The debates
Autumn Session 2024
17 Oct. That this House welcomes the result of the recent General Election
24 Oct. That the legacy of the 1960s has not aged well
31 Oct. That Napoleon deserves his reputation for greatness
7 Nov. That NATO’s expansion has been a strategic mistake
14 Nov. That this House welcomes the result of the American election
21 Nov. That Britain is no longer a country in which we may argue freely according to conscience
28 Nov. That Dostoevsky is at least the equal of anything that 19th-century English literature has to offer
5 Dec. That this House believes in ghosts
Hybrid debates
The society’s experiment with hybrid debates is proving very successful, with increased numbers. Members and visitors can attend our meetings in person (in the debating hall) or virtually (via Zoom).
We shall encourage principal speakers to come to the meeting that evening, unless they live too far away for this to be possible.
For more details please email the Zoom officer:
The speeches
The Proposer and Opposer of the motion each speak for up to 20 minutes. The debate is then open to the floor of the House. Members and visitors speak on equal terms from the floor: once only, and for up to 10 minutes each.
The debate ends with the Opposer and Proposer each making summing-up speeches of up to 10 minutes each. Two votes are then taken: for members only, and for all persons present.
To round off the evening—and make any further points over a drink—a good number of debaters go off to the local pub.
Our style of debating
The structure of the debate has remained largely unchanged since 1886. It is formal in style: all remarks are addressed to the Chair rather than to those holding opposing views. This avoids any sense of personal animosity.
All speakers in the floor debate (after the Proposer and Opposer) speak once only, without interruption. This allows them to develop their ideas.
No heckling is allowed. This ensures that everyone, even the newest speaker, is given a fair hearing.
We believe that this formality enhances our debates, avoiding the free-for-all which tends to favour the loudest voices. The style soon becomes second nature, and there is plenty of room for a good deal of humour.
Topics for debate
Subjects range widely, from current political and educational issues, foreign policy and defence, to social matters and literary and historical topics.
A quick glance at the programme for 1901, seen on this page, shows the persistence of certain themes. Most of the subjects tackled then could occupy present-day debaters:
- The Channel Tunnel
- Retaining a conquered nation’s language after annexation
- The licensing laws and alcohol
- An offensive and defensive alliance with Russia
- Import duties on manufactured items
- A comparison of the Victorian and Elizabethan eras
- MPs’ pay . . .
Programme
