WPR organised and hosted a very well attended reception for MPs researchers and staff to mark the summer recess of Parliament on 22 July.

This debate focussed on the implications of the coalition government in terms of parliamentary engagement in the context of a more volatile political environment and the fact that one third of MPs are new; more local power following the Government’s decision to scrap Regional Development Agencies; new legislation and policies; and the business bottom line following the Emergency Budget.

The debate was organised by Westminster Parliamentary Research with support from CBI South West and GWE Business West.

The event was chaired by Ian Price, Assistant Regional Director of the CBI and panellists included David Owen, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire First; Ian Mean, Editor-in-Chief of Gloucestershire Media; Richard Knight, Corporate Partner at Rickerbys’; and David Roper, Director at Smith & Williamson.

The debate was organised by Westminster Parliamentary Research with support from CBI South West and GWE Business West.

The event was chaired by Dave Harvey, BBC Business Correspondent for the West Country and panellists included: Stuart Whitfield, Chairman of CBI South West; James Turgoose, Head of Parliamentary Affairs at Westminster Parliamentary Research; Stephen Rosser, Chief Executive of law firm Clarke Willmott; and Dave Mouncey, Tax Director at Smith & Williamson.

The debates, which will be held at the offices of accountancy and business advisory firm Smith & Williamson in Bristol and law firm Rickerbys in Cheltenham, are being organised by Westminster Parliamentary Research with support from CBI South West and GWE Business West.

Panellists across the two events include: Stuart Whitfield, Chairman of CBI South West; David Owen, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire First; Ian Mean, Editor-in-Chief of Gloucestershire Media; James Turgoose, Head
of Parliamentary Affairs at Westminster Parliamentary Research; Stephen Rosser, Chief Executive of law firm Clarke Willmott; Richard Knight, Corporate Partner at Rickerbys’ Dave Mouncey, Tax Director at Smith &
Williamson; and David Roper, Director of Corporate Finance at Smith & Williamson.

The debates will focus on the implications of the coalition government in terms of parliamentary engagement in the context of a more volatile political environment and the fact that one third of MPs are new; more local power following the Government’s decision to scrap Regional Development Agencies; new legislation and policies; and the business bottom line following the recent Emergency Budget.

The debate is free to attend and registration is from 7.30am for an 8am start.

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WPR sponsored the Public Affairs award at the 2010 CIPR Excellence Awards on Wednesday 16 June at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London. The awards celebrated 25 years of recognising public relations success.

James Turgoose was there to present the Public Affairs award to The Scout Association for their Stop the Rain Tax campaign which promoted awareness of the problems that water charging was having on voluntary groups. Parliamentary Officer Alastair Evans also attended the prestigious event.