Chamberlain Lecture 2019

Following the inaugural Chamberlain Lecture given last year by Lord Hesletine this week Cratus, in partnership with BT and Public Policy Projects, had the privilege of hosting the second Chamberlain Lecture which was given by Lord Kerslake.

The Lecture is a time to come together to reflect on the achievements of local government and the local public sector as a whole over the years and look ahead to where the sector is going, all the while grounded in our shared history and ethos of public service – which we believe was embodied by Joseph Chamberlain.

Chamberlain was committed to social reform; on becoming Mayor of Birmingham he forcibly purchased the Birmingham Gas Light and Coke Company and the Birmingham and Staffordshire Gas Light Company on behalf of the council. The purchase generated enough by way of profit to enable the council to buy out the local water companies in 1875, a decision driven by Chamberlain’s belief that residents deserved better than the contaminated water supply that had previously served the town.

The revenue returned to the Council allowed Chamberlain to not only ensure the price of gas kept falling but to continue his reforms - building Corporation Street to relieve traffic congestion and let in light and air into that densely populated area, investing in new housing to replace the slums as well as new sewers, libraries, swimming pools, a new museum and a new art gallery.

This year Lord Kerslake shared his thoughts on the current 'perilous' state of British politics warning of a decade of disruption with globalisation, demographic changes, technological change and climate change. He also set out his vision for constitutional reform - reform of the voting system as well as wholesale change to the make up and location of the House of Lords. 

If you missed the Lecture you can catch it on BBC Parliament at 10pm Saturday 29th June.

To register your interest in a place at next year's Lecture please click below. 

Register your interest at [email protected]