Easter Term 2025 | The Cambridge Union

The Cambridge Union

Easter 2025

“ Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.

Salman Rushdie

Welcome

My first experience with the Cambridge Union was in secondary school, when I first took part in a round of the Cambridge Schools Debating Competition. It was a real pleasure recently welcoming back students from my old school, who were taking part in the same competition, as President, and introducing them to our society. Across different locations and decades, some things have remained consistent: our love of spirited debate, our support for free speech - especially at times of adversity - and our desire to question. In the year of our 210th anniversary, I am so proud to be taking part in our historic tradition as President, especially as we continue to push to make our future one which includes everyone. I am so proud to share our Easter 2025 termcard with all of you, which is the result of many people’s hard work. There is something for everyone in our termcard, from fiery debates to thought-provoking panels and lively social events, all of which I hope will be a welcome break from revision.

This term, we have a bold and exciting line-up of Thursday night debates, where we examine everything from Western intervention in the Middle East to the monarchy. Come along to see former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe make the case for Reform UK and leading postcolonial scholar Professor Gayatri Spivak argue for judging historical art by modern political standards. Our 2v2 debate on the EU will bring together leading figures from the referendum, including Sir Tim Martin, Christine Jardine, and Lord Michael Heseltine. Free speech thrives on a diverse range of perspectives, and I encourage you all to make your voice heard: audition for paper speeches, offer Points of Information, and give floor speeches. Having spoken in two debates myself, it truly is an experience like no other.

Come along to listen to, meet, and probe our diverse range of speakers. Come question leading political figures, including Turning Point USA CEO Charlie

Kirk, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi, and Mary Trump, a leading critic of her uncle’s. Let yourself forget the pressures of Easter term and enjoy yourselves with reality TV star and model Katie Price and Femi Koleoso of British jazz quintet Ezra Collective. Hear from speakers across all fields, from former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Come discuss the future of reproductive technology and meet fellow Cambridge alum and YouTuber Ibz Mo and more as part of our Equalities line-up. Fill in our speaker ballot forms for a chance to attend drinks receptions with these speakers and many more!

This term’s social events are specifically tailored to making the most of exam term, for you to escape and relieve your exam stress. Come unlock your inner Scotsman at our ceilidh, in collaboration with the Scottish Society, or dance the night away at our Eurovision Watch Party. Come relax during our Sip and Paint Night or drop by for a chat and free hot drink at President’s Tea. Celebrate the end of the year at our annual Easter Garden Party, where we will whisk you away to a Mediterranean summer.

Now, more than ever, amidst a turbulent global landscape, the importance of free speech can never be understated. I encourage you to exercise and celebrate your right to it in the Chamber to the fullest. On the 60th year anniversary of the historic Baldwin vs. Buckley debate, we remember the importance of the conversations we have in this Chamber, because nobody and nothing should be beyond reproach or free from criticism. I hope that, this term, you will find the space to challenge others and let your own perspectives be challenged. I look forward to seeing you in the Chamber.

Yours, as always,

Anoushka Kale | Sidney Sussex President, Easter 2025

pg. 1

Welcome

pg. 3

History

pg. 4

Getting Involved

pg. 6

Facilities

pg. 8

Accessibility

pg. 10

Competitive Debating

pg. 12

Reciprocal Membership

pg. 13

Treasurer’s Treats

pg. 16 Debates

pg. 32 Speakers

pg. 46

Equalities

pg. 54

Social Events

pg. 62

Committees

pg. 66

President’s Thanks

pg. 68

Sponsors

History

“Even against the backdrop of an ancient and respected University, the Cambridge Union stands out as a distinguished forum for the free and rigorous exchange of ideas.”

His Majesty Charles III, 2009

From its unlikely beginning, the Cambridge Union had a streak of defiance and resilience. When founder Edward Gambier was blackballed from membership of one of Cambridge’s key discussion groups: the Anticarnalist, his decision to seek out debate without censure led to the founding of a little debating group in 1815. For the earliest of Union members, setting out to encourage fierce political and social debate and critique often resulted in pouring frustration against obstacles into strategy. From cleverly rewording motions based on contemporary issues to tongue-in-cheek historical references to protesting boldly against University censorship as noted by The Times in 1817, the founding members would not take no for an answer. Whilst free speech did not come without its costs socially and institutionally, the early members remained steadfast in their goal. Little did they know that their dedication would yield the future training ground for a fresher John Manyard Keynes making his maiden speech in Michaelmas 1902, or a young archeology and architecture student at Trinity, coincidentally the future King of England, in Easter Term 1970.

Before the Union’s foundation stone was laid in 1864, the Union enjoyed quite the tour of the city in finding a venue. Originating at the Red Lion, Petty Curry in 1814 and moving later to the Hoop Inn, Bridge Street in 1832, Union members in 1850 decided to look elsewhere beyond the comforts of a pub and found a new home in a Methodist chapel on Green Street. After a successful fundraising campaign where £18,000 were raised, renowned architect Alfred Waterhouse was commissioned to design the beloved Victorian-style clubhouse on Bridge Street the Union now calls home. The Union building officially opened on October 30th 1866.

Whilst the building has stood the stead of time and still stands tall and proud in the middle of Bridge Street, the walls bear the markings of its longevity. The building was commandeered by the RAF as part of the general war effort from October 1939 until Michaelmas 1944 playing a role in army strategy during D-Day planning. In Easter Term 1942, the Union was hit by Luftwaffe bombs with three people being killed and the library and artefacts incurring significant damage. In Easter Term 1975, the Union chamber was struck by a fire during May Week. Yet, despite all this, the building stands strong in that same

spirit of defiance.

When members reflect on social progress in Cambridge, the Union often springs to mind as a bastion in this respect. The first-thought example for many is James Baldwin’s famous speech on February 18th 1965 debating against William F. Buckley on the motion “The American dream is at the expense of the American Negro”. Baldwin’s public speaking flourish and command of the chamber immortalised the moment in history. It is also worth taking into account that the Union’s history of breaking glass ceilings and preparedness to choose progressiveness before the University was ready to do so has been an extensive and commendable part of the institutional fabric. In Lent 1850, the Union elected its first Jewish President (six years before the University permitted Jewish students to enrol to undertake degrees). In Michaelmas 1882, the Union elected its first Asian president and in Michaelmas 1925, the First Labour Party supporting President was elected.

In Easter 1931, the Union permitted women guests inside the Union for meals and invited its first female guest speakers Lady Bonham Carter and Viscountess Davidson MP in Easter 1946. Later in Lent 1958, Jennifer Platt took the floor of the house as the first female student to speak in one of the iconic Thursday night debates. After Sheena Matheson became the first woman on the Standing Committee in Michaelmas 1964, Ann Mallalieu finally broke the glass ceiling in 1967 as the first female Union president.

In 2015, the Union celebrated its bicentenary anniversary with a major renovation of i`ts historic building, reaffirming its position as a global centre for debate. The addition of The Orator, a purpose-built restaurant and bar, further strengthened its role as a social and intellectual landmark. Today, with over 40 reciprocal memberships worldwide from the United States to Montevideo, the Union continues to engage with the global community, hosting speakers as varied as Sam Altman, Bill Gates, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Theresa May and Robert De Niro.

As the Union celebrates its 210th anniversary this year and its position as the world’s oldest continuous debating society, we are reminded in reflecting on the Union’s history of the importance of gutsiness in protecting the value of speech which we still hold dear.

Who would have known that a little defiance and resilience would go so far?

Ivan Alexei Ampiah | Downing President, Michaelmas 2025

Get Involved

The Cambridge Union is all about you — our membership. Whether you’re sitting in the crowd or taking the floor for a speech, none of our activities would be possible without you. But most importantly, our events — large and small alike — are student-planned, student-run, and student-centred. And yes, that means you get a say too! The Union can feel like a daunting environment, and that’s why we’re here to demystify the mysterious. You can check out our Issuu page for the How to Get Involved Guide, and read below for a brief overview!

Debates

Ever watched a Union debate and imagined yourself speaking up at the despatch box? Here’s your chance! Applications to speak in our emergency and main debates open in the week leading up to each debate, and can be found in our Facebook members’ group, on our Instagram stories, and in the weekly members’ email. We encourage any Union member to apply!

19:30 - Emergency Debates

Consisting entirely of student speakers, each emergency debate addresses a topical issue of the week or an issue relevant to the main debate motion. They serve as a warm-up for the main debate, allow students to get more comfortable at the despatch box — but best of all, our emergency debate speakers are rewarded with a free drink and a charitable point!

