SMF at 2024 Party Conferences
The Social Market Foundation hosted a diverse programme of fringe events at the 2024 at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Party Conferences.
Our public fringe events are now available to watch on the SMF YouTube channel.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference
Roundtable discussion - Sustainable finance: delivering a ‘fair deal’ on the environment and the economy
Contributors:
- Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation
- Wera Hobhouse MP, Spokesperson for Energy and Environment & Transport (TBC)
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Kindly supported by the City of London Corporation
How can education policy support children’s wellbeing and mental health?
Speakers:
- Munira Wilson MP, Lib Dem Education Spokesperson
- Caroline Voaden MP
- Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Lecturer in the Psychology of Education, The University of Manchester
- Miranda Green, Political Commentator, Financial Times
- Dr Lade Smith, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Marine Room, Brighton Harbour Hotel
Watch the event here
In partnership with Policy@Manchester
Improving financial inclusion: securing economic participation for every community across the UK
Speakers:
- The Rt. Hon the Baroness Kramer, Liberal Democrats Treasury Spokesperson
- Conor Langford, Head of Strategic Market Initiatives (UK&I), Visa
- Sarah Porretta, Deputy Director, Fair4All Finance
- Sheldon Mills, Executive Director, Consumers and Competition, Financial Conduct Authority
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Marine Room, Brighton Harbour Hotel
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Visa
Labour Party Conference
Dinner discussion: How can Labour grasp the opportunities of AI and new technologies?
Kindly supported by Amazon Web Services
Where does the private rented sector fit Into Labour’s plans for housing?
Speakers:
- Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham
- Nigel Terrington, Chief Executive, Paragon Banking Group
- Gráinne Gilmore, Director of Research and Insights, Cluttons
Chair:
- Jamie Gollings, Deputy Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 9, Leonardo’s Hotel, Liverpool (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Paragon Banking Group
How Labour can harness AI and new technologies to improve public services
Speakers:
- Lucy Rigby, MP for Northampton North
- Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield
- Damian Stirrett, GVP & GM UK&I, ServiceNow
- Imogen Parker, Associate Director (Society, justice & public services), Ada Lovelace Institute
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Kindly supported by ServiceNow
How can tech help kickstart UK economic growth?
Speakers:
- Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety
- Matthew Sinclair, Senior Director, UK, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
- Dani Dhiman, Associate, Formation Advisory
- Camilla de Coverly Veale, Policy Director, Startup Coalition
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Computer & Communications Industry Association
A shared mission for growth: how communities, business, universities and government can work together to deliver economic prosperity
Speakers:
- Dan Norris MP, Metro Mayor for the West of England and MP for North East Somerset and Hanham
- Yuan Yang MP, for Earley and Woodley
- Dr Lukasz Rachel, Assistant Professor of Economics, University College London
- Mathu Jeyaloganathan, Chief Investment Officer – Community Wealth Fund, London Borough of Camden
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Grace Suite 2, Hilton Liverpool City Centre
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by UCL Policy Lab
A fairer deal for students: what can a Labour government deliver for higher education?
Speakers:
- Tim Roca MP, for Macclesfield
- Tito Molokwu, General Secretary, London School of Economics’ Student Union
- Vivienne Stern, CEO, UUK
Chair:
- Jamie Gollings, Deputy Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Russell Group Students’ Unions
Investing in growth: how to boost investment for greener, more inclusive growth and prosperity
Speakers:
- The Rt Hon. Liam Byrne MP, Chair, Business and Trade Select Committee
- Uma Kumaran MP, for Stratford and Bow
- Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, The Investment Association
- Emily Shepperd, Chief Operating Officer, Financial Conduct Authority
Chair:
- Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 1, Leonardo’s Hotel, Liverpool (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by the Investment Association
Learning to live well: how can education policy support children’s wellbeing and mental health?
Speakers:
- Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister for School Standards
- Jess Asato MP, for Lowestoft
- Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Lecturer in the Psychology of Education, The University of Manchester
- Dr Lade Smith CBE, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 14, ACC Liverpool (secure zone)
Watch the event here
In partnership with Policy@Manchester
Green light for growth: unlocking investment to deliver Labour’s 2030 energy mission
Speakers:
- Katie White MP, PPS to the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero and Member of Parliament for Leeds North West
- Polly Billington MP, for East Thanet
- Keith Anderson, CEO, ScottishPower
- Cllr Ryan Jude, Programme Director, UK Green Taxonomy, Green Finance Institute
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by ScottishPower
How can Labour double the co-operative and mutuals sector?
