SMF at 2023 Party Conferences
The Social Market Foundation hosted a diverse programme of fringe events at the 2023 at the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party Conferences.
Our public fringe events are now available to watch on the SMF YouTube channel.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference
Roundtable discussion - Paying for net zero
Contributors:
Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury and Business & Industrial Strategy Spokesperson
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Held in partnership with City of London Corporation
Education: the new dividing line in British politics?
Speakers:
Jane Dodds, Member of the Welsh Parliament/Aelod o Senedd Cymru for Mid and West Wales and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Professor Rob Ford, Professor of Political Science, The University of Manchester
Miranda Green, Deputy Opinion Editor, The FT
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Rule & Centrefold, The Hilton Bournemouth (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Kindly supported by UK in a Changing Europe
A community-led net zero: how can we ensure a people-powered transition?
Speakers:
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy & Climate Change and Transport
Hina Bokhari AM, London-wide Assembly Member, London Assembly
Helen Goulden OBE, CEO, Young Foundation
Will Walker, Climate Action Manager, Power to Change
Chair:
Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Rule & Centrefold, The Hilton Bournemouth (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with The Young Foundation’s Institute for Community Studies and Power to Change
Conservative Party Conference
Investing for growth: how to create jobs and support the economy by boosting investment?
Speakers:
Gareth Davies MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, Investment Association
Emily Shepperd, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Authorisations, FCA
Tracy Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer, Pension Insurance Corporation
Chair:
James Kirkup, Partner, Apella Advisors and Senior Fellow, SMF
Venue: Alexandra Suite A, The Midland Hotel (secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with the Investment Association
What next for gambling reform?
Speakers:
Richard Graham MP
Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE, Founder and Director, The National Problem Gambling Clinic
Clare Wyllie, Research Director, Tackling Gambling Stigma
Ed West, Writer
Chair:
Rob Davies, Business and Investigations Reporter, The Guardian
Venue: Chester Suite, The Midland Hotel (secure zone)
Watch the event here.
How can we boost green skills and jobs, and harness the opportunities of a low carbon economy?
Speakers:
Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Employment
The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE MP, Chair of the Independent Review of Net Zero
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive, Recruitment & Employment Confederation
Gudrun Cartwright, Climate Action Director, Business in the Community
Angela Francis, Director of Policy Solutions, WWF UK
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Private Room 17, The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, (outside of the secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
Ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare: how can we ensure good outcomes for all?
Speakers:
Dean Russell MP, Chair, Mental Health APPG
Cllr Emma Best, London Assembly Member, Greater London Authority
Samuel Kasumu, Former Number 10 Advisor
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Professor Dawn Edge, Professor of Mental Health & Inclusivity, The University of Manchester
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Private Room 17, The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, (outside of the secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with Policy@Manchester
Can the UK still claim to be a global leader on net zero?
Speakers:
The Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP, Member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, ScottishPower
Angela Francis, Director of Policy Solutions, WWF UK
Further speakers to be announced.
Chair:
Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Chester Suite, The Midland Hotel (secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with ScottishPower
Roundtable discussion - Pensions and growth
Contributors:
Nigel Peaple, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
Laura Trott MBE MP, Minister for Pensions
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Held in partnership with Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
Education: the new dividing line in British politics?
Speakers:
Baroness Stowell of Beeston MBE
Professor Rob Ford, Professor of Political Science, The University of Manchester
John Oxley
Siobhan Aarons, National Chair, Tory Reform Group
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Private Room 17, The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, (outside of the secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Kindly supported by UK in a Changing Europe
Where next in the fight against fraud: the fraud strategy and beyond
Speakers:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Morgan of Cotes
Jim Winters, Director of Economic Crime, Nationwide Building Society
Conor D’Arcy, Interim Chief Executive, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
Giles Derrington, Senior Government Relations and Public Policy Manager, TikTok
Chair:
Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Petersfield Suite, The Midland Hotel (secure zone).
