A PACKED house assembled at the Conservative Club for the annual Ross Vaga Probus debate.

The Motion: ‘This house believes that the political system in the UK is defunct’ was moderated by Phil Angus, with four panellists - for the motion were Rod Barker and John Handby; and those against were George Pendlebury and Jim Stewart.

Many of the points of contention in the debate focussed, unsurprisingly, on the current state of affairs, within Parliament.

The UK is facing testing times, mainly through the plethora of significantly difficult issues that need to be dealt with in short order.

What is apparent is that trivial diversions, like banning of cigars, are detracting the political leadership from focusing on crises such as a £3 trillion national debt; a diminished defence capability, and creaking facilities infrastructures.

Views ranged from ‘the country is in permanent decline thanks, in part, to vainglorious politicians’ to ‘the system is working as evinced in the output of the day-to-day Parliamentary process’.

Once the panellists had had their say, the debate was opened to the assembled during which many Probus members voiced their opinions either in support or rebuttal.

Debates are a pivotal part of any civilised organisation, classic examples being in the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions and the various select committees. The Oxford Union Debating Society continues to attract heavyweight speakers; notably, in the past, Churchill, Ronald Reagan and the 14th Dalai Lama.

Television viewers will be aware of the BBC’s ‘Question Time’ which can result in testing times for the chairperson.

The final vote at Ross Vaga Probus was close-run, with 18 members against the motion, and 17 for.

Ross Vaga Probus is a men’s group that meets twice a month. Further details are on the website vaga-probus-ross.org.uk.