What is the big Conservative idea?

Sunday 5th April 2009 | 4pm | Garden Marquee

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The eighth of the Orwell Prize's events at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival 2009.

Summer 2008: A double-digit lead in the polls. Victory in the London Mayoral election and the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. Big wins in the local elections. A Government on the back foot, if not on the ropes. Things may have changed a little since, but the Conservative Party will go into the next General Election with a real chance of forming the Government. So what is it that sets them apart from Labour (and the Lib Dems)? What would they do in power? What, in short, is the big Conservative idea?

• Chaired by Ben Wright (BBC Political Correspondent)
• Iain Dale (blogger, publisher)
• Peter Hitchens (Mail on Sunday)
• Ed Vaizey MP (Conservative MP for Wantage and Didcot, Shadow Minister for Culture)

Part 1

 

Ben Wright and Ed Vaizey MP

Part 2

 

Peter Hitchens

Part 3

 

Iain Dale

Part 4

 

Discussion

Part 5

 

Discussion

Part 6

 

Discussion

Part 7

 

Discussion

Part 8

 

Discussion

Part 9

 

Discussion