Gary Gibbon – ‘In Conversation’ with top politicians

Channel 4 News has announced a new series of heavyweight interviews for this year’s autumn conference season.

As the coalition government reaches the halfway point in its term, award-winning Political Editor Gary Gibbon will host in-depth, hour-long sessions with key “big thinkers” from each party. The fringe events, run by ITN and Channel 4, will aim to probe the big themes from 2012 and will look to the year ahead, as each party continues to push its own agenda whilst living with the day-to-day realities of coalition and opposition.

• At the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, Gary will speak to Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey – Monday 24 September, 1-2pm, The Grand (Empress suite) Brighton.
• In Manchester, Gary will interview Chuka Umunna, Labour‘s shadow secretary of state for business, innovation and skills – Sunday 30 September, 1-2pm, Manchester Central (Charter 2).
• At the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Gary will meet one of the most prominent Tory politicians of the last four decades, Ken Clarke – Monday 8 October, 1-2pm, The ICC, (Hall 5) Birmingham.

Gary Gibbon said: “I’ll be exploring some of the big political questions of 2012 with my guests, all of whom have a prominent part to play for their parties over the next twelve months.

I’ll be exploring some of the big political questions of 2012 with my guests. Political Editor Gary Gibbon

“This is a chance for our audiences – at conference, online and watching the programme – to get an in-depth look at the themes and issues that will define the next year for Britain’s main political parties – and find out what makes some of the biggest beasts in politics tick.”

The interviews are open to all accredited attendees, and refreshments will be available. They will be filmed and covered in detail on Channel 4 News’s website.

These events will be accompanied by coverage from all three conferences from Channel 4 News Political Correspondent Michael Crick.