| At each of the three major party conferences, the Red Cross is organising a debate on the theme ‘forced to flee’. Panels made up of MPs, journalists and Red Cross experts will discuss why people flee their countries and seek sanctuary in the UK, as well as the difficulties they face when they arrive.
The debates will look at links between conflict and migration, perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers and suggest ways of responding to this global crisis. The audience will include politicians, party delegates, and representatives from the voluntary sector.
Exciting initiative
Daniel Rubio, public affairs officer, said: “This is a really exciting initiative for the British Red Cross – it's the first time we've organised events like these at party conferences. Our fringe events are bringing together journalists, politicians and Red Cross spokespeople to debate the effects of conflict on civilians, highlighting the humanitarian situation of people who flee from war or persecution.
“This is our opportunity as a neutral intermediary to take these vital issues to the heart of the policy agenda. Our guest speakers in Bournemouth were well-received and provoked a lively debate from the audience.”
Leigh Daynes, head of media and public affairs, said: “We work with all parties to maintain our integrity as a politically neutral organisation. Influencing public policy is one way we can bring about change in the lives of vulnerable people in crisis.
"For example, we’ve successfully lobbied to include first aid in the schools curriculum and more first aid on the driving test, contributed to select committee enquiries, and regularly briefed elected representatives about our work.”
Liberal Democrats
The first debate was at the Liberal Democrats conference in Bournemouth on 16 September. Guest speakers included Edward Davey MP, Reuters journalist Peter Apps, and Red Cross head of refugee services Nick Scott-Flynn.
Labour
At the Labour party conference on 23 September in Manchester, Red Cross chief executive Nick Young will join journalists Martin Bright and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, and Mike Gapes MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to discuss the issues.
Conservatives
Journalist Martin Bell will chair the final debate at the Conservative party conference on 30 September in Birmingham. He will be joined by Nick Young and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.
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