Fabian Public Events at Labour Party Conference 2009

Sunday 27th September - Thursday 1st October

Our headline public events at Labour Party Conference are among the most prominent events of the conference fringe, providing a forum for the political debates that delegates want to have, and a chance to hear A-list speakers discussing the most pressing issues of the moment.

 
Fabian Policy Roundtables at Labour Party Conference 2009

Sunday 27th September - Thursday 1st October 2009

Our policy roundtables are the format in which we undertake most of our substantive policy discussions at the party conference. Expert participants debate emerging policy trends and ideas and interrogate key players in an invited forum of their peers.

 
Fabian City, Business and Politics Network
A Fabian City, Business and Politics Policy Roundtable
Wednesday 8 July, 12.30-14.00, The Work Foundation


Our invite only roundtable will be an opportunity to examine how the financial crisis has affected the public’s attitudes toward the city, and discuss how a more coherent sense of narrative can be created to respond to the recession.
 
Public Attitudes to Poverty and Inequality

Wednesday 1st July, One Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, 13.30-15.00

The Fabian Society and Joseph Rowntree Foundation are holding a seminar with John Denham MP, on Public Attitudes and Inequality, interrogating in more detail the findings of two new reports supported by the JRF: Tackling Economic Inequality - an exploration of the underslying "drivers" of public attitudes towards economic inequality; and Political debate about Economic Inequality by ippr.

 
Fighting Poverty and Inequality in an age of Affluence

What does the public really think about fairness?

Monday 22nd of June 2009, 6-8pm, Work Foundation

Yvette Cooper MP will lead a panel discussion to launch two new reports supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Tackling Economic Inequality - an exploration of the underlying ‘drivers’ of public attitudes towards economic inequality by the Fabian Society; and Political debate about Economic Inequality by ippr.

 
The Road to Copenhagen

Saturday 20th June, Foreign Press Association, 11-16.30

Ed Miliband will lead a major Fabian Society conference on Saturday 20th June in the run up to December's vital Copenhagen climate change summit.

With only six months until the world’s leaders meet in Copenhagen to agree a post Kyoto deal, the Fabian Society will be asking what is the climate deal the world needs and how can progressives work to build a campaign coalition around the conference that will maintain political pressure and create the political space for an our leaders to take decisive action to tackle climate change.

 

The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change will be joined by Sian Berry, Ken Livingstone and many more speakers on international politics and the environment.

 

 
Fairness in an Ageing Society – the demographic crunch

Fabian Ageing Society Conference
Monday 15th June 2009, 10 am – 4 pm, Westminster

Building on our Fairness in an Ageing Society Forum, Vince Cable MP gave a keynote speech to the Fabian Ageing Society Conference 2009.  The event brought together issues identified across the seminars, which have focused on how fairness and equality for older people can be achieved in practice.  Specifically it considered the new Ageing Strategy, and how different stakeholders and advocates could promote and deliver equality across and within generations in the context of demographic and economic pressures.

 
What Capitalism do we want now?

13 June 2009, The Compass Conference, Institute of Education

With the recession at the heart of public debate, the Fabians will discuss what is the capitalism we want now at this year's Compass Conference on 13 June. Speakers at the Fabian fringe to be confirmed shortly.

The Compass Conference 2009 No Turning Back, will discuss an economic vision of the future, and will include speeches from Baroness Helena Kennedy, Harriet Harman MP and Fiona Weir from Gingerbread.

 
David Miliband MP Pre-European Elections Lecture

Monday 1 June 2009, Westminster, 7.30pm - 9pm

The Fabian Society was pleased to host: ‘Don't let the Tories use the expenses crisis to isolate Britain from Europe’ with Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

 

 
Geoff Hoon: Does transport have to be a choice between the economy and the environment?
Fabian Environmental Policy Network
'Does transport have to be a choice between the economy and the environment?’
Wednesday 3rd June.

Rt. Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Secretary of State for Transport, chaired a closed Fabian discussion on whether transport has to come at the cost of the environment. Chris Nash, Institute for Transport Studies and Stephen Joseph, Campaign for Better Transport joined him to ask how we can ensure that the next generation of transport infrastructure is green.

