September 15, 2010 12.00 pm This story is over 162 months old

Tony Benn to launch new Speakers’ Corner

Heated debate: Lincoln now has a place for people to go if they have an issue they would like to share and debate with the city.

A debate platform called Speakers’ Corner will be launched in Lincoln this week, with politician Tony Benn cutting the opening ribbon.

The September 16 event will also see Benn (pictured) take to the stage to do a short talk, recounting his days at Hyde Park’s Speakers Corner, the oldest in the country, while overlooking the new Lincoln Speakers’ Corner.

The sign which marks the debate platform.

He will be joined by Lincoln’s Deputy Mayor, representatives of the Speakers’ Corner Trust, Richard Dale of Dale & Co Solicitors, and students from the University of Lincoln, who will be the first to start a debate.

The site for Speakers’ Corner has been in development for the past nine months, and can be found at the Cornhill, just off the High Street, where a sign has been added to mark the site.

The Speakers’ Trust is a charity which promotes public debate, active citizenship, and free expression, in order to reform civil society. The first Speakers’ Corner was set up in Hyde Park in 1872.

The event starts at 3.50pm and everyone is welcome to watch.

Source: Lava PR | Photo: Shepy