20:00 - Main Debates

In the main debate, members can engage with speeches in real time by submitting a Point of Information (POI). You can correct a point, ask for clarity, challenge a speaker or propose a question by standing and saying ‘Point of Information’ or ‘On that point’ after the first and before the last minute of a given speech. The speaker may choose to reject your POI - but if they do accept, deliver your (brief!) point. After that, it’s the speaker’s responsibility to respond.

If you want to make a longer argument of your own, raise your hand during either of the rounds of floor speeches during each debate. You can speak in proposition, opposition, or abstention to respond to the debate as it happens! This term, we’ll also be offering some exciting prizes for the best floor speeches in each debate - so make sure to turn out!

Get Involved

Speakers and Panels

At each of our individual speaker or panel events, we allow our members to put questions to our guests. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to interact with our guests.

Throughout Easter, our members can also ballot to meet individual speakers at the preevent drinks receptions! Keep your eyes on our social media pages, Facebook members’ page, and weekly members’ email for details on speaker ballots throughout Lent.

Join a Committee

You can also get involved by joining our committees and we have lots of them! We recruit for Full Committee, Speakers’ Subcommittee, Debates Subcommittee, Equalities Subcommittee, Social Events Subcommittee, and Ball Committees.

Look out on our social media and emails to be notified when applications open each term - applications for subcommittees open shortly ahead of each term. Do apply - you won’t regret it!

Run for Election

Elections for Standing Committee happen at the end of each term. In order to run to be an Officer, you must have served a term on Full Committee and collected 4 charitable points. To run for President, you must have previously served a term as an Officer. If you have any questions about the election process, please email vicepresident@cus.org!

You can find more information on how to run for elections by heading to our membership page, at membership.cus.org. Under the ‘Get Involved’ section, you can find information on the responsibilities of Standing Committee roles, the election process, and the results of past elections.

We look forward to welcoming you to the building!

Christopher Lorde | Christ’s Secretary, Easter 2025

Facilities Debating Chamber

Members’ Room

The FairfaxRhodes Reading Room

Dining Room

The Orator

The Keynes Library

Accessibility

We are firmly committed to ensuring that all members feel the Union is a space that is accessible to them. This short Q&A guide aims to answer some frequently asked accessibility questions. If members have any other accessibility concerns or questions they are warmly encouraged to email access@cus.org.

Additionally, members of the Union may bring a bona fide guest, for a fee of £25.00. Guests must not be eligible for Union membership in their own right (i.e., students of Cambridge or Anglia Ruskin University cannot be admitted as guests).

If you have any ideas, questions, or concerns regarding access at the Union, please feel free to contact your access officers, Aishwarya and Prisha. We would love to hear how members feel the Union can become an even better space, and one that they are able to express agency within.

Q. Which rooms are wheelchair accessible?

A. All the rooms are wheelchair accessible, except the chamber balcony. The building itself is wheelchair accessible through the Orator and reception entrances.

Q. Which rooms are hearing-loop enabled?

A. The Chamber is currently the only room that is hearing loop enabled.

Q. Can I bring non-member dependents, carers or guide dogs to events?

A. In most cases this should be no issue at all. Please email vicepresident@cus.org beforehand to confirm arrangements.

Q. Where should wheelchair users sit in the Chamber?

A. Space can be made either side of the back benches.

Q. Which doors are wide enough to allow wheelchairs through?

A. The reception, chamber entrance, library and Fairfax Rhodes Room doors are all wide enough.

Q. Which rooms have padded seating available?

A. All the seating in the building is padded.

Q. How should wheelchair users exit in the case of a fire?

A. Depending on the source of the fire, members can exit through the Chamber doors and by leaving out of Reception. They can also be lifted over the stairs of the chamber fire doors (it is only a few steps either side). Event Managers are on duty to help with this.

Q. How should attendees with impaired mobility, or any other difficulty with queuing access busy or oversubscribed events?

A. Please email vicepresident@cus.org before the event to confirm your accessibility need. It is possible to sit and ‘queue’ on the sofas in the reception area upon arrangement. If you arrive before the amount of people queueing is more than a full chamber, you will get one of our accessibility-reserved seats (the back benches). If you come after the amount of people queueing is greater than the amount of seats in the chamber, we are unable to guarantee you a seat as that would put you ahead of those who have queued for prolonged amounts of time and are turned away. We hope members understand this logic.

Financial Access

We offer a range of discounted memberships, depending on financial need. Our lowest band of access memberships begin at £90 for those on the full Cambridge bursary.

Whether you are new to the society or a long-standing member, we are here to support you in any way we can to make sure you get most of your membership. If you have any concerns or questions, then please contact our access team: access@cus.org.

We also offer different scholarships entitling you to a lifetime membership of the Cambridge Union, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Applicants will be chosen primarily according to financial need, along with their ability to demonstrate an interest in the Union. Keep your eyes on our social media channels for when we release the application form.

Welfare

Your Welfare Officers

Sami Firdose

Zainab Khan

We will be running regular welfare hours, which will be communicated via our social channels and emails.

The Orator provides anti-drink spiking covers upon request, and if you ever feel like you’re in an unsafe situation, you can ask for Angela at our bar. Our team of bar staff will know you need help and assist you as necessary. You can also submit complaints, requests, feedback or concerns via the Members’ form, which will be sent out via email, and you can reach us at welfare@cus.org.

Competitive

The Cambridge Union offers one of the most successful and inclusive debating programs in the world. We have maintained a strong record of success, with a history of teams advancing deep into the World and European University Debating Championships. No prior experience is required to join—everyone can start improving their public speaking skills. All Union members are welcome to participate in our events. Why not give it a try?

Why should I get involved?

Debating with the Cambridge Union equips you with a valuable set of skills that extend beyond traditional British Parliamentary debate. These skills are highly transferable and beneficial in various contexts, both academic and professional. We offer a wide range of programs to suit all interests, ensuring there is something for everyone.

Debating Sessions & Workshops

We hold weekly sparring sessions every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00–9:00 pm. These sessions are designed for both beginners and experienced debaters to improve their skills under the guidance of leading debaters from the Cambridge Union. Whether you aspire to compete for Cambridge or simply wish to develop your public speaking abilities, our training will help you become a formidable debater.

In addition, on alternate Thursdays we offer training sessions with our coach, Ayal Mor, a recent grand finalist at the European University Debating Championships. Ayal will be conducting specialised workshops and organising online sparring sessions with worldrenowned debaters, providing you with top-tier training opportunities.

Competitions

Universities across the United Kingdom host debating competitions nearly every week, and we actively encourage all our members to participate. We don’t just send our top speakers— members of all abilities are selected, ensuring everyone has a chance to compete. These competitions offer a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow students and explore different parts of the country. The Union covers all registration fees; you only need to come ready to debate!

We also offer international competition opportunities beyond the UK. This year, we sent 9 Debaters to Panama to compete at the World University Debate Championships. Additionally, we sent debaters to Amsterdam for the Leiden Open last year, where one of our teams emerged as Champion.

This year, we plan to send teams to compete at the upcoming European Debating Championships, which will be held in Copenhagen.

Debating

Access & Community Involvement

The Cambridge Union Society also hosts Cambridge Schools and the International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD), two of the largest schools debating competitions globally. As a Cambridge debater, you can participate as a judge or convenor for Cambridge Schools, offering students from diverse backgrounds the chance to engage with university-level debating and learn more about Cambridge. Our Finals Days bring schools from all over the world together to crown the Cambridge Schools and ICYD champions. Serving as a judge and mentor is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to the community.

How do I get involved?

Volunteering to judge Cambridge Schools and ICYD is a great way to get involved with the charitable causes of the Union! By helping out and offering feedback to the school students, you’ll help them develop their skills and confidence. In addition, it is a great opportunity to earn charitable points that allow you to run in Union elections.

The form to sign up for this will be sent out in the weekly Union emails; please fill that out if you want to get involved.

If you’re unable to attend in person, please don’t hesitate to email us at debating@cus.org. We also encourage you to join our Cambridge Debating Facebook group for regular updates.

Joshua Low | Magdalene James Cater | Gonville & Caius Competitive Debating Officers,

2024-2025

RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIPS

Your membership of the Cambridge Union entitles you to reciprocal memberships with some of the world’s finest members’ clubs and free speech societies. Below is a list of reciprocal membership clubs that you can access courtesy of your membership. For information on how to use your reciprocal membership, including on how to obtain the mandatory Letter of Introduction, contact vicepresident@ cus.org.