 
Charles Clarke: Fabian lecture on Euro elections

Tuesday 19th May, 6pm - 7.30pm.

Charles Clarke MP led a major Fabian Society lecture ahead of the June 4th European Union elections.

The lecture focused on how Labour can make the positive case for Europe ahead of the important election.

 

 
Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson MP: Why inequality matters

alan-johnson2 Thursday 7th May, 10 am - 11.30 am, Westminster

Rt. Hon Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health led a major Fabian lecture on health inequalities.  Joining Johnson on the panel were on the panel were Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, Kay Boycott, Communications Director of Shelter and Tim Horton, Research Director of the Fabian Society, who chaired the event.

 

 
Trust and the City with John McFall MP

Wednesday 29 April, Westminster, 6.30 - 8pm

John McFall MP, Chairman of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee led a Fabian public seminar on the role of 'trust' in shaping public attitudes towards the financial sector. Joining McFall were Jill Treanor, The Guardian; Antony Jenkins, CEO Barclaycard and Rachel Reeves, Labour PPC Leeds West and former Bank of England Economist.

 
Change We Need Publication Launch

23 March 2009, Westminster, 6.30 - 8pm

To celebrate the launch of our highly anticipated publication, 'The Change We Need: What Britain Can Learn from Obama' the Fabian Society held a public debate with Alastair Campbell; David Lammy MP; Will Straw; Catherine Mayer and Ben Brandzel. Panelists discussed how we can translate elements of Obama's successful campaign to Britain.

 
Fabian G20 Lecture with Stephen Timms MP

Wednesday, 11 March 2009, 6 - 7.30pm

Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to HM Treasury ourlined the government's G20 priorities at a Fabian seminar on the public politics of the G20. This special event was only open to Fabian members and will be the first opportunity to hear the Minister discuss the left's public arguments for internationalism and what our priorities are in a run-up to the G20.

 
Fighting Poverty & Inequality in an Age of Affluence Centenary Conference

Saturday, 21 February 2009, London School of Economics, Hong Kong Lecture Hall

Beatrice Webb's 1909 Minority Report first set out the vision, arguments and values of social justice that were to become the foundations of the modern welfare state. Nearly 100 years on, Lord Roy Hattersley, will lead our Fighting Poverty and Inequality in an Age of Affluence Conference to commemorate the centenary of the Minority Report. The event aims to make a major contemporary contribution to the strategy for fighting poverty and inequality in today's Britain.

Read the event report here

fightingpoverty.jpg

 

 
Gary Titley Progressive Manifesto Lecture

February 12th 2009, Portcullis House

Gary Titley MEPNorth West of England MEP and European Labour Party Leader Gary Titley will be leading a major Fabian Society lecture on February 12th 2009.

The lecture, part of the Progressive Manifesto Series, will focus on the future of the European Union and the state of the current debate, both in the United Kingdom, and Europe more widely.

For more information - or to register to attend - please contact Richard Lane on 0207 227 4902 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Fabian Fairness in an Ageing Society Policy Forum

20th January 2009 

The Fabian Society launched a Fairness in an Ageing Society Policy Forum, in association with Housing 21 and Counsel & Care , which analyses and influences key issues emerging in relation to older people and intergenerational equity, and aims to frame debate around the government’s future policy agenda.

The Forum was launched on 20th January 2009 by Professor Alan Walker (University of Sheffield), Baroness Kay Andrews (DCLG), Rosie Winterton MP (DWP) and Polly Toynbee (the Guardian). The launch brought together leading decision makers and opinion formers to discuss conceptions of our ageing society and intergenerational equity, as well as current and future policy relating to our growing and ageing population
 
Fabian New Year Conference - Fairness Doesn't Happen By Chance

Saturday 17 January 2009, Imperial College, London

Sunder Katwala and Ed Miliband at the Fabian New Year Conference 2009

The Fabian Society New Year Conference: Fairness Doesn't Happen By Chance discussed how we could make 2009 the year of equality. 600 delgates and over 50 speakers joined us at the conference to advocate an equality agenda that is ambitious, aspiring and achievable.

