Keynote Speakers

Vince Cable MP

In a wide-ranging speech to conference, Vince Cable said the British economy had suffered "a massive heart attack" saying it was now "in intensive care".

Describing how "too much cheap money" had come into the system, creating an unstable bubble, he also criticised the banking system as being inherently unstable itself – over confident and greedy in the good times and contracting when things go wrong, leading to recession.

He said no-one knows whether the crisis is passing.

The four main consequences of the crisis, according to Mr Cable, were unemployment, a broken banking system, housing market dysfunction and the impact on the public purse.

Here are biographies for the two speakers at It's The Stupid Economy! - Urban Forum's Annual Conference 2009.

It's The Stupid Economy!

Urban Forum Annual Conference 2009 – 3rd December 2009 – Central Hall, Westminster, London

Conference rates range from a credit cruncing £65 - £115 so what have you got to lose?

Book Here

It's The Stupid Economy!

Urban Forum Annual Conference 2009 – 3rd December 2009 at Central Hall, Westminster, London

PROGRAMME

9.30 Arrival/Registration

10.00 Opening Plenary - Conference Chair, Pam Stewart (Chair, Urban Forum)
Toby Blume: Campaign for Responsible Finance

11.00 Ideas Marketplace - Building Resilient Communities

12.30 Lunch + AGM

1.30 Policy Slam - Perry Walker, new economics foundation

2.30 Keynote Speakers: Vince Cable MP and Karen Chouhan, Equanomics (with Q&A)

3.30 Final Plenary

4.30 Close

Getting to grips with the Big Society and the coalition government
Briefing Seminar

15th September 2010, Newcastle
In partnership with Newcastle Council for Voluntary Services

Representatives from voluntary and community sector organisations and Urban Forum members are invited to this FREE half-day session to help them understand the implications of the Big Society and the new government's priorities and policies.