A NORTH MP has been invited to attend an annual summit about some of the major issues facing the world along with the world’s elite.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman is one of around 130 participants from 20 counties that will take part in the 64th Bilderberg meeting in Dresden, Germany, this weekend. (June 10 to 12)

Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg conference is an annual meeting designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America to which almost 150 political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media are invited.

Many commentators describe it as being secretive as participants are free to use the information received but not identify the source. No minutes are taken, there is no desired outcome and no report is written.

Organisers deny conspiracy theories that they are a global ruling class and describe the conference as ‘a forum for informal discussions about major issues facing the world’.

They add: “Thanks to the private nature of the conference, the participants are not bound by the conventions of their office or by pre-agreed positions. As such, they can take time to listen, reflect and gather insights.”

Ms Goodman said: “I am attending the conference because I think it’s important to engage with politicians and industrialists from other countries.”

Other guests include the king of the Netherlands, two prime ministers, four finance ministers, the head of the International Monetary Fund, American diplomat Henry Kissinger and Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair.