Lewes Speakers Festival

Lewes Speakers Festival returns next week with national figures and leading thinkers

The Lewes Speakers Festival returns next week, running from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 January, bringing three days of talks, debates and conversations to venues across Lewes.

Now in its 15th year, the festival has become one of the town’s best-known cultural events, drawing audiences from across East Sussex and beyond. The programme features a wide range of speakers from politics, history, journalism, policing, campaigning and the arts, with sessions designed to be accessible, thought-provoking and rooted in current issues.

This year’s line-up includes:

Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader, on English identity and belonging

Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, on care, family and politics

Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour leader, on Britain, democracy and political change

Professor Richard Overy, one of the world’s leading Second World War historians

Penny Mordaunt, former Cabinet minister

Norman Baker, former Home Office minister

Chris Mullin, writer and former MP

Bob Seely, MP and defence specialist

Maggie Oliver, former detective and victims’ rights campaigner

Talks take place throughout the day and evening across the three days, with individual sessions available to book as well as day and weekend passes.

Festival director Marc Rattray said:

“The Lewes Speakers Festival has always been about bringing big ideas and important voices into a local, welcoming setting. We’re proud to be returning next week with a programme that reflects the concerns, curiosity and energy of our community.”

The festival takes place at venues in Lewes between 16 and 18 January.
Full programme details and tickets are available at: www.lewesspeakersfestival.com