Come and debate AV

Oasis Charities Parliament is teaming up with theology think tank Theos and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust to host the free event.

They hope the debate will help the public engage with issues surrounding the AV referendum on May 5.

Director of Charities Parliament Pete Brierley said: "We believe Christians should be at the forefront of this debate.

"Electoral reform isn’t simply one vote in this referendum but about local people, communities and politicians working together to bring about a better society. As Christians our faith compels us to be engaged in this community transformation."

The event, less than two days before the polls open, is one of the last chances to help individuals make an informed decision on whether to vote yes or no to AV.

Nick Spencer, Research Director at Theos, said: “The debate over voting reform is getting much hotter, but not much clearer. The ‘USP’ of this event is the broader conversation about why we value what we value about democracy. What do we understand to be the basis of political representation?”

Panelists in support of AV on the night will be Baroness Oona King and Unlock Democracy founder Peter Facey.

Gavin Shuker MP and Sam Gyimah MP will be representing the no campaign.

The debate is the culmination of a wider Oasis Charities Parliament campaign to encourage local communities to engage with the referendum, churches from Brighton to Glasgow have been equipped with resources and funding to host similar debates.

The Oasis Faithworks Debating Democracy Campaign video featuring Professor Robert Winston and Steve Chalke is available through www.faithworks.info

Join Charities Parliament and Theos at 6.30pm (doors open 6.15pm) on Tuesday 3 May at the Edmond J Safra Theatre, King’s College Strand Campus, The Strand WC2R 2LS. Tickets are free but reserve your place by emailing hello@theosthinktank.co.uk
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