Joint Lunch with JCCI: with special guest Nick Clegg MP

On Wednesday, 29 March 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally beginning negotiations on Britain’s departure from the European Union.

 

In the run up to the EU Referendum, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP – former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats – was a leading campaigner to remain in the EU. Recently appointed Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson, Mr Clegg has raised a number of challenges to the government on their proposed Brexit strategy, questioning the impact of a ‘hard Brexit’ on both the UK economy and wider geopolitical relations.

 

For their second joint lunch of 2017, the Japan Society and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK are delighted to welcome Mr Clegg, who will speak on the key issues facing the UK during the Brexit process. He will also consider the role of business and what companies can do to influence the ongoing negotiations.

 

Nick Clegg MP is a Liberal Democrat politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister in Britain’s first post war Coalition Government from 2010 to 2015 and as Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2015. He is the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, where he was first elected in 2005, and was previously a Member of the European Parliament.

 

During that time, he was at the heart of decisions surrounding the conflict in Libya, new anti-terrorism measures, the referenda on electoral reform and Scottish independence, and extensive reforms to the education, health and pensions systems. He was particularly associated with landmark changes to the funding of schools, early years education and the treatment of mental health within the NHS

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During the coalition years he also established himself as the highest profile pro-European voice in British politics and is well known and respected in capitals across the continent. Following the UK referendum on EU membership in June 2016, Nick returned to the Liberal Democrat front bench as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade in order to hold the Government to account over its plans for Brexit.

 

Following a two-course lunch, Mr Clegg will speak for about 20 minutes, after which there will be time for questions until 2.30pm.

To reserve your place, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk or submit the online booking form.

 

Co-organised by JCCI