John Smith Memorial Mace

The ESU John Smith Memorial Mace is the largest and oldest debating competition in Europe, featuring over one hundred and fifty teams. Former winners include the late Donald Dewar, Charles Kennedy, Bob Marshall-Andrews MP, The Rt Hon the Lord Hunt of Wirral, Professor Anthony Clare, and the late Labour leader, John Smith, in whose honour the competition was renamed in 1995.

The John Smith Memorial Mace is composed of four University National Championships. The winners of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish National Championships debate against each other in the International Final for the chance to win the Silver Mace. The John Smith Memorial Mace in England is administered directly by the ESU Centre for Speech and Debate. The Mace in Wales is administered by the Wales Debate Federation and in Scotland by ESU Scotland. In Ireland the competition is run by a convenor who is selected on an annual basis.

In 2008-09 the championships in England and Scotland, as well as the International Final will be sponsored by Baillie Gifford, a financial management firm based in Edinburgh. Entries for the English Championships are now open, for more information please see www.britishdebate.com.

John Smith Memorial Mace Finals 2009

England, represented by Jonathan Leader Maynard and Alex Worsnip from the Oxford Union, win the John Smith Memorial Mace 2009. 

Jonathan Leader Maynard and Alex Wornsip with their medals.

The International Final took place on Friday 24 April at the Signet Library in Edinburgh. The winners were Oxford Union, represented by Jonathan Leader Maynard and Alex Worsnip, for England.  The prize for best speaker went to Josephine Curry, representing Ireland.  The motion for the final was This House Believes that aid to Africa has done more harm than good with Trinity College Dublin Historical Society, Ireland, and The University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in proposition and England and Wales, represented by The University of Cardiff, in opposition. 

Opening remarks from the Rt Hon George Grubb, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and Keith Brown MSP and Minister for Skills and Schools gave the proceedings a prestigious air.  Both praised the participants for making it through their national rounds and expressed how impressed they were by the ability of all the teams.

The debate itself was a very lively affair with extensive knowledge and enthusiasm shown by every team.  The topic itself was encouraged wide ranging discussion and included themes such as colonial guilt, border disputes, the aims of aid and the problems posed by diversity of desperate situations it aims to help solve.

The chair of the judges, Alan Merson, told the audience that "the England team demonstrated not only a remarkable amount of knowledge but an ability to use that knowledge and present it in a way that everyone could understand".

The event ended with canapés and wine whilst all those who had watched the debate continued to discuss the ideas raised into the evening.

John Smith Memorial Mace Finals 2008

The Honorable Society of Lincoln's Inn, represented by Usman Ahmed and Hannah Klein, has won the ESU John Smith Memorial Mace 2008.

John Smith Memorial Mace 2008 Finalists

The John Smith Memorial Mace is the largest and oldest open debating competition in the world, making the winners international debating champions. Dr James Acton, chair of the judges said the team were exemplary, demonstrating excellent research skills, witty rapport and intelligence. The competition was kindly sponsored by Baillie Gifford.

Usman Ahmed commented, "I feel privileged to join the ranks of distinguished public figures who have won the John Smith Memorial Mace in the past". He added that he is "delighted to have won... I finish my education this summer so it's the perfect cap to my debating career".

The other national champions Aberystwyth University, representing Wales, The University of St. Andrews, representing Scotland and University College Dublin Law Society, representing Ireland also attended the International Final held at Dartmouth House to debate the motion This House supports increasing the use of civilian nuclear energy. Each finalist competed to a superb standard and impressed the judges with their ability to remain effective and engaging debaters whilst under the pressure of competing in this prestigious and well-respected competition.

Anyone wishing to gain further information or to enter the competition next year should contact the Centre, on speech.debate@esu.org or 0207 529 1572.  Alternatively, please visit the website.