jay Bernard, young poet laureate for London Selina Nwulu and journalist Atif Tauqeer, all expertly hosted by Ralph Dartford, co-founder of A Firm of Poets.
Take a double punk spirit with your beer, then Stand Up & Spit with Bradford Literature Festival & Politics in the Pub on 25th May 2016.
Tickets are just £6 (all going to Bradford Literature Festival and their amazing programme) and are available from Bradford Literature Festival.
Can’t make it? See the extraordinary array of political events on at this year’s Bradford Literature Festival.
New Event: EU Referendum 1
To leave or remain: that is the question. Join Bradford Politics in the Pub for the debate of the year – maybe, even, the debate of the decade – as two of Bradford’s most outspoken commenters on European politics go head to head over the question that will dominate politics for the next few months and beyond. Shipley’s Philip Davies MP will be putting forward the case for leave; Yorkshire & Humber MEP Richard Corbett will argue we’re better off in the EU; ensuring the debate runs smoothly will be our returning guest-Chair, Len Tingle.
- When: Thursday 31st March 7.30pm
- Where: Bradford City Centre – exact venue tbc.
- Tickets: Free from Eventbrite
Len Tingle is the BBC’s political editor for Yorkshire, reporting & commenting on the region for many BBC TV 
programmes, most frequently Look North and Sunday Politics, and is a regular voice on the BBC’s local radio stations. He is one of the most informed, articulate and unbiased voices on the political scene across Yorkshire & North Midlands. A Barnsley lad, he’s a former Business & Industry specialist for both ITV and BBC, musing “Think of an idyllic or exotic place and I’ve probably reported from a shop floor, steel mill or coal mine close by – then caught the next flight out without seeing a single tourist attraction”… so it was high time he got rewarded with another visit to somewhere glamorous. Welcome back to Bradford, Len.
Richard Corbett MEP is Labour MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, and is Deputy Leader of Labour Members of the European Parliament. Originally from Merseyside, serving the area as an MEP, Richard’s first taste of the right side of The Pennines was university in Hull, making his choice to swap Merseyside for Yorkshire again all the easier in 1999 when he first became our MEP. Richard, a speaker of four languages, has written a number of books, enjoys sports and describes himself as “the most boring person you can safely vote for”; but we know that self-depreciatory claim will be made a mockery of when he speaks to you about the EU.
Philip Davies has been Shipley’s outspoken MP since 2005, increasing his majority from just 422 to nearly 10,000. He has served on the influential Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee, and was the first MP to publicly call for Britain to withdraw from the EU. Most importantly, though, he pulls no punches and speaks plainly as he’s Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Campaign Against Political Correctness. Originally from Doncaster, Philip came to west Yorkshire as a student at University of Huddersfield before embarking on a career with ASDA in customer services then marketing. He enjoys sports, particularly horse racing.
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union? The best place to hear both sides of the argument is right here in Bradford on 31st March. Make sure you get your ticket today.
Oh, what a LOVEly Night!
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Wow! What a night! Love took centre stage as politicians from the full spectrum gathered at The Library Bar to woo potential voters… and what a show they put on.
Thanks so much to all the speakers and all who came to listen. At the end of the night, the politicians got a resounding vote of thanks with a hearty round of applause – and, boy, did they deserve it.
Because the Valentine’s special took so much organising, but was so very, very special, we hope to put on a similar night… next year. In the mean time, look out for future events on the EU referendum, the joy of tax, the NHS and much, much more, all happening right here in Bradford city centre.
Politics in the Pub 