UK (Outside London) & Ireland

The Athenaeum, Liverpool

The Bury St Edmunds & Farmers Club, Bury St

Edmunds

The Cardiff and County Club, Cardiff

The Clifton Club, Bristol

The Dublin Philosophical Society, Dublin*

The Durham Union Society, Durham*

The Hove Club, Brighton

The Ipswich & Suffolk Club, Ipswich

The Norfolk Club, Norwich

The Northampton & County Club, Northampton

The Oxford Union Society, Oxford*

The Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh

The Trinity College Historical Society, Dublin*

The University of St. Andrews Union Debating Society, St. Andrews*

Europe (Outside UK)

The Business Club Hamburg, Hamburg

The Buyuk Kulup Cercle D’Orient, Istanbul

The Circolo Bononia, Bologna

The Club International e.V., Leipzig

The Grémio Literário, Lisboa

The Residence Exclusive Club, Sofia

The Union International Club, Frankfurt

London

The Century Club

The Lansdowne Club

The National Liberal Club

United States & Canada

The Athenaeum, Pasadena

The Cypress Club, Medicine Hat

The Forest & Stream Club, Montreal

The Halifax Club, Halifax, Canada

The Montauk Club, New York City

The National Club, Toronto

The National Democratic Club, Washington

D.C.

The Saskatoon Club, Saskatoon

The Vancouver Club, Vancouver

The Yale Political Union, New Haven*

Rest of World

The Abbottabad Club, Abbottabad

The Bowring Institute, Bengaluru

The Cape Town Club – Cape Town

The Capital Club Dubai, Dubai

The Foreign Correspondents Club, Hong Kong

The King Hussein Club, Amman

The Melbourne Savage Club, Melbourne

The Rand Club, Johannesburg

The Uruguay Club, Montevideo

The Yokohama Country and Athletic Club, Yokohama

Clubs indicated by an asterisk (*) are debating and free speech societies.

TREASURER’S TREATS

Our Treasurer’s Treats make sure you get the most out of your membership. We hope to continually grow this list over term - so keep your eye out for our weekly members emails and posts on our social media channels! If you have any questions, please get in touch at treasurer@cus.org.

Michaelhouse Cafe

10% off your order when you present your Union membership card.

Ryder & Amies

A special discount code valid to be revealed via the Union’s weekly email.

Gardenia’s

10% off when you present your Union card.

University Arms Hotel

20% off all bookings. More info available at the cus.org Members’ Area.

SIX Brassiere

15% off during term-time, up to 10 people. (Does not apply to set menus)

The Lockhouse

20% discount Monday to Thursday, outside of school holidays and half-terms.

Jack’s Gelato

20% off, exclusively at the All Saints’ Passage location.

20% off for Union members.

DEBATES DEBATES

Photos by Nordin Ćatić and William Blakesley-Herbert

A Message from the Debates O icer

The Union’s first permanent home was in a little pub called The George, now the site of our magnificent 19th-century clubhouse. At first glance, this quirky bit of history might seem irrelevant to our debates, but in truth it perfectly captures what makes them so special. Like a good pub, they can be lively, spirited even, but are always grounded in open conversation. Whether you’re a worldrenowned speaker or a wide-eyed fresher, every voice matters, and our debates are all the richer for it.

Over the course of this term we traverse party politics, foreign policy, art, and so much more. You can see the likes of Sir Tim Martin and Lord Heseltine battle it out over the EU, the Commissioner-General of the Maldives make the case for climate justice, or a former Green Party leader face off against a Russian Count over the future of the monarchy. I hope you can find something that excites you, even riles you up; these debates are meant to provoke and interrogate opinions. To me the hallmark of a good Union debate has always been its continuation beyond the chamber, into the orator, your staircase’s kitchen, or even Gardies and I hope we manage to achieve that this term.

I cannot single-handedly claim credit for this debates program. My wonderful subcommittee have been absolute workhorses, securing many of the speakers. I am immensely grateful for the hours you all put in and hope you manage to find time to enjoy these debates. To the rest of Standing, who have proven so supportive over the last few terms, it has been a pleasure to work with you and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store. Finally, to Anoushka, I would not have been in the position to deliver these debates, nor privileged to serve as an officer of our society, without your support and mentorship. Your warmth, capacity, and coolheadedness have always left me in awe. It is an honour to serve under you, Madame President.

Serving as your Debates Officer has been one of the greatest joys of my time at Cambridge. Free speech is more essential now than ever; our values have empowered individuals to immeasurably advance the human condition, but they exist on pillars of sand and global winds reckon. In that spirit I urge you to engage with our debates, audition to speak, raise points of information, or simply attend. The onus now lies with you to enter into the battle of ideas, I hope to see you all there!

Yours truly,

Jack Peters | Gonville & Caius Debates Officer, Easter 2025

MOTION FOR DEBATE: This House Believes REFORM ARE THE REAL OPPOSITION

On the day of local elections we find ourselves debating Britain’s political newcomer: Reform UK. Their breakthrough at the last election and rise in the polls has caused much media attention and scrutiny. This debate aims to assess whether they are here to stay, and if they have the potential to displace the Conservatives as the leading party of the right.

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

The Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe Marco Longhi

The Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew Mitchell MP

The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Buckland

Thursday 1st May, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

Open to all

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

The Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe The Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew Mitchell

Ann Widdecombe was the Conservative MP for Maidstone and The Weald from 1987 to 2010. She served as a Minister in John Major’s government and held the posts Shadow Education and Shadow Home Secretary. In 2019, she changed political allegiance to the Brexit Party and was subsequently elected as an MEP, serving until Britain’s exit from the EU.

Marco Longhi

Marco Longhi was the Conservative MP for Dudley North from 2019 to 2024, following on from twenty years in local government. He served in the government as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Brazil, for which he was awarded the highest order of merit given to non-Brazilian nationals. Formerly a Conservative, Marco recently joined Reform UK.

Sir Andrew Mitchell has been the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield since 2001, and previously served as MP for Gedling from 1987-97. He has served as the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Deputy Foreign Secretary, and Minister of State for International Development and Africa. He was President of the Cambridge Union in Lent 1978.

The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Buckland

Sir Robert Buckland was the Conservative MP for Swindon South from 2010 to 2024. He previously served as Solicitor General, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary Of State for Justice. He was knighted in 2022 for his political and public service, and was recently appointed Wales’s Third Church Estates Commissioner.

Student Speaker Student Speaker

This could be you!

Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

This could be you!

Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

Easter Term 2025 The Second Debate

MOTION

FOR DEBATE:

This House

Believes THE MONARCHY’S TIME IS UP

85 years on from VE Day—famously remembered for Winston Churchill’s Buckingham Palace balcony appearance with King George VI—we find ourselves debating the monarchy’s future. Given its deep roots in British and global society, we aim to consider both the monarchy’s role as an institution and its place in shaping national identity.

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Bennett

Peter Tatchell

Kelechi Okafor

The Rt. Hon. Sir John Hayes CBE MP

Andrew Rosindell MP

Count Nikolai Tolstoy FRSL

Thursday 8th May, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Bennett

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle has been a Green Party life peer in the House of Lords since 2019, having led the party from 2012-16. She is a prominent voice on education and constitutional reform and is also the author of Change Everything: How We Can Rethink, Repair, and Rebuild Society.

The Rt. Hon. Sir John Hayes CBE

Sir John Hayes has been the Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings since 1997. During this time he has served as the Senior Parliamentary Advisor to the Prime Minister, Minister of State for Security, and held briefs in the departments of Transport and Education

Peter Tatchell Andrew Rosindell MP

Peter Tatchell has been a campaigner for human rights, LGBT+ liberation, democracy and global justice for over 50 years. He was the defeated Labour candidate in the notorious 1983 Bermondsey by-election and has twice attempted a citizen’s arrest on Robert Mugabe.

Kelechi Okafor

Kelechi Okafor is a British-Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, writer, presenter, actor, and political commentator. She is the creator and host of the Say Your Mind podcast and speaks on Black identity and systemic injustice, particularly engaging in advocacy for Black women.

Andrew Rosindell has been the Conservative MP for Romford since 2001. He served as the Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2004-5 and later as a Shadow Opposition Whip. Until his appointment as a Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister in 2024, he was the longest-serving member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Count Nikolai Tolstoy FRSL

Count Nikolai Tolstoy is a British-Russian historian and author, as well as the current nominal head of the House of Tolstoy. Since 1987, he has been the Chancellor of the International Monarchist League. He has unsuccesfully stood as a UKIP candidate at four general elections, including against David Cameron in 2010.

Easter Term 2025

MOTION FOR DEBATE:

This House

Regrets

The Third Debate

WESTERN INTERVENTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Middle East has grabbed the headlines in recent years with significant regional developments: war in Gaza, the fall of Assad, and a weakened Iran. This debate aims to assess the role of the West in shaping the region’s people, politics, and conflict. Has this been a force for good or has it undermined the region’s stability and quality of life?

