Committee: Policy and Resources Date: 20 February 2014

Subject: Centre for Policy Studies: Sponsorship of 40th Anniversary Conference on Liberty Report of: For decision Director of Public Relations Summary In order to commemorate its 40th anniversary, the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) is hosting a major international conference in on 18 June 2014. The one-day conference – entitled the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty – will bring together a number of world-renowned figures for a series of set-piece speeches, high-level panel discussions, a reception and a dinner to discuss the role of liberty in the modern world; figures including VS Naipaul, Prof Niall Ferguson, Deepak Lal, John Howard , Jose Maria Aznar, and very senior UK Government ministers have already indicated that they will participate in the event.

The cost of supporting this event is £45,000; this would cover the internal recharge for the hire of Guildhall (£23,000), and the costs of a suitable stage set, audio-visual equipment, and hospitality during the conference. If the City of London Corporation were to sponsor the conference, the Policy Chairman would receive a suitable substantial speaking slot, and the City Corporation would be acknowledged on all publicity relating to the event, and would have an input into the guest list.

Recommendation This report recommends that the City of London Corporation supports the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty at a cost of £45,000 funded from your Committee’s Policy Initiatives Fund 2014/15, categorised under the “Events” section of the Fund and charged to City’s Cash.

Background 1. The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) is a leading centre-right think tank whose goal is to promote coherent and practical public policy to facilitate a more streamlined state, while countering threats to the UK’s sovereignty; it has particularly strong, historical links to the Conservative Party, since it was founded by Sir Keith Joseph and Margaret Thatcher in 1974 to champion economic liberalism in Britain and has subsequently played a global role in the dissemination of free market economics within a neoliberal framework. CPS’s chair is Lord Saatchi, and its director is Tim Knox. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the CPS’ formation.

2. The City of London Corporation has a long and successful history of working with CPS; recent collaborations have included a research project on the future of the City involving the then Shadow Chancellor MP, a seminar on investment in Africa led by the then Shadow International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell MP, an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor Milton Freedman, the Keith Joseph Memorial Lecture delivered by the Education Secretary MP, and the 2013 Margaret Thatcher Lecture delivered by the Mayor of London . The City Corporation also worked with CPS on a fringe meeting at the 2013 Conservative Party Conference featuring Andrew Tyrie MP, Fraser Nelson and Gerard Lyons.

Proposal 3. In order to commemorate its 40th anniversary, the CPS is hosting a major international conference in London on 18 June 2014, which will form the centrepiece of a special programme of activity over the course of the year. The one-day conference – entitled the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty – will bring together a number of world-renowned figures for a series of set-piece speeches, high-level panel discussions, a reception and a dinner to discuss the role of liberty in the modern world; figures including VS Naipaul, Prof Niall Ferguson, Deepak Lal, John Howard, Jose Maria Aznar, and very senior UK Government ministers have already indicated that they will participate in the event.

4. Given the think tank’s background, history and strong relationship with the Square Mile, CPS is eager for the City Corporation to play an integral role in sponsoring the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty; in particular, CPS is seeking to host the event in Guildhall, which it regards as a suitably prestigious venue in which to host this major international event. In order to do so, the total cost of the City Corporation supporting this conference would be £45,000. This would cover the internal recharge for the hire of Guildhall (£23,000), and the costs of a suitable stage set, audio-visual equipment, and hospitality during the conference. If the City of London Corporation were to sponsor the conference the Policy Chairman would receive a suitable substantial speaking slot and the City Corporation would be acknowledged on all publicity relating to the event, and would have an input into the guest list.

5. The work of the Centre for Policy Studies and, in particular, this conference accord well with the role of the City Corporation in promoting debate on key policy issues that affect the City and London as a whole; this event would reinforce and broaden the City Corporation’s relationship with a range of key political, academic and business figures on the centre right, as well as other key audiences as outlined in the Communications Strategy 2013-2016.

Financial and Risk Implications 6. There is no possibility of meeting the proposed financial support from existing local risk resources, because this proposal entails a substantial one-off item of expenditure, for which no provision has been made in the Public Relations or other local risk budgets. It is proposed that the required funding of £45,000 is drawn from your Policy Initiatives Fund 2014/15, categorised under the “Events” section of the Fund and charged to City’s Cash.

7. The current uncommitted balance available within your Committee’s Policy Initiatives Fund for 2013/14 amounts to some £417,000, prior to any allowance being made for any other proposals on today’s agenda.

Conclusion 8. CPS’ work, in general, and the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty, in particular, accord well with the role of the City of London Corporation in promoting debate on issues that affect the City of London; sponsorship of the event would provide the City Corporation with unprecedented access to and high level interaction with a number of the City of London Corporation’s key audiences, as outlined in the Communications Strategy 2013-2016, and links well with key elements of The City Together Strategy: The Heart of a World Class City 2008-2014 and wider economic development programmes.

Contact: Adam Maddock Assistant Director of Public Relations: Corporate Affairs Public Relations Office 020 7332 1771 [email protected]