See other photos here

 

 
The Equality Summit

Wednesday 17th December 2008

The Fabian Society held a one day policy conference on the future of the equalities agenda, kindly supported by the Barrow Cadbury Trust . The Conference looked at the development of an effective public argument for a more equal society which is relevant across the different equality dimensions, and challenged key decision-makers and opinion formers to achieve this in order to mobilise the resources and support needed to make faster progress.

Speakers included Trevor Phillips (EHRC Chair), Sarah Veale (TUC), Simon Fanshawe (broadcaster and journalist), Nick Johnson (Institute for Community Cohesion), Peter Kellner (You Gov), Polly Toynbee (the Guardian) Karen Rowlingson (University of Brimingham), Joy Warmington (brap) and Linda Bellos (Diversity Solutions).

 

 
Hilary Benn MP to give Progressive Manifesto lecture on the Politics of Food

Wednesday 10th December 2008, 7-8:30pm

Other speakers: Harriet Lamb, Chief executive of Fairtrade Foundation, and Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University 

 

 
Fabian Skills Forum

Nov 2008 - March 2009

The Fabian skills forum will explore how we can best combine the economic mission of the developing skills agenda with the social mission of ensuring fair life chances for all.  In particular, it will seek to engage with and inform a strategy for closing the skills gap, and - in connection with the Fabian Society's work on Life Chances - to ensure that all young people and workers are properly prepared and equipped to succeed in the workplace.

 
Fabian AGM 2008

Saturday 29 November, 1:30pm to 5pm  

The Fabian Society AGM will take place this year on Saturday 29th November at Mary Sumner House. The meeting will open with a brief panel discussion titled, 'A Return to Victorian Inequality? The Rise of the Super-Rich'. Confirmed speakers include David Walker, Editor of the Guardian Public Magazine and co-author of Unjust Rewards; author Stewart Lansley, Karen Rowlingson, co-author of the Fabian Inheritance Tax Pamphlet and Professor of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham, and many more tbc.

 
America Votes, Europe Responds

america_votes.jpgSaturday 8th November, 10am to 4pm

The Fabian Society will hold a one day public conference on the immediate Saturday following the US Presidential election results. The event will be the first opportunity to hear leading European politicians, academics and journalists discuss how Obama will influence key policy issues at the forefront of transatlantic relations including, climate change, trade, international development and security.   

Prices
 
Health Inequalities Conference

25th November 2008 

Michael MarmotThe Fabian Society will be holding a one day policy conference on health inequalities, kindly supported by sanofi-aventis.  The event will build on the successful Fabian health inequalities forum, and will bring together leading decision makers and opinion formers to examine current and future policy around health inequalities in light of the WHO'’s report on the social determinants of health.

Confirmed speaker include Sir Michael Marmot, Dawn Primarolo MP, Baroness Jane Campbell, Kevin Barron MP, Ben Bradshaw MP, Peter Kellner (YouGov), Anna Coote (New Economics Foundation), Yvonne Roberts (Young Foundation), Jacob West (Deputy Director Health, No. 10 Strategy Unit) and Dr Steve Feast (Department of Health).

 
Keep the Promise to End Child Poverty

Saturday 4th October 2008 

The End Child Poverty Coalition will hold the UK's biggest ever event to end child poverty - "Keep the Promise" - with a mass rally at Trafalgar Square.

 
Fabian Society at Conservative Party Conference

Tuesday 30th September 2008 

The Fabian Society will be holding a public fringe on child poverty, and a policy seminar on social housing and worklessness, at this year's Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. 

 

 
Fabian Policy Roundtables at Labour Party Conference 2008

Saturday 20th - Wednesday 24th September 2008 

Our policy roundtables are the format in which we undertake most of our substantive policy discussions at the party conferences. Expert participants debate emerging policy trends and ideas and interrogate key players in an invited forum of their peers.

In 2008 we will be exploring a range of key current and emerging areas of policy, from tackling health inequalities and overcoming worklessness, to improving the supply of skills and encouraging higher standards of corporate accountability.