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

Ann Wright

Iyad El-Baghdadi

Sir John Jenkins

Dr. Louise Kettle

Thursday 15th May, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

Ann Wright Sir John Jenkins

Ann Wright is a former U.S. diplomat and retired Colonel, having served 29 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves. She resigned from the U.S. Department of State in March 2003 in opposition to the Iraq war and became active in several antiwar movements. Currently she sits on the board of Veterans for Peace and CODEPINK: Women for Peace amongst other organisations.

Sir John Jenkins is a former senior diplomat, having served as the British Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. He was Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign Office from 2007-2009 and took an active part in the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry. He was a Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and is

Iyad El-Baghdadi Dr. Louise Kettle

Iyad El-Baghdadi is a Palestinian activist, writer, and entrepreneur known for his work on Middle Eastern politics, authoritarianism, and global democracy, with a focus on Western foreign policy’s impact. A prominent voice of the Arab Spring, he was exiled from the UAE in 2014 due to his pro-democracy activism. He now serves as

Dr. Louise Kettle is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham and an expert in British Foreign and Security Policy, focussing on the Middle East. Her expertise has led her to regularly advise the government and the military. She is published widely including Learning From the History of British Interventions in the Middle

Student Speaker Student Speaker

This could be you!

Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

This could be you!

Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

Easter Term 2025

The Equalities Debate

MOTION FOR DEBATE: This House Would

SACRIFICE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

Recent government decisions, such as Rachel Reeves’s green light for expansions at Heathrow and Luton airports, have brought the tension between economic growth and climate justice to the political fore. This Equalities Debate aims to explore whether these goals can be reconciled: are these two ends mutually exclusive, or even desirable in the first place?

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

HE. Dr. Iruthisham Adam

Tessa Khan

Pippa Heylings MP

Tom Harwood

Sarah Gordon

Thursday 22nd May, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

H.E. Dr. Iruthisham Adam Pippa Heylings MP

H.E. Dr. Iruthisham Adam is the HighCommissioner of The Maldives to the UK. She has held other diplomatic postings as the Maldivian Ambassador to Germany, Italy, and the WTO amongst others. In 2013, she was elected VicePresident of the UN Human Rights Council and served in the Maldivian Government as Minister for Health from 2015-2016.

Tessa Khan

Tessa Khan is a climate lawyer and was the cofounder and director of the Climate Litigation Network. She was part of the team responsible for the first case in the world in which a court ordered a national government to reduce emissions. In 2019, Time named her as one of fifteen women leading the fight against climate change.

Pippa Heylings has been the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire since 2024. Before Parliament, she spent twenty years working with governments and the UN to facilitate a climate resilient world. She now serves as the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero and is the Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change.

Tom Harwood is a journalist and political commentator, currently working as the Deputy Political Editor at GB News. He has previously written for the Telegraph, Spectator, New Statesman, and Daily Mail, as well as having appeared on flagship programs such as Question Time and Newsnight

Student Speaker Sarah Gordon

This could be you! Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

Sarah Gordon is a Visiting Professor at LSE’s Grantham Research Institute, leading a project on mobilising private capital for environmental policy. Previously, she was the founding Chief Executive of the Impact Investing Institute and spent 18 years as an editor at the Financial Times.

Tom Harwood

Easter Term 2025 The Fifth Debate

MOTION FOR DEBATE: This House Believes

THE EU IS A FAILED PROJECT

As we approach ten years since the Brexit vote, having finally left five years ago, we are hosting some of the biggest names on either side of the referendum to evaluate the European project as a whole. This debate aims not only to assess Britain’s relationship with Europe, but the success of the EU as a wider supra-national project.

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

Sir Tim Martin

TBA

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Heseltine Christine Jardine MP

Monday 16th June, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

Sir Tim Martin

Sir Tim Martin is the founding chairman of Wetherspoons. He opened his first Wetherspoons pub in 1979, aged 24; today there are 795 Wetherspoons across the country. He was a leading advocate for Brexit, having donated to the Vote Leave campaign and appeared in national media.

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Heseltine

Lord Heseltine was the Conservative MP for Tavistock, then Henley, from 1966-2001, and was elevated to a life peer in 2001. From 1995-97 he was the Deputy Prime Minister and was a cabinet minister in various departments from 1979-86 and 90-97. He was the President of The European Movement from 2019-24 and was involved in the campaign for a people’s vote.

TBA Christine Jardine MP

More information on this speaker is coming soon! Look to our social medias for more information.

Christine Jardine has been the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West since 2017. Before parliament, she taught journalism at the University of Strathclyde and worked as a Special Advisor in the coalition government. She is the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Scotland and Women and Equalities, having previously held the Home Affairs, Foreign, and EU portfolios amongst others.

Easter Term 2025 The Sixth Debate

MOTION FOR DEBATE: This House Would Not

JUDGE YESTERDAY’S ART BY TODAY’S POLITICS

Discourse about the interaction between identity politics and art, including questions about censoring historical media, lies at the heart of contemporary criticism. This debate aims to examine whether art from the past should be held to, and viewed through, the lens of today’s moral standards.

PROPOSITION OPPOSITION

Anoushka Kale

Giannina Braschi

René Viénet

Professor Gayatri Spivak David Černý

Thursday19th June, 8pm

Emergency Debate begins at 7:30pm

FOR THE AYES FOR THE NOES

Anoushka Kale Professor Gayatri Spivak

Anoushka Kale is the outgoing President of the Cambridge Union and is a third-year English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College. She has a particular interest in Victorian and modern American literature, and she is the former Chair of the Cambridge University Liberal Association.

Giannina Braschi

Giannina Braschi is a Puerto Rican poet, novelist, dramatist, and scholar known for her mixed-genre literature and political philosophy. Her celebrated works include the first-ever Spanglish novel Yo-Yo Boing! and the geo-political tragicomedy United States of Bannana. She was named the Glocal

René Viénet

René Viénet is a French sinologist, situationist writer, and filmmaker. He used the technique of detournment, the diversion of existing cultural elements to new and subversive purposes, in his work. He was expelled from China in 1966 for his critical approach to the Maoist regime and 1977 released Peking Duck Soup, his best known work,

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is University Professor and a founding member of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia University. Considered one of the world’s most influential postcolonial intellectuals, she holds fifteen honorary doctorates, and her work Can the Subaltern Speak? has become a worldwide classic.

David Černý

David Černý is a Czech artist, known for his provocative sculptures. He came to notoriety in 1991, painting a Soviet tank (serving as a memorial) pink. His work is known for tackling historical, political, and social themes in innovative and disruptive ways. In 2001, he founded MeetFactory, a contemporary art center.

Student Speaker

This could be you! Details for auditions can be found on page 4 or on our social media profiles.

FLOOR SPEECH PRIZES

Free Custom Ryder & Amies Hoodie

£50 Voucher for Amori

Dostoyevsky Book Set

Garden Party Ticket

Bespoke Jack’s Flavour

£50 voucher for the Orator

Post-Debate Food & Drink

Join us in the Orator after each debate on Thursday for chips and themed cocktails!

SPEAKERS

Photos by Nordin Ćatić, Flo Tawns, and Chris Williamson

A Message from the Speakers O icer

In November 2024, I stood in the Chamber during Hustings for the Easter 2025 elections. I ran on a seven word platform: ‘Putting the You Back In the Union’. Following my election as Speakers’ Officer, my team and I got to making good on this promise. Putting You Back in the Union is about so much more than just attending events. It is about giving you the opportunity to shape discourse by suggesting speakers; giving us feedback on our interview style and bringing you a range of speakers that represent current affairs, your political positions, your hobbies and most importantly, your future. As you turn the pages of the Speakers’ section, I hope you are filled with excitement like meat the opportunity to challenge, engage with and enjoy the rich selection of perspectives on offer this term.

One highlight of this term is the Business Trailblazers Day. This is a new opportunity brought to you by the Speakers and Social Events Committee. Over the course of the day, we will be joined by six CEOs and Founders, from companies including LinkedIn, IBM, JPMorgan and Accenture. Your future in the business world begins here! For those of us who are more politically inclined, (HSPS girlies unite!) I hope to see you at our evenings with Nadhim Zahawi, Dr Mary Trump and Ilan Pappe. Want to become the next media influencer? Seize the chance to brush up on your publicity skills with Newsweek CEO, Dev Pragad and Online CEO Hanushka Toni. Lastly, this Easter term is an opportunity to let loose; laugh; and forget about your exams with Katie Price and Femi Koleoso, bandleader of the Ezra Collective. It has never been easier to connect with your faves - fill out our Speakers Ballot, suggest interview questions and tell us all about your love-hate relationship with an event in the same form!

