Political heavyweights to go head-to-head at YIBC

POLITICAL heavyweights Michael Portillo and John Prescott will take centre stage at this year’s Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC) at Magna in Rotherham.

The pair will go head-to-head in a discussion about the current state of the economy.

Former Conservative Party Cabinet Minister turned broadcaster Portillo was a strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher while former Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Party MP Prescott was a trade union activist, often seen as the political link to the working class.

Football referee Howard Webb is also on the speaker line-up for the May 16 event. As part of this appearance, he will reflect on, amongst other things, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and his thoughts ahead of this summer’s World Cup Finals in Brazil.

Mike Firth, founder of YIBC, said: “With the addition of John, Michael and Howard to the speaker programme in Rotherham we are sure that we’ll provide a unique YIBC experience to the delegates.

“The vision is that the YIBC event will become an established annual event within Sheffield City Region, and in order to achieve this it is important that this inaugural event is of a calibre to kick-start this legacy.”

YIBC has brought the biggest names from the worlds of business, entertainment and global politics to a Yorkshire stage since 1995 and now businesses in Rotherham and the wider Sheffield region can enjoy the event on their own doorsteps for the very first time.

With BBC News business editor Robert Peston, adventurer Rosie Swale-Pope, actor Brian Blessed and inventor Richard Noble are also set to speak at the event.