Hong Kong Watch hosts lecture on modern British social and political history

As part of Hong Kong Watch’s civic and political education series for BNOs, we held a guest lecture and Q&A on 7 September 2022 to discuss modern British social and political history in the context of Liz Truss’s ascendancy to Prime Minister.

Dr Richard Cockett, a senior editor at The Economist, delivered the lecture where he drew on modern history to explore the role of the Prime Minister and how this reflects wider political and societal trends.

Dr Cockett explored how the British democratic system works, how this has evolved over time as well as how political parties operate in this country. He delved into the separation of powers in the UK and how the system differs from Presidential systems, such as that of the United States.

The 90-minute lecture and audience Q&A was chaired by Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive.

This was the fifth event in Hong Kong Watch’s civic and political education programme, which aims to help the Hong Kong BNO community better understand the UK’s political system, how they can engage with it, what their rights are and what its impact and relevance is.