 

 
Fabian Public Fringe Debates at Labour Party Conference 2008

Saturday 20th - Wednesday 24th September 2008 

Our headline public events at Labour Party Conference 2008 were among the most prominent events of conference fringe, providing a forum for the political debates that delegates wanted to have, and a chance to hear A-list speakers discussing the most pressing issues of the moment.

In 2008 the Fabians held debates on the key electoral questions for Labour as it shapes the next manifesto and develops the strategy needed to win a fourth term.

Read reports from the events at the bottom of the page. 

 

 
Fabian Society at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference

Sunday 14th - Wednesday 17th September 2008

The Fabian society will be holding two public fringe events and one policy roundtable at this year's Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth. The public events provide a forum for debate and a chance for delegates to hear MPs and other high-profile speakers discuss today's most pressing issues.

The public events will cover the problem of social mobility in Britain and the prospects for a Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition, while the policy roundtable focuses upon the link between social housing policy and unemployment.  

 
Fabian Fringe event at TUC Congress

Tuesday 9th September, 5:30-7pm

Divided Society? Housing, Communities and Citizenship

We will be holding a public fringe event at the TUC Congress in Brighton - the debate will look at the political and policy issues around housing, communities and citizenship, and the creation of mixed communities.

 
Alan Johnson Lecture on Public Health

Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, will deliver a lecture next Wednesday on public health to the Fabian Society.  This event will take place at Westminster Central Hall beginning at 17:30.  There will be a small drinks reception from 17:00.  If you are interested in attending please e-mail Ian Chapman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0207 227 4914.

 

 
Fabian "Progressive Manifesto" Lecture with Mike O'Brien MP

"A New Language for Old Age" - Tuesday 15th July, Grand Committe Room, House of Commons, 4.30pm

mike_obrien.jpg

Age must be recast in terms of opportunity and contribution, not stagnation and decline. Minister of State for Pensions Reform, Mike O'Brien MP, will explain that the challenges posed by an ageing society require action from old and young to shed outdated stereotypes and change mindsets about retirement and the process of growing older.

 
 
Fabian Society Health seminar: "NHS at 60: Learning from the past, looking to the future"

Monday 30th June 2008 

Building on the success of our recent Health Inequalities Forum, the Fabians will mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS with a broad discussion focusing on the big picture health policy themes for the next 30 years.

 
Lessons from America: the way we do politics
Monday 30th June 2008, 6pm
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House


The world after Bush is now taking shape: either John McCain or Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States. Both candidates defied the odds to win their party's nominations, setting a benchmark for future contests and politics around the world. As Labour seeks to recover from defeats in the local elections and the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, David Lammy will explore what lessons there are to be learned from across the Atlantic.
 
Housing & Community Policy Network seminar - Ecotowns and the Built Environment

Tuesday 17th June 2008

This seminar was led by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, with Richard Simmons, Chief Executive of CABE as a respondent, and discussed the government’s plans for ecotowns and their place within a broader strategy for adapting our towns and cities to a changing climate.

 

 
Compass Conference 2008: Child Poverty Challenge-Would running on equality cost Labour the election?

compass_for_website.jpgSaturday 14th June 2008, 11:15am

The Fabian Society held a breakout session at Compass Conference 2008. The session provided conference participants with an informative and invigorating debate on some of the electoral challenges around the equality and poverty agenda. 

 

 

 
Sidney Blumenthal In Conversation With Jonathan Freedland

The World After Bush: The Strange Death of Republican America 

Tuesday 27th May 2008, 6.30pm for a 7pm start - 8.30pm 

sidney_blumenthal_-_photo_by_robert_goddyn__2006_-_titchy_small.jpgContinuing the Fabian's World After Bush series, former Guardian columnist and Clinton White House advisor Sidney Blumenthal was joined by the Guardian's Jonathan Freedland as he launched his new book, The Strange Death of Republican America: Chronicles of a Collapsing Party, published in June. 

