After Dinner Speakers: Rt. Hon Francis MP Maude, Primal Scream, Patrick Keilty

Francis Maude is a profound man, and far from the moralistic mould of Ann Widdecombe. He is clever and hardworking, he went to school in Australia, where his father edited the Sydney Morning Herald. He won prizes at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and the Inns of Court School of Law and practised as a barrister before moving into politics with his election to Westminster in 1983. A cabinet minister in Margaret Thatchers administration he became financial secretary to the treasury under John Major Out of parliament he has been managing director of the US investment bank, Morgan Stanley and is a wise and experienced personality with much to say about, politics and business and the fortunes or otherwise of the conservative party.