I have always seen the Union as my second family and home; and, like any good family, we support and build up each other. This Speakers’ termcard could not have come together without my Union family. I would like to extend my thanks to my subcommittee - all seventeen of you are some of the most hardworking, dedicated and patient people in the world. Thank you for putting up with, and delivering on, my high expectations. To Heemie and Freddie, thank you for leading the team - I can’t wait to see you grow in the Union! I would also like to thank other members of my Standing Committee. To Jack, Innes and Maddie, you are all absolutely brilliant - you make the Monday mornings and vacation committees worth it! To Roberta, thank you for being such a trailblazer as Vice President - I am so excited to work with you and watch you thrive. To Anoushka - Madame President. You are truly an amazing person, and an inspiration to us all. Thank you for giving us your all - none of this could not have been possible without you. My final thanks are to my ‘real’ family - thank you for supporting me throughout my Union Career; I love you all so very much.

To my fellow Union Members; this Speakers’ term card is for you. I hope you see a little bit of yourself in each speaker. I hope you are inspired by their confidence; their passion for their expertise; and by their selflessness in agreeing to speak to us. There will be speakers whose views do not align with your own; or whose names carry certain reputations. I encourage you all to think beyond the headlines this term. This term is about everyday people who have gone on to do great things. I hope you are inspired and realize that one day, this will be you too. Thank you for letting me serve you. Thank you for letting me put you back at the centre of Union life.

With all the love in the world,

Aliya Adebowale | Trinity Speakers Officer, Easter 2025

Baron Layard

ECONOMIST

Richard Layard is the founder-Director of the Centre for Economic Performance: a leading inter-disciplinary research centre at the London School of Economics. He is currently co-Director of their Community Wellbeing programme.

Layard is an economist who wants public policy to be targeted at the wellbeing of the people. To this end, he has written 6 books and some 40 articles. The first book, Happiness: Lessons from a New Science (2005) was translated into 20 languages. The most recent (co-authored) book Wellbeing: Science and Policy is a field-defining textbook, showing how wellbeing science can supplement traditional economics by providing a more complete account of what affects human wellbeing.

In addition to all this, he has co-founded two organisations targeted at wellbeing. Action for Happiness (founded in 2010) is a grassroots movement to promote a happier way of living. It now has over half a million members. The World Wellbeing Movement (founded in 2022) is a ‘top-down’ organisation to persuade decisionmakers to make wellbeing their priority. In these various ways, Richard has been trying to promote the use of evidence to increase wellbeing.

Richard is currently working on a major study of value-for-money across the whole field of public expenditure, where value is measured in terms of wellbeing. He considers this the next key step forward in wellbeing science.

Tuesday 6th May, 6pm - open to all

Katie Price

MEDIA PERSONALITY & FORMER MODEL

Katie Price is a British media personality, businesswoman, and model, best known for her dynamic and extensive career in the entertainment industry. With a largerthan-life personality and captivating life story, she has become a fan favourite in the UK with a dedicated army of supporters.

In the early days of her career, she quickly became a well-known model with a string of successful campaigns for a number of leading brands and British tabloids. Her undeniable charisma led her to transition into Television and a number of reality TV shows, securing her place as a household name. She gained massive popularity through appearances on reality TV series including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Celebrity Big Brother, What Katie Did Next, and Katie Price: My Crazy Life to name a few.

In addition to her entertainment career, Katie has used her platform to raise awareness about a number of complex disabilities and causes close to her heart. Most notable is Harvey’s Law Campaign, which aims to make online abuse a criminal offense.

Katie Price remains an iconic figure in British popular culture, known for her resilience, business acumen, and unapologetic personality. Her journey from a model to a media personality and businesswoman is a testament to her determination and

Wednesday 7th May, 7pm

Business Trailblazers Day

Reid Hoffman

CO-FOUNDER OF LINKEDIN

An accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and investor, Reid Hoffman has played an integral role in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses. In 2003 he co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, and in 2009 he joined Greylock as a partner. In 2022, Hoffman co-founded Inflection AI, an AI studio that created Pi. In 2025, he co-founded Manas AI, a company that leverages proprietary AI and best-in-class biology to cure cancer.

He currently serves on the boards of Aurora, Entrepreneur First, Microsoft, Nauto, and a few early-stage companies still in stealth. In addition, he serves on a number of not-for-profit boards, including Endeavor, CZ Biohub, Berggruen Institute, Opportunity@Work, the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, and the MacArthur Foundation’s Lever for Change. He is the host of two award-winning podcasts: Masters of Scale, where iconic business leaders share strategies that have helped them grow; and Possible, a podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future - and what it will take to get there.

He is the co-author of six best-selling books: The Startup of You, The Alliance, Blitzscaling, Masters of Scale, and Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future. He is an Aspen Institute Crown Fellow, a Marshall Scholar at Oxford, and a graduate of Stanford University.

Friday 9th May, 10am

Building an Online Brand

MENTORING SESSION with HANUSHKA TONI

Join us in the afternoon for the Business Trailblazers Day for a presentation and mentoring session with one of the most successful young business owners today. Learn the ropes of building an online presence, and get 1-1 advice with her about starting up a business in your 20s.

Hanushka Toni is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sellier, the UK’s leading curated luxury resale platform. Originally a physical store, it pivoted online during the pandemic and now operates globally as a thriving e-commerce platform.

2pm

Business Panel

Join us for the first members-led Business Panel in the Union’s history, where bosses of J.P. Morgan, IBM, Accenture and Cobra Beer will join us in our Chamber. The session will be followed by a networking session with panellists and their recruitment teams (sign-up required).

Andrew L. Cohen

Andrew L. Cohen is the Executive Chairman of the Global Private Bank and a Global Chair of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. He leads 23 Wall, the firm’s Institutional Wealth Management practice, and spearheads the collaboration between J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank and the Private Bank.

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Bilimoria

Lord Bilimoria is the founder of Cobra Beer, a household brand in the UK and one of the most awarded beers in the world. He is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a Lieutenant to His Majesty’s Commission of Lieutenancy for the City of London, and a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. He previously served as Senior Non-Executive Director at Booker Group (now Tesco PLC).

Dr. Nicola Hodson

Dr. Nicola Hodson, Chair of IBM UK and Ireland since January 2025, is a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in business and digital transformation. Formerly IBM UK&I CEO, she spent 15 years in senior roles at Microsoft and currently serves as Deputy President of techUK.

Shaheen Sayed

Shaheen Sayed is the CEO for Accenture in the UK, Ireland and Africa, overseeing all industries and services. She is a recognised thought leader on inclusive business cultures and talent in the digital age. She was listed by the Financial Times as one of the Top 10 Global Ethnic Minority Leaders in 2020.

Friday 9th May, 5:30pm

Justin Welby

FORMER

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The Rt. Rev. and The Rt. Hon. Justin Welby was born in 1956 and grew up in both London and Norfolk. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he also came to the Christian faith. After university, he spent 11 years working in the oil industry, with roles in Paris and London.

In 1989, he began training for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham and began his clerical career as a curate in Nuneaton before becoming a vicar near Leamington Spa. He went on to co-lead the reconciliation ministry at Coventry Cathedral, travelling widely in Africa and the Middle East to work in areas affected by conflict.

His journey in church leadership continued as Dean of Liverpool and then Bishop of Durham, before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013. He presided over the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and King Charles III’s coronation.

Monday 12th May, 6pm

Femi Koleoso

DRUMMER & LEADER OF THE EZRA COLLECTIVE

Femi Koleoso is the drummer and bandleader of jazz quintet band, the Ezra Collective, which became first jazz band to win the Group of the Year Award at the Brits in 2025. The band also won the Mercury Prize in 2023, and in the same year they performed at Glastonbury Festival.

Their music fuses elements of Afrobeats, Calypso, Reggae, and Hip-Hop to produce the high-vibration jazz sound for which they’ve become renowned. They have 2.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and Barack Obama even selected their 2024 single ‘God Gave Me Feet for Dancing’ for his list of 25 favourite songs of the year! He is also a member of Jorja Smith’s band, and he was a DJ for Reprezent Radio and Worldwide FM.

Friday 16th May, 7pm

Dev Pragad

CEO OF NEWSWEEK

Resilient businesses require resilient leaders. Few people exemplify what it means to be a resilient, influential, and responsible business leader more than Dev Pragad. A media and technology executive, entrepreneur, and CEO of one of the world’s most influential and recognized news publications, Pragad transformed Newsweek’s readership base into a digital powerhouse with 100 million readers per month, the highest in its 87-year history.

Pragad is an entrepreneur, a thought leader, a CEO, and a change-maker. He believes the most successful leaders today are purpose driven, maintain a sense of opportunity, champion change, consistently strive for self-improvement, and empower those around them. As CEO, Pragad transformed Newsweek into a highly efficient, digital-first, profitable enterprise.

