Chris Patten at the Oxford Union

To the Oxford Union last night to hear a wonderful talk by Chris Patten on his new book, 'What Next: Surviving the 21st Century'.

Patten discussed the future of the world for an engaging forty minutes in the Oxford Union's debating chamber, and answered a dozen or so questions at the end.

Among many interesting insights and revelations, he told us he wasn't frightened of the power of Russia due to their weak exports, and that Gordon Brown's speech outside the former headquarters of Lehman Brothers was one of the most supportive speeches for unregulated free markets he had heard "Margaret Thatcher wouldn't have made that speech."

He also made the point that the Russian-American détente had helped to ensure some stability compared to now, and discussed the history of colonialism.

Afterwards Patten happily signed books in the library, and I now have a signed copy which I shall devour over the next few days.

As I mentioned in October, the Oxford Union's debating chamber is a grand room similar to the Houses of Parliament, with busts and paintings of previous Speakers along the walls.