 
Fabian "Progressive Manifesto" lecture with John Hutton MP

Thursday 29th May 2008, 10am
Attlee Suite, Portcullis House

Given the tenth anniversary of the Royal Assent of the Minimum Wage legislation this year, this lecture will consider the advances made over the past ten years  and initiate a debate on what new approaches can be adopted to further advance  fairness at work when sustaining jobs and prosperity in a difficult economic environment.

        

 

 
1909-2009: Beatrice Webb and the Future of the Welfare State

peter_townsend_website.jpgTuesday 20th May 2008, 6:30pm

In this lecture, Peter Townsend, LSE Professor of International Social Policy, discussed the origins of the UK welfare state, including Beatrice Webb's 1909 Minority Report and early Fabian campaigning, and trace the political debates that accompanied the evolution of the welfare state throughout the 20th Century. Townsend also assessed Labour's progress since 1997 in dealing with poverty and discuss future directions for the welfare state.

The event was chaired by Nick Timmins, Financial Times.

 
Housing & Community Policy Network seminar on assets, opportunity and inequality

Wednesday 14th May

This seminar was lead by Caroline Flint MP, Minister for Housing, with Graham Moran (Metropolitan Housing Trust) as a respondent, and looked at the political and policy issues surrounding homeownership, shared equity schemes, buy to let, as well as links to wealth, assets and opportunities more widely.

 
Southern Comfort - Fabian lecture with John Denham MP

 Thursday 8th May, at 6:30pm

John Denham is the only Cabinet Member representing a southern English seat.  He has consistently argued that the key to Labour’s success in all parts of the country lies in its ability to meet the needs of the south. He will set out how the priority Labour is giving to skills, research and innovation form part of a convincing case for southern Labour comfort.

 
James Purnell Progressive Manifesto lecture

Tuesday 6th May 2008, 1pm 

The recently appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions outlined how the Government can sustain progress towards meeting their twin targets of halving child poverty by 2010/11 and eradicating it by 2020.

 
How can we defend inheritance tax

Tuesday 29th April 2008, 6pm

Inheritance tax is under attack, and not just from the political right. For too long the debate about this tax has been dominated by its critics. But, as the authors of the Fabian Society’s new pamphlet How to defend inheritance tax argue, there are very strong arguments for inheritance tax that need to be made if it is to survive.

So where do we start? What arguments will win public opinion? Is this up to government or do we need a citizen campaign? Can we form a progressive alternative to the Taxpayer’s Alliance? Can we reconnect tax with fairness?
 
Hazel Blears Housing Network launch lecture: Building Communities

Thursday, 3rd April 2008

Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, launched the new Fabian Housing and Community Policy Network, with a lecture entitled 'Building Communities'.

 

 
Scottish Labour Party Conference 2008

Friday 28th to Saturday 29th March 2008

 Devolution and social justice are the main themes at the Scottish Labour Party conference in Aviemore.

 

 
Fabian Health Inequalites Forum

Friday, 14th March 2008

The Fabian Society held a major series of seminars on narrowing health inequalities between November 2007 and March 2008, including sessions led by health ministers Dawn Primarolo MP, Ben Bradshaw MP and Ivan Lewis MP, and eminent academics Julian Le Grand and Sir Michael Marmot. Continuing the work of the Fabian Commission on Life Chances and Child Poverty, the Fabian Health Inequalities Forum explored the major barriers to narrowing inequalities across a range of key health policy areas, and sought to suggest directions for the future strategy on health inequality that we need.

 
Fabian Fringe Events and Labour Party Spring Conference

Saturday March 1 2008 

The Fabian Society held two fringe events at Labour Party Spring Conference in Birmingham, on Saturday 1st March 2008. The venue was Bryne-Jones Room, Novotel Birmingham Centre, 70 Broad Street, Birmingham (outside the secure zone)

The Fringe event focused on NHS reforms and the challange for Labour of tackling child poverty. Speaking at the event Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said that the target for ending child poverty by 2010 was "non-negotiable".

 
Fabian Policy Conference: The Future of Social Housing

Housing Minister Caroline FlintFebruary 5 2008

Breaking the link between social housing and worklessness will be a priority for government, Caroline Flint told the Fabian Society in her first speech as Housing