Lewes Speakers Festival

About

Lewes Speakers Festival January 2026 16th,17th & 18th January 2026, All Saints Centre, Lewes

Speakers include: Sir Ed Davey – Leader of the Liberal Democrats • Dame Penny Mordaunt – former Secretary of State for Defence • General Sir Barney White-Spunner - former Commander of the Field Army • Caroline Lucas – former Leader of the Green Party • Maggie Oliver and 'Jade' - whistle-blowing police detective and activist and victim/survivor of grooming gangs, respectively • Chris Mullin – former Labour Minister and diarist • Iain Dale – LBC broadcaster • Sir Vince Cable – former Business Secretary and Leader of the Liberal Democrats • Prof David Betz – Modern warfare specialist who believes the UK may well be currently heading for civil conflict • Parmy Olson – Wall Street Journal technology columnist • Sam Freedman – former senior government adviser and FT columnist • Prof Richard Overy – leading WWII historian • Xinran Xue – best-selling author of The Good Women of China • Andrew Monaghan – Russian military strategy expert • Prof Clive Webb – historian of modern America • Bob Seely MP – Conservative MP, former soldier and Russia specialist • Dr Theodore Dalrymple – conservative social commentator, author and broadcaster • Olia Hercules - Ukrainian-born celebrated chef, writer and broadcaster • Claudia Hammond - BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind & BBC World Service broadcaster

Single Tickets: £14 for each individual talk. Early Bird Price: £12.00 if bought before 1st December Day/Festival Passes also available Call the Box Office on: 0333 666 3366. Friday 16th January 15.30 Sam Freedman, former senior government adviser, FT columnist, and best-selling author, asks why Britain—one of the world's oldest democracies—seems unable to run itself effectively, and what can be done about it. 17.00 Prof Richard Overy, one of the world's leading WWII historians, explores what truly forced Japan's 1945 surrender—atomic bombs, Soviet invasion, air raids or collapse—and what this reveals about the nature and morality of total war. 18.30 Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and lifelong carers' advocate, shares his personal journey and vision for a Britain that truly values and supports those who care. 20.00 Caroline Lucas, the UK's first Green MP and former party leader, reimagines what it means to be English today—calling for an inclusive, hopeful and compassionate national story. ________________________________________ Saturday 17th January 9.50 Maggie Oliver & 'Jade', former detective turned campaigner and grooming-gang survivor 'Jade', share a powerful conversation on child exploitation, resilience and reform—exposing failures and urging for real change in safeguarding. 11.20 Parmy Olson, Wall Street Journal technology columnist and award-winning author, reveals the global battle for AI supremacy—how governments, corporations and innovators are fighting to control the future of intelligence itself. 12.50 Xinran Xue, the best-selling British-Chinese writer and broadcaster, reveals a family's hidden letters and diaries to explore how a century of China's turmoil shaped love, identity and the courage to tell the truth. 14.20 Iain Dale in conversation with Alex Puffette, Dale, one of Britain's leading political broadcasters, and Puffette, a political researcher and writer, examine Margaret Thatcher's legacy—how her revolution transformed Britain's economy, politics and identity. 15.50 Sir Vince Cable, economist and former Liberal Democrat leader, explores how Asia's rise is reshaping global power — and what Britain and the West must do to stay relevant in the 21st century. 17.20 Dr Andrew Monaghan, leading expert on Russian strategy and Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI, reveals how Moscow's evolving art of war—combining speed, deception and endurance—is reshaping modern conflict and challenging the West. 18.50 Dame Penny Mordaunt, former Secretary of State for Defence and a Royal Naval Reservist, explores how Britain's enduring traditions—from coronations to local rituals—embody values of duty and unity that still strengthen our national life today. 20.20 Claudia Hammond, award-winning BBC broadcaster and psychology lecturer, offers practical strategies to manage procrastination, regret, imposter syndrome, perfectionism and more. ________________________________________ Sunday 18th January 9.50 Prof Clive Webb, leading historian of modern America, reveals the untold story of Bertrand Russell's 1967 "People's Tribunal" on Vietnam and its lasting legacy for activism, truth and global accountability. 11.20 Olia Hercules, Ukrainian-born celebrated chef, writer and broadcaster, presents a luminous memoir of food, family and resilience—braiding a century of Ukrainian history into a moving story of identity and belonging. 12.50 Chris Mullin, former Labour Minister and celebrated political diarist, reflects with wit and candour on Britain's turbulent politics—from Brexit to populism—and asks whether our fractured system can still be renewed. 14.20 Bob Seely, former Conservative MP and expert on Russian warfare, exposes how Moscow's new "total war" blends drones, cyberattacks and disinformation—and what the West must do to defend democracy. 15.50 Prof David Betz, leading war studies expert at King's College London, warns that Britain may face civil conflict and even war, as cultural divides, distrust and social fragmentation intensify. 17.20 Dr Theodore Dalrymple, retired doctor and acclaimed social critic, offers a darkly comic portrait of modern England through his visit to Worcester—exposing decay, bureaucracy and the creeping slovenliness of national life. 18.50 Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, former Commander of the Field Army and bestselling historian, explores five great armies that shaped Europe — revealing how discipline, leadership and society together decide victory or defeat. www.lewesspeakersfestival.com