Gwyneth Dunwoody MP has accepted Michael Fabricant’s invitation to be the ‘Speaker’ at the annual Michael Fabricant-Arthur Price of England Schools Speaking Competition to be held in the Guildhall, Lichfield on Friday 16th February at 7.30pm next year. Mrs Dunwoody is Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and is Chairman of the powerful Parliamentary Transport Committee. She narrowly missed being elected Speaker of the House of Commons last month and has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Crewe since 1974. She was a member of Labour’s Shadow Cabinet in the 1980’s.

Mrs Dunwoody will be chairing a lively and controversial debate with the motion: "That medical research into cures to save human life should not be hindered by moral objections" As in previous years, teams from local schools will be participating for the Michael Fabricant MP and Arthur Price of England Speaking Competition Cup. It will be run on strict Parliamentary lines including the ‘Speaker’s Procession’ prior to beginning the debate. (The only difference being that the two Lichfield Maces contain more gold and are older than the mace used in the House of Commons.)

This colourful and interesting debate will be open to the public and the schools participating will be Nether Stowe, Chasetown, Chase Terrace, The Friary, and King Edward VI. Each school will put up a team of 3 speakers and the judges will include John Price OBE, Chairman of Arthur Price of England who donate the winners’ cups, and civic leaders.