Speakers:
- Emily Darlington MP, for Milton Keynes Central
- Lord Kennedy of Southwark
- Kevin Parry, Chairman, Nationwide Building Society and Royal London
- Shirine Khoury-Haq, Group Chief Executive, Co-op
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Nationwide Building Society and Royal London
Drivers of growth: How can Labour deliver on its growth mission?
Speakers:
- Chris Curtis MP, for Milton Keynes North
- Kitty Ussher, Managing Director, Group Head of Policy Development, Barclays
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Blackstone
Keeping the lights on: how can Labour deliver affordable energy bills?
Speakers:
- Dr Jeevun Sandher MP, for Loughborough, Shepshed, and the Villages
- Dr Sam Rushworth MP, for Bishop Auckland
- Caroline Cawley, Volunteer, End Poverty Edinburgh
- Maria Booker, Head of Policy, Fair By Design
- Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action
Chair:
- Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by National Energy Action and Fair By Design
Bad money: the economics of gambling harm
Speakers:
- Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling
- Sarah Coombes MP, for West Bromwich
- Professor Heather Wardle, University of Glasgow
- Professor Adrian Pabst, Deputy Director, NIESR
- Will Hutton, The Observer
Chair:
- Dr James Noyes, Senior Fellow, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Meeting Room 14, ACC Liverpool (secure zone)
How can we bridge the tech skills gap to widen the economic opportunities of AI?
Speakers:
- Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Employment
- Yasmeen Sebbana, Associate Director, Public First
- Michaela Neild, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Google
- Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary, Community Trade Union
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Google
How access to financial services can drive inclusive growth across the country
Speakers:
- Torsten Bell MP, for Swansea West
- Kate Pender, CEO, Fair4All Finance
- Surina Somal, Director – Group Customer Inclusion & Customer Specialist Support Transformation, Lloyds Banking Group
- Karen Bennett CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Credit Union
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Albert 5, Hilton Liverpool City Centre
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Fair4All Finance
Boosting electric vehicle adoption to support a fairer, greener future
Speakers:
- Edward Davison, Public Policy Manager, Uber UK
- Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns, Campaign for Better Transport
- Dr Anna Charly, Lecturer in Transport at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Liverpool
Chair:
- Sam Robinson, Senior Researcher, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Dukes Suite, The Maldron Hotel, Liverpool
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Uber UK
Roundtable discussion - Home improvements: how can Labour deliver warm, green and energy efficient homes?
Kindly supported by Sureserve Group
Conservative Party Conference
Learning to live well: how can education policy support children’s wellbeing and mental health?
Speakers:
- Rt Hon. Damian Hinds MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education
- Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
- Dr Charlotte Bagnall, Lecturer in the Psychology of Education, The University of Manchester
- Dr Lade Smith CBE, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Fortissimo Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham (secure zone)
Watch the event here: Part 1 and Part 2
In partnership with Policy@Manchester
How can we bridge the tech skills gap to harness the economic opportunities of AI?
Speakers:
- Katie Lam MP, for Weald of Kent
- Katie O’Donovan, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google
- Emma Jones CBE, Founder, Enterprise Nation
- Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner, Public First
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by Google
Investing in growth: how to boost investment for greener, more inclusive growth and prosperity
Speakers:
- Baroness Porter of Fulwood
- Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, The Investment Association
- Stephen Braviner-Roman, General Counsel and Executive Director of Legal, Risk, Compliance and Corporate, Financial Conduct Authority
Chair:
- Theo Bertram, Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by the Investment Association
Can the Conservatives only win from the centre ground?
Can the Conservatives only win from the centre ground?
Speakers:
- Liam Halligan, Columnist, The Telegraph & SMF Advisory Board Member
- James Crouch, Head of Policy & Public Affairs Research, Opinium
- Ros Munro, Head of Strategic Communications, Social Market Foundation
Chair:
- Phoebe Arslanagić-Little, Senior Fellow, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Is there a distinctively Conservative approach to public service reform?
Speakers:
- Neil O’Brien MP, for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
- Professor Gabriella Conti, University College London
- Charlotte Pickles, Director, Reform Think Tank
Chair:
- Dr Aveek Bhattacharya, Research Director, Social Market Foundation
Venue: Drawing Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham (secure zone)
Watch the event here
Kindly supported by UCL Policy Lab
