One hundred and eighty reasons to enjoy The Freedom Dinner

Looking forward to The Freedom Dinner tomorrow night.

Last week I wrote that we had a handful of places left. I can now report that the event is fully subscribed – 180 places have been booked, up from 160 last year and 140 in 2012.

Guests include two very well known journalists but I won't say who they are until after the event in case they don't turn up!

We have libertarian bloggers, political researchers and representatives of various think tanks and pressure groups.

A dozen MPs are also due to attend but the Government has called an emergency vote on the new surveillance bill and the Tories have issued a three-line whip.

How many MPs will still make it to Canary Wharf remains to be seen but it won't spoil my enjoyment of what should be a great evening.

I am delighted to say that this year's event is supported by the Institute of Economic Affairs, The Free Society and Liberty League, the libertarian group for students and young professionals.

Following in the footsteps of General Sir Mike Jackson (former head of the British Army), Lord Bell, the IEA's Mark Littlewood, Claire Fox (director of the Institute of Ideas) and journalist James Delingpole, this year's speakers are Alex Deane, co-founder of Big Brother Watch and David Cameron's first Chief of Staff, and Brendan O'Neill, editor of the online magazine Spiked.

Brendan is also a columnist for The Big Issue and The Australian.

Like Brendan, Alex has his own Australian connections. He's married to one, for a start, and following a recent trip Down Under he's just written a Diary column for The Spectator Australia. He even mentions The Freedom Dinner.

Full article here.

Anyway, with the help of our partners, Boisdale of Canary Wharf, I am currently finalising the table plan (some people want to sit together, others need to be kept apart!) and dietary requirements.

So far the list includes:

Vegetarian
No fish
No pork
No seafood
No fish but seafood is OK
No prawns
Dairy free

And so on.

Someone else is looking forward to "top-notch Scottish steak". Oops, how shall I break it to them that, for the first time, steak is not on The Freedom Dinner menu?!

Personally I'm looking forward to the whisky cocktail reception (on the smoking terrace, naturally) beginning at 6.15.

I don't actually like whisky but our unique cocktails are laced with lemon which softens the taste dramatically.

I must remember though not to drink too many before dinner when the wine flows even more freely. After all, I have to say a few words and introduce the squeakers – sorry, speakers.