Today, Newsweek is a standard bearer for modern responsible journalism. Newsweek has a 100 million-strong global audience and a base of digital subscribers who believe quality journalism is worth paying for. Under Pragad’s leadership, Newsweek is directly effecting global change on other businesses, governments, and community leaders. The turnaround of Newsweek under Pragad’s leadership was so successful that Harvard Business School (HBS) has published two case studies that are taught at HBS Executive Programs. Pragad has participated in the teaching of the Newsweek case several times at HBS to some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and business executives.

Monday 19th May, 6pm

Nadhim Zahawi

FORMER

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

The Rt. Hon. Nadhim Zahawi is a former Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as Conservative Cabinet Minister and MP for Stratford-on-Avon. Born in Baghdad, he and his family fled Saddam Hussein’s regime and sought refuge in the UK when he was 11 years old, arriving not being able to speak a word of English. He later earned a degree in chemical engineering from University College London before transitioning into business.

In 2000, Nadhim co-founded YouGov, which grew into one of the world’s most successful polling and market research firms. He served as CEO until 2010, when he stepped down to become the MP for Stratford-on-Avon, a position he held until 2024. During his time in government, Nadhim held several senior roles, including Chancellor of the Exchequer and Education Secretary. His most notable achievements include leading the UK’s world-leading COVID-19 vaccination rollout and overseeing the state funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Since leaving politics, Nadhim has taken on key leadership roles in business. He is the Non-Executive Chairman of The Very Group, working closely with its directors and management team to drive sales, profitability and expansion. In January 2025, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board at Omniyat, a luxury real estate company in Dubai. That same month, ADOR Diagnostics also announced his appointment as Chairman of its Advisory Board.

Tuesday 20th May, 5:30pm

Charlie Kirk

CEO OF TURNING POINT

USA

Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to identifying, organising, and empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government. With a presence on over 3,000 high school and college campuses nationwide, over 650,000 lifetime student members, and 450 full- and part-time staff all across the country, Turning Point USA is the largest and fastest-growing conservative youth activist organisation in the country. At just 30 years old, Charlie has done thousands of media appearances and his writings can be seen on Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, Newsweek, The Washington Times, Breitbart, American Greatness, Daily Caller, The American Mind, The Washington Post, and Human Events.

Charlie was previously named in the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ list and was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention as well as the opening speaker at the 2020 RNC. He’s the author of four books including the #1 Amazon and New York Times best-seller The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future from Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, and in 2022 he released The College Scam: How America’s Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America’s Youth with Winning Team Publishing. His upcoming book Rightwing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West releases in the spring of 2024.

Tuesday 20th May, 7:30pm

Mary Trump

AUTHOR & CRITIC OF DONALD TRUMP

Mary L. Trump is an American psychologist, author, and political commentator known for her powerful voice at the intersection of psychology and politics. She is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including the explosive Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man (2020), which sold nearly one million copies on its first day of publication. Her other acclaimed works include The Reckoning (2021) and the memoir Who Could Ever Love You (2024).

Dr. Trump holds a PhD in clinical psychology and previously taught graduate courses in developmental psychology, psychopathology, and trauma as an adjunct professor at Adelphi University. She also holds a Master’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

In addition to her books, she writes The Good in Us, a best-selling newsletter on Substack, and is the founder of Mary Trump Media. Her YouTube channel has attracted a dedicated audience of over 370,000 subscribers, where she continues to engage with topics ranging from democracy and mental health to justice and personal healing.

Sunday 25th May, 6pm

Ilan Pappé

HISTORIAN

Professor Ilan Pappé is the director of the European Center for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter and a senior fellow at the University of Exeter’s Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies. He is also the chair of the board of the charity The Nakba Memorial Foundation.

Pappé was born in Haifa in 1954. He received his D.Phil from the University of Oxford in 1984. From 1984 to 2006, he taught at the University of Haifa; he moved to the University of Exeter in 2007.

Pappé has written 26 books to date, including: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2007) and On Palestine (jointly with Noam Chomsky in 2010). Amongst his publications are also The Ten Myths of Israel (2018), The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Israeli Occupation (2019), A Historical Dictionary of Palestine (with Johnny Mansour 2021), and Our Vision for Liberation (with Ramzy Baroud 2022).

His two most recent books are Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic (2024) and A Very Short History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (2024).

Tuesday 17th June, 7pm

Sign

up for the

SPEAKERS BALLOT

Meet the Union’s speakers at drinks receptions!

One of our core goals at the Union is to connect you, the members, with the speakers that we host. That is why we will once again be running a speaker ballot, giving you the opportunity to attend drinks receptions with this term’s guests. Keep an eye on our social media to get your chance!

Timothy Lambden

Chris Williamson

Chris Williamson

Chris Williamson

Nordin Catic

Nordin Catic

Nordin Catic Flo Tawns

Nordin Catic

EQUALITIES

Photos by Ted Yip, Amina Khawaja, Viva Croft, and Nordin Ćatić

A Message from the Equalities O icer

The Union is founded on a belief in the power of free speech. This freedom means little unless it includes a plurality of different viewpoints. As your Equalities Officer for Easter 2025, it is my job to ensure that our speakers reflect not just a variety of opinions but also a variety of lived experiences. I hope you see this underlying mission reflected in the line-up.

This term, we’re excited to welcome a range of guests. Kicking things off is actor and disability rights advocate George Robinson, best known for his role as Isaac Goodwin in Sex Education. We’ll also be joined by Ibrahim Mohammed (aka IbzMo), who rose to fame with his YouTube channel centred on demystifying the Oxbridge experience, and Christopher Williams, who listed the first company on the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s US market. Alongside these, we’re looking forward to our panel on the future of reproductive technologies in collaboration with the university’s Reproductive Rights, FemTech, and Menstrual Health societies; in this, we’ll be exploring both the science and its broader implications.

We’re also proud to be spotlighting the intersection of climate and social justice. We’ll be hosting some of CamCOP’s events, which focus on the urgent need to decolonise climate action. Last but certainly not least, it’s been an honour to work with Jack on this term’s equalities debate: THB We Must Sacrifice Economic Growth for Climate Justice.

I am so grateful to my wonderful subcommittee: Tasie, Bethinn, Isaac, Harmanjot, Cian, and Rares. They have approached this term with incredible dedication and creativity, and I simply couldn’t have done it without them – or without the rest of the lovely Standing Committee, of course. (Thanks must also go to my begrudgingly supportive non-Union friends.)

It’s been a privilege to help shape this term. I hope you all enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together!

Lots of love and hope to see you around, Madeleine Matthews | Jesus Equalities Officer, Easter 2025

George Robinson

Actor

George is best known for his role of Isaac in hit Netflix show ‘Sex Education’. Other credits include the upcoming Disney + / BBC Dr Who spin-off ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea’, Apple’s ‘Silo’ and Dalgliesh, opposite Bertie Carvel. George also features as JP in the feature film My Fault: London, now available on Prime.

Open to All

Monday 5th May - 7:30pm

The Future of Reproductive Technologies

In February, the UK’s first birth following a womb transplant made medical history. Meanwhile, the number of surrogates in the UK has risen by over 75% in the past decade, and more than 50,000 patients underwent IVF in 2022 alone. As reproductive technologies continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace, they prompt increasingly urgent questions about ethics, autonomy, and inequality. This panel brings together voices from different fields to unpack how these developments are reshaping the future of parenthood and reproductive freedom.

Open to All Panel

Teresa Baron

Teresa Baron is a Research Fellow in the Philosophy Department at the University of Nottingham, where she works primarily on reproductive ethics and philosophy of parenthood. Her recent publications include The Artificial Womb on Trial (2025, Cambridge Elements in Bioethics and Neuroethics), Philosophy of the Family: Ethics, Identity and Responsibility (2024, Bloomsbury, with Christopher Cowley) and The Philosopher’s Guide to Parenthood: Storks, Surrogates and Stereotypes (2023, Cambridge University Press).

Sarah Jones

Sarah Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of SurrogacyUK, the largest not-for-profit surrogacy organisation in the UK. Having been involved in UK surrogacy for 23 years and completed five altruistic surrogacy journeys herself, Sarah brings a unique voice to the surrogacy debate. She is actively engaged in surrogacy law reform, with a particular focus on safeguarding the UK’s non-commercial model. Sarah advocates for a legal framework that upholds full bodily autonomy for surrogates, reinforces a truly surrogate-led approach to practice, and protects reproductive choice - including every woman’s right to choose to become a surrogate.

