Contributor(s): Lord MacPherson, Professor Kai Spiekermann | Has the British elite’s role changed over a century? This evening’s event will investigate the changing role of the political elite in the period of almost a century since Noel Coward produced his one act comedy Hands Across the Sea. For this play Coward drew upon his intimate friendship with Lord Mountbatten and his wife Edwina, who went on to preside over British withdrawal from India. The decades since Coward’s play have seen World War II, the Suez Crisis, the Winds of Change, and entry into Europe in 1973, as well as now, in the 21st century, Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. Our panel will discuss whether the composition of the British political elite and its role has changed over this period. The panel discussion will be followed by a student-led production of Coward’s one act comedy Hands Across the Sea, by the LSE Student Union Drama Society and the LSE Language Centre. Lord MacPherson is former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. Kai Spiekermann is Professor of Political Philosophy and the Doctoral Programme Director in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. Dr Angus Wrenn is Co-ordinating Language Teacher (EAP) with special responsibilities for Literature. Twitter hashtags for this event: #LSEFestival #ShapetheWorld Has the British elite’s role changed over a century? This evening’s event will investigate the changing role of the political elite in the period of almost a century since Noel Coward produced his one act comedy Hands Across the Sea. For this play Coward drew upon his intimate friendship with Lord Mountbatten and his wife Edwina, who went on to preside over British withdrawal from India. The decades since Coward’s play have seen World War II, the Suez Crisis, the Winds of Change, and entry into Europe in 1973, as well as now, in the 21st century, Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. Our panel will discuss whether the composition of the British political elite and its role has changed over this period. The panel discussion will be followed by a student-led production of Coward’s one act comedy Hands Across the Sea, by the LSE Student Union Drama Society and the LSE Language Centre. Lord MacPherson is former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. Kai Spiekermann is Professor of Political Philosophy and the Doctoral Programme Director in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. Dr Angus Wrenn is Co-ordinating Language Teacher (EAP) with special responsibilities for Literature. Twitter hashtags for this event: #LSEFestival #ShapetheWorld Has the British elite’s role changed over a century? This evening’s event will investigate the changing role of the political elite in the period of almost a century since Noel Coward produced his one act comedy Hands Across the Sea. For this play Coward drew upon his intimate friendship with Lord Mountbatten and his wife Edwina, who went on to preside over British withdrawal from India. The decades since Coward’s play have seen World War II, the Suez Crisis, the Winds of Change, and entry into Europe in 1973, as well as now, in the 21st century, Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. Our panel will discuss whether the composition of the British political elite and its role has changed over this period. The panel discussion will be followed by a student-led production of Coward’s one act comedy Hands Across the Sea, by the LSE Student Union Drama Society and the LSE Language Centre. Lord MacPherson is former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. Kai Spiekermann is Professor of Political Philosophy and the Doctoral Programme Director in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. Dr Angus Wrenn is Co-ordinating Language Teacher (EAP) with special responsibilities for Literature. Twitter hashtags for this event: #LSEFestival #ShapetheWorld