Famous Speakers

The Union regularly welcomes some of the most powerful, influential and best known figures from around the globe. It is a rare privilege to hear some of the key decision makers talking about global events that have shaped all our lives - this is exactly what the Union offers its members.

In 1990, at the end of the Cold War, US President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the Union, in which he reflected candidly on how he had steered the American course through the tense years of the 1980s.

Shortly after the re-unification of Germany, Chancellor Helmut Kohl addressed the Union, to outline his vision for a bold Germany at the heart of Europe. Soon after the release of Nelson Mandela, both F W de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu were at the Union explaining the way ahead for South Africa. Queen Noor and King Hussein of Jordan used their visit to talk about peace in the Middle East, just when negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were at a critical phase. The Dalai Lama called for the independence of Tibet and international action against human rights abuses. The first elected President of Iraq spoke of his hope for the country's future.

And we will not shy away from the most difficult and controversial problems that the world must face. Exactly one year after he made it through to the final round in the French Presidential election, Jean-Marie Le Pen visited the Union. While in 2007, addressing the Union via satellite, Colonel Gadaffi issued a defiant call for Western powers to stay out of Africa. Most recently, in March 2011 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gave his first public address since his arrest the previous year.

Some of our other prominent speakers include; Hollywood actor and director Clint Eastwood, UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, UK Prime Minister Clement Attlee,  UK Prime Minister Sir John Major, Indian Prime Minister Nehru and US President Theodore Roosevelt; and there are many more besides...

We are currently in negotiations with an extremely wide range of interesting and exciting people! Full details will be announced soon!

The Union discusses the issues that matter with the people that matter.