Lord Michael Heseltine CH returned to the University of Liverpool yesterday, Tuesday 15 November, to deliver the first in a new series of Heseltine Institute Lectures.
Hundreds of people from across the city region and beyond filled the state-of-the-art Tung Auditorium to hear the former Deputy Prime Minster deliver his lecture ‘The State of the Nation: A Personal Perspective.’
In his first appearance on campus since the Covid-19 pandemic, and his first in the Tung Auditorium, he discussed the impact of Brexit and the current state of the UK economy.
Lord Heseltine, who was given Freedom of Liverpool in 2012, also talked about his involvement in Liverpool from the 1980s and shared his thoughts on devolution and leadership.
Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Humanities at the University of Liverpool, Professor Fiona Beveridge, formally welcomed Lord Heseltine back to campus, while the discussion was Chaired by Professor Michael Parkinson CBE, Ambassador to the Heseltine Institute.
Professor Parkinson said: “All of us at the Heseltine Institute and the University of Liverpool were very pleased to welcome Lord Heseltine to campus once again and it was fantastic that so many people could join us to hear his remarks – in the impressive surroundings of our new Tung Auditorium.
“Since Lord Heseltine last delivered a lecture here three years ago we have lived through unprecedented times with the covid pandemic, changes in local and national leadership and the implementation of Brexit. It was therefore extremely fascinating to hear his thoughts on crucial national issues of the day, reflected through the prism of Liverpool.
“We would like to thank Lord Heseltine for joining us and look forward to welcoming further speakers to campus as part of our Heseltine Lecture series.”
You can read the full text of Lord Heseltine’s speech here.