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with Nationwide Building Society
Prevention versus treatment: how to improve the nation's health
Speakers:
Jo Gideon MP
Hugo Harper, Director of A Healthy Life, Nesta
Karen Betts, CEO, The Food and Drink Federation
Sophie Lawrence, Engagement Lead, Rathbones
Richard Sloggett, Founder and Programme Director, Future Health
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Fairclough Suite, The Midland Hotel (secure zone)
Hosted by Nesta
Labour Party Conference
Roundtable discussion - Fit for the future? How can we harness the power of mutuals to develop a modern and thriving sector?
Contributors:
Kevin Parry OBE, Chairman, Nationwide Building Society and Royal London
Rose Marley, CEO, Co-operatives UK
Jim McMahon OBE MP, Chair, Co-operative Party
Chair:
James Kirkup, Partner, Apella Advisors and Senior Fellow, SMF
Held in partnership with Royal London and Nationwide Building Society
Roundtable discussion - Sharing the benefits: ensuring net zero delivers local and national economic growth
Contributors:
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, ScottishPower
Charlotte Nichols MP, Net Zero APPG member
Chair:
James Kirkup, Partner, Apella Advisors and Senior Fellow, SMF
Held in partnership with ScottishPower
Winning the fight against fraud: how can Labour effectively address scams and combat fraud?
Speakers:
Rt Hon. Emily Thornberry MP, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, Shadow Attorney General
Jim Winters, Director of Economic Crime, Nationwide Building Society
Conor D’Arcy, Interim Chief Executive, Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
Giles Derrington, Senior Government Relations and Public Policy Manager, TikTok
Sonia Brown, Vice President of Government Engagement & Regulatory Policy, Visa
Chair:
James Kirkup, Partner, Apella Advisors and Senior Fellow, SMF
Venue: Meeting Room 6, The Leonardo Hotel (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with Nationwide Building Society
Student mental health: how should policymakers and institutions respond?
Speakers:
Matt Western MP, Shadow Minister for Higher Education
Richard Smith, CEO, Unite Students
Rosie Tressler OBE, CEO, Student Minds
Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 14, ACC (inside the secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with Unite Students
How do we make energy cheaper?
Speakers:
Jeff Smith MP, Shadow Minister for Clean Power and Consumers
Philippe Commaret, Managing Director for Customers, EDF
Chris Norbury, Chief Executive Officer, E.ON
Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy, Citizens Advice
Mika Minio-Paluello, Policy Officer, Industry and Climate, TUC
Chair:
Sonia Sodha, Chief Leader Writer, The Observer
Venue: Meeting Room 6, The Leonardo Hotel (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with EDF and E.ON
Education: the new dividing line in British politics?
Speakers:
Alison McGovern MP, Member of Parliament for Wirral South, Shadow Employment Minister
Professor Rob Ford, Professor of Political Science, The University of Manchester
Polly Toynbee, The Guardian
Chris Curtis, Opinium
Chair:
Professor Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and SMF Trustee
Venue: Meeting Room 24, ACC (inside the secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Kindly supported by UK in a Changing Europe
Ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare: how can we ensure good outcomes for all?
Speakers:
Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health
Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, Southwark Council
Professor Dawn Edge, Professor of Mental Health & Inclusivity, The University of Manchester
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 6, The Leonardo Hotel (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with Policy@Manchester
Investing for growth: how should we create jobs and support the economy by boosting investment?
Speakers:
Tulip Siddiq MP, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Karen Northey, Director of Corporate Affairs, Investment Association
Sarah Pritchard, Executive Director, Markets and Executive Director, International, Financial Conduct Authority
Sir Simon Fraser, Managing Partner, Flint Global
Chair:
Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Interim Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 9, The Leonardo Hotel (outside of secure zone)
Watch the event here.
Held in partnership with the Investment Association
