Forest and Conservatives for Liberty pledge to stand up for freedom

Wed 23rd July, 2014

Forest will co-host a special event with libertarian campaign group Conservatives for Liberty at the Tory conference in Birmingham in September.

The Liberty Lounge: Stand Up For Freedom will take place at the Hyatt Hotel, within the secure area, on Sunday 28th September at 21:30.

The event will feature a drinks reception followed by 40 minutes of stand up comedy.

Stand Up For Freedom is the third stand up comedy event Forest has organised at the Conservative conference. In 2011 the group hosted Stand Up For Liberty at The Comedy Store in Manchester. Acts included Canadian Tom Slade and Mancunian Justin Moorhouse, both of whom have appeared on Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow on BBC One.

In 2013, also at The Comedy Store in Manchester, the headline act was another star of Live at the Apollo, Australian Steve Hughes.

Describing itself as an "independent libertarian, free market and socially liberal campaign group", Conservatives for Liberty was launched in 2013.

Honorary president is Dan Hannan MEP, and the group’s advisory board includes David Davis MP, Douglas Carswell MP, Steve Baker MP, Lord Ridley and Syed Kamall MEP.

According to journalist and Conservative peer Matt Ridley, "A new generation of young people is reviving true liberalism today. Conservatives for Liberty are pioneers of this movement and I learned more from an evening in a pub with them than from any amount of time in Parliament."

Steve Baker MP said, "All too many people believe in liberty up to the point that their faith is tested. As a result, we have been losing the arguments for most of the past century. CfL could be an important part of the restoration that our country needs."

Simon Clark, director of Forest, said, "We're delighted to join forces with Conservatives for Liberty, a group that represents genuine liberals within the Conservative party.

"Satire and humour are important but underused weapons in politics. Stand Up For Freedom will appeal to those who want to be entertained and informed at the same time."

Emily Barley, secretary of Conservatives for Liberty, said, "We're thrilled to be working with Forest, that bastion of personal choice, on this not-so-serious event - a fun opportunity to Stand Up For Freedom and show your love for liberty."

See also: CfL joins forces with Forest at #CPC14

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