Three former Government ministers head to Sunderland for free talk

Some of the UK’s most respected former Government ministers are heading to the North East next week to discuss their political lives, how they dealt with the pressure of Government and what life is really like at Westminster.

Baroness Estelle Morris, Baroness Hilary Armstrong and Baroness Joyce Quin are all speaking at the latest University of Sunderland Discover Series Lecture on Thursday, May 15 at the Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre in the Prospect Building at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's

BBC presenter Richard Moss will act as compère for the three members of the House of Lords who will speak about a variety of topics including what life is like as a politician and the ins and outs of their political careers.

The ‘Women in Politics’ talk will see a selection of questions being fielded to the trio before the audience will be able to quiz the panel on any topic they choose.

Baroness Armstrong and Baroness Quin have previously represented those in the North East after working as MPs for North West Durham and Gateshead East and Washington West respectively. Baroness Armstrong was also born in the City and Baroness Quin represented Tyne and Wear as an MEP before entering the House of Commons.

All three were Government ministers with Baroness Armstrong working as the Chief Whip in Tony Blair’s Labour Government. Baroness Morris is a former Education Secretary as well as a former Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sunderland and Baroness Quin worked as a Prisons Minister, Minister for Europe and as a junior Agriculture Minister during her time as an MP. The University has also recognised all three members of the panel with honorary degrees.

Baroness Quin said: “Having treasured my association with Sunderland since my time as MEP for the City, it is great to be able to keep up the link with the University and its students today through an event such as this.”

Baroness Armstrong said: “The University has played an important part in my life; my mum trained as a teacher at Langham Tower, my dad was Chair of Governors when it was a local authority college, and I taught on the Community and Youth Work Course for 11 years, when it was Sunderland Polytechnic.

“I am really proud to have been associated with an education establishment that has done so much over the years to give opportunities to people who otherwise would never have got into Higher Education. Sunderland has been at the forefront of developing access courses and Foundation Degrees, to enable many more students to get qualifications.”

Baroness Morris said: “I am very much looking forward to the event at the University of Sunderland. I know from my time as Pro Vice-Chancellor there that the University takes its responsibility to be part of civic society in Sunderland very seriously. The series of talks and debate that the University has organised are a great opportunity to discuss important issues with a wide range of people. You always learn something!

 “I am particularly looking forward to joining a panel with two of my colleagues and I am looking forward to the event.”

Doors open at 6.30pm, tickets are free but limited, and must be booked via the University of Sunderland’s online store: www.sunderland.ac.uk/discoverseries or call (0191) 515 3169.

Discover follows on from last year's successful Public Lecture series, and aims to widen the focus of the series. It has seen talks by celebrated national figures and has presented panel discussions, live interviews, and film and TV screenings. It has given the public the chance to quiz renowned artists, politicians, business people and scientists.