Cathy Herbrand

Cathy Herbrand is a Professor of Medical and Family Sociology and the Deputy Director of the Centre for Reproduction Research at De Montfort University. She has been a member of the Belgian Advisory Committee on Bioethics since 2014 and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Reproduction and Fertility. Her research interests lie in the social study of reproduction, biotechnologies and genetics, with a particular focus on reproductive decision-making and gender issues. She is especially interested in exploring the interactions between new parental forms and reproductive practices and their legal regulation.

Tuesday 13th May, 6pm

Christopher Williams

Financial Leader

Open to All

Christopher Williams is one of the Caribbean’s most influential financial leaders, widely regarded for his role in transforming the region’s investment landscape. He is the co-founder and former CEO of PROVEN Group Limited, a pioneering Caribbean private equity and financial services firm headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica.

Initially, he made his mark as the CEO of NCB Capital Markets, transforming it into the Caribbean Wealth Management market leader. Under his stewardship, PROVEN evolved from a startup into an enterprise managing assets in excess of US$3 Billion - in a diversified portfolio across banking, wealth management, microfinance, real estate, and venture capital.

PROVEN is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and has been lauded for consistent shareholder returns, transparent governance, and a disciplined, panCaribbean investment strategy. As the founding Chairman of the Caribbean Alternative Investments Association, his mission is to foster venture capital and private equity growth across the region. Williams is recognized not only for his financial achievements but for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across the region. He’s also a noted philanthropist, having championed causes in education and disability rights. In 2024, Williams was honoured in New York with the Lowell F. Hawthorne Business Leadership Award for his work connecting the Jamaican diaspora with high-quality investment opportunities.

Now leading Spark FDI, his new venture focused on catalysing foreign direct investment into Jamaica, Christopher Williams continues to shape the region’s economic future.

Tuesday 13th May - 7:30pm

Ibrahim Mohammed

Influencer & Solicitor

Open to All

Ibrahim Mohammed is a multi-award winning Ambassador of the Aziz Foundation, a Trainee Solicitor at Farrer & Co, and a former education influencer. He has been recognised as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Muslims in Europe 2024 and ranked among the Top 10 Workplace Heroes in the UK.

Ibrahim’s remarkable career spans communications, influencer marketing, and higher education, with a strong focus on improving access to Oxford and Cambridge for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Through his YouTube platform IbzMo, which he launched during his undergraduate and master’s studies, he built a community of over 100,000 subscribers. His honest and engaging vlogs, documenting his journey through Cambridge and Oxford as someone from a non traditional background, have attracted over 15 million views.

He has been credited by both universities, as well as thousands of students, for inspiring applications and helping to shape more inclusive policies and outreach programmes.

Most recently, Ibrahim was a Manager at The Aziz Foundation, where he led the delivery of community grants, scholarships, and fellowships. In this role, he pioneered the creation of scholarships for underprivileged students at Jesus College, Oxford, and Wolfson College, Cambridge.

Ibrahim holds a BA in Psychology from Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, an MSc in Higher Education from the University of Oxford, and an LLM in Law. He is currently training as a solicitor at Farrer & Co, where he has been described as a “powerhouse,” a “catalyst for change,” and an “unprecedented trainee,” driving efforts to build a more inclusive culture within the 300 year old law firm.

Saturday 17th May - 5pm

CAM COP 2025 DECOLONISED

Photos by Christopher Lorde

A Message from the Social Events O icer

In Michaelmas, you were faced with a choice: vote for me, or vote for R.O.N. (still not entirely sure who they are). I’m beyond grateful you put your faith in me.

I promised to focus on strengthening community within the Union and to build a social calendar that reflects the diversity of our membership. I believe we’ve done just that. Whether you’re looking to celebrate with friends, unwind during exam season, or make new professional connections, our events are designed to offer something for everyone.

We’ve started with some small changes to make the Union a more welcoming place during exams. We’re improving access to member spaces and also serving up complimentary coffee and sweet treats through our President’s Tea series. Alongside this, we’re introducing themed cocktails on debate nights – discounted for members – to keep things interesting.

But if that’s not enough to get you through the door, don’t worry. This term’s events programme is (to put it lightly) diverse.

We’re kicking things off with a traditional Scottish ceilidh in collaboration with the Scottish Society. Then it’s on to a Eurovision Watch Party, a Sip and Paint night, and – of course – our signature Summer Garden Party to wrap up the term in style (buy your tickets now!).

We’ve also teamed up with the Speakers team to bring you some truly sensational socials including networking and collaborations with JP Morgan, Accenture and IBM. Not only are we curing your exam stress but we are helping you land a job!

I’d like to extend a big thank you to the Social Events Subcommittee – Ariunaa, Roisin, Nabil, Shafeen, Georgia and Faisal. Thanks also to all of our collaborating societies and to Katie Clarke for her exceptional support of the Summer Garden Party.

See you there.

Innes Morgan | Churchill Social Events Officer, Easter 2025

a drinks reception with the

Tuesday 29th April, 7pm The Union Library

The Cambridge Union invites you to Open to members & non-members

Join us this Easter to discuss politics, economics, public policy & careers in Westminster with one of Britain’s leading think tanks!

Easter Ceilidh

with the Cambridge University Scottish Society

Join us for an evening of traditional Scottish country dancing and music! Open to all, regardless of ability. Tickets available at www.cus.org/event.

Friday 2nd May, 8pm

Wednesday 7th May

Wednesday 14th May

2pm

with complimentary tea & coffee Members’ (Hawking) Room

Eurovision Watch

Party Saturday 17th May 7pm

Sip & Paint

Wednesday 21st May

6:30pm Members’ Room

Treasurer

|

S T A N D I N G

C O M M I T T E E

President

Anousha Kale | Sidney Sussex

Vice President

Roberta Rennie | Sidney Sussex

Debates Officer

Equalities Officer

Madeleine Matthews | Jesus

Communications Officer

James Cater | Gonville &

Competitive Debating Officers

Joshua Low |

President-Elect

Ivan Alexei Ampiah | Downing

O F F I C E R - E L E C T S

Social Events Officer Speakers Officer

Executive Officer-Elect Speakers Officer-Elect

Equalities Officer-Elect

Isaac James | Wolfson

Social Events Officer-Elect

Image Credits: Nordin Ćatić

Ben Davison | Homerton

Orla Hunt | Homerton

Joanne Yau | Lucy Cavendish

Caius

Magdalene

Innes Morgan | Churchill Aliya Adebowale | Trinity

Alexandra Defterios | Robinson

Joshua Dargan

Homerton

Jack Peters | Gonville & Caius

Secretary

F U L L C O M M I T T E E

Membership & Alumni

Christopher Lorde | Christ’s Seyan Dattani | Wolfson

Access & Outreach

Prisha Jindal | Lucy Cavendish Aishwarya Khadka | Clare

Events Management Department

Head: Roberto Lorente Gomez | ARU

Deputy: Pollyanna Greene-Wright | Emmanuel

Deputy: Heemie Comrie | St John’s

Alexander Corbould | Peterhouse

Bernhard Beran | Christ’s

Cat Smyly | Emmanuel

Emma Tenzler | Jesus Ewan Cornwall | Jesus

Freddie Bishop | Newnham

Haris Khan | Gonville and Caius

Mikka Jacobs | Peterhouse

Tania Chan | St Catharine’s

Tash Doherty | Newnham

Tasie Rees | Jesus

Zainab Miah | Newnham

Publicity Department

Head: Freya Thompson | Selwyn

Deputy: Chloé Hawryluk | St Edmund’s

Deputy: Harriet Crust | King’s

Jaipreet Lully | Murray Edwards

Marvey Pongpattanapun | St Edmund’s

Samia Rashid | St Catharine’s

Utsav Atri | Homerton

Vienna Kwan | Selwyn

Rebecca Yang | Lucy Cavendish

Welfare Officers

Sami Firdose | King’s

Zainab Khan | Homerton

Librarian’s Committee

Max Eshelby | Clare Lily-Grace Williams | Girton

Guest Liaison Department

Head: Eric Zalcman | Homerton

Senior: Jaspar Burnside | St John’s

Senior: Sadia Uddin | Sidney Sussex

Benjamin Barrett-Miles | Churchill

Bethinn Feely | Lucy Cavendish

Harri Kandel | Gonville and Caius

James He | Magdalene

Joe Hesketh | Fitzwilliam

Olivia Arney | St John’s

Sophia Parr | King’s

Theo Innes | Selwyn

Theo Langslow | St John’s

Niamh Walters | Murray Edwards

Audio Visual Department

Head: Oscar Beechey-Newman | St Catharine’s

Senior: Faron Smith | Selwyn

Harrison Base | Wolfson

Jonathan Corner | Gonville and Caius

Photography

Head: Nordin Catic | St John’s

Flo Tawns

Timothy Lambden | Girton

Ted Yip | Christ’s

William Blakesley-Herbert

S U B - C O M M I T T E E S

Speakers Sub-Committee

Senior Speakers’ Co-ordinators:

Freddie Bishop | Newnham

Heemie Comrie | St John’s

Alina Wang | Pembroke

Arnisa Rama | Queens’

Claire Ding | Trinity Hall

Dhristi Agarwal | St Edmund’s

Faron Smith | Selwyn

Harri Kandel | Gonville and Caius

Harry Anderson Endean | Sidney Sussex

Isabel Cotton | Emmanuel

Jacob Shapiro | Trinity

Jayden Bafoa | Fitzwilliam

John Kirkley | St Edmund’s

Marvey Pongpattanapun | St Edmund’s

Mikka Jacobs | Peterhouse

Parley Yang | Clare

Rory Curran | Christ’s

Sadia Uddin | Sidney Sussex

Equalities Sub-Committee

Women and NB Officer: Tasie Rees | Jesus

LGBTQ+ Officer: Isaac James | Wolfson

BME Officer: Harmanjot Kaur | Wolfson

Class Act Officer: Cian Sutton-Johal | Girton

Disabilities Officer: Bethinn Feely | Lucy Cavendish

Debate Officer: Rares Cocilnau | Fitzwilliam

Debates Sub-Committee

Cat Smyly | Emmanuel

Ewan Cornwall | Jesus

Fergus Walsh | Corpus Christi

Grace Cronin | Sidney Sussex

Haris Khan | Gonville and Caius

India Hansra | Gonville and Caius

Jacob Watts | Corpus Christi

Jasper Burnside | St John’s

Jemma Hayden | Downing

Max Eshelby | Clare

Pollyanna Greene-Wright | Emmanuel

Sami Firdose | King’s

Ted Yip | Christ’s

Zara Bowen | Trinity

Zihan Ni | Robinson

Social Events Sub-Committee

Ariunaa Alaszewski-Kharga | Trinity

Georgia Stewart | Girton

Mohammed Faisal Khan | Clare Hall

Roisin Carey | Peterhouse

Shafeen Annon | Wolfson

Nabil Kezbari | ARU

Summer Garden Party Committee

Katie Clarke | Sidney Sussex

R E V I E W C O M M I T T E E

Chair: Joshua Blanchard Lewis

Alex Forzani

Nick Wright

Sam Longton

Rachel Tustin

Freddie Dyke

Imran Mateo

Alasdair Donovan

Alycia Leach

Emaan Ullah

Jungmin Seo

S T A F F

Bursar: John Brown

General Manager: Bart Fajer

Membership Secretary: Alice Reddick

Finance Manager: Patience Tilbury

Finance & Operations Assistant: Ultan Rowan

Finance Assistant: Ella Cairns

Conferencing Events Manager: Ben Keen

Events Administrator: Victor Lisowski

Events Coordinator: Roberta Di’Maggio

Restaurant and Catering Manager: Claire Hey

Deputy Restaurant Manager: Emilija Capaite

Supervisors: Ella Hicks & Pedro Eusebio

Head Chef: Nathan Bush

Sous Chef: Andrew Cymbala

Marketing Manager: Mark Wadey

Senior AV Technician: Chris Izatt

Site Supervisor: Chris Porter

Housekeeping: Lucia Cretu & Monika Gawron

Ministers without portfolio: Sky, Moss, Bruce, and Bonnie

T R U S T E E S

Chair: Dr Mohamed El-Erian

Anoushka Kale

Roberta Rennie

Professor Graham Virgo KC

Dr Elisabeth Kendall

Dr Gillian Tett OBE

Angela Hampshire-Broughton

Lord Stephen Parkinson OBE

Sara Nathan OBE

Philip Harrison

David Robinson

Rachel Green

David Branch

Nicholas Heath

President's Thanks

This term would not have been possible, first and foremost, without the incredible work of the many people involved with this termcard.

Firstly, to Roberta, Alex D, and Josh D, I’m extremely grateful to be the first President during your time as appointed officers. Our work would not be possible without your dedication, and I look forward to seeing everything you do over the next year. Roberta, it’s been such a pleasure having a Sidney President/VicePresident team, and your commitment to the Union is truly remarkable. Alex, I’m really excited by your plans for publicity and communications for the term, and grateful for all the work you put into the society. Josh, your enthusiasm is incredible and keeps us all powering through. Thank you for organising brilliant floor speech prizes and treasurer’s treats for the upcoming term.

Jack, you have been an incredible Debates Officer. I can’t wait for the diverse range of debates you have organised, addressing topics from climate justice to the monarchy, and your exciting speaker-line up. You bring your passion, particularly for free speech and bold debate, to everything you do, and I’ve really loved working with you.

Aliya, you have been the most incredible Speakers’ Officer and always extremely dedicated. Your hard work has resulted in a fantastic termcard, with highprofile speakers from a variety of fields, and is a real testament to you.

Maddie, it’s been a pleasure to have you on my standing as Equalities Officer. Your positivity and friendliness is so important to continuing to make the Union a more inclusive space. You’ve organised a fascinating range of events and collaborations on pressing issues, which I’m looking forward to.

Innes, you bring a real joy and enthusiasm to your role as Social Events Officer, which is absolutely infectious. I hope you get to enjoy your incredible events next term, from the ceilidh to the Easter Garden Party, which you have worked so hard on.

To James and Josh L, thank you for an amazing year as Competitive Debating Officers and your tireless efforts with different competitions and training sessions. The Union will be sad to see you go, but we’re excited to welcome your successors, who I’m sure will continue your hard work.

To Chris, thank you for your amazing work (yet again!) on the termcard, and I’m looking forward to working with you as Secretary. I’m really appreciative of your tireless effort for the society. To Emma, thank you also for your work on the termcard and the beautiful sketches which bring our debates to life.

To the two Presidents I served on standing with, Nick and Alessio, thank you for all of your faith and support throughout my time at the Union. To my predecessor, Sammy, I’m so proud of everything you achieved as President and how you continued to make the Union a more inclusive and welcoming space. I’m glad I got to serve so many terms on standing committee alongside you.

To our sub-committees, we’re extremely appreciative of all your hard work. I hope to see you enjoy the events which you worked so hard to organise! The dedication of volunteers is what makes it possible for us to organise ambitious and exciting events, which we are only able to run due to our amazing Full Committee. To all of those who I have worked with over several terms and former committee members, I’m so grateful for your support of my events as Debates and Equalities Officer and I will truly miss working with you.

To all of the staff at the Union and the Orator, thank you for all of the incredible work you do. John, your advice has been invaluable throughout my time at the Union. Thank you for always keeping things ticking over for the student officers. Alice, thank you for always being such a friendly face and all your help with debate nights. Bart, Claire, and everyone at the Orator, we’re extremely grateful for your help in making all of our events possible and your constant creativity in the kitchen, particularly with the upcoming Easter Garden Party.

To Union’s trustees, your dedication and expertise is greatly appreciated by all of us, and your support for the student committees. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with you over this term. A particular thank you to Dr. Mohammed El-Erian, our outgoing chair of the board, who has contributed so much to the society over his time here and will be deeply missed.

To everyone from CULA, thank you for being my political home and for your constant encouragement. To Alex M, Leonas, and Penelope, I had the best time working with you on Michaelmas standing; thank you for being great officers, and even better friends. I hope future Union committees show the same dedication to the Orator after events as we did.

To my Sidney friends, particularly Amelia, Lidiana, Kriti, Max, Changyue, and Katie J, your friendship throughout my three years has been so important to me. Thank you for always listening to my complaints and (sometimes) even coming to my events. A special thanks to Amelia for her incredible design of the termcard. To my family, I would never have run for president without your encouragement and I am so grateful for your unwavering support.

I wish the best of luck to Ivan and his Standing Committee - I have every faith that you will organise

an amazing termcard. There are many more people who have made my experience at the Union so special, and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with all of you.

To all of our members and to everyone who supports what we do, thank you. You make the Union the dynamic, exciting, and spirited space that it is.

Yours, as always,

Anoushka Kale | Sidney Sussex President,

Easter 2025

Easter 2025 Termcard

Designed

by

Christopher Lorde and Emma Richter

Cover Art by Amelia Ya Wen Mitchell

Debates Art by Emma Richter

Facilities Art by Dan Cohn-Sherbok

The Cambridge Union Society

Established 1815

“No right was deemed by the fathers of the Government more sacred than the right of speech. It was in their eyes, as in the eyes of all thoughtful men, the great moral renovator of society and government.”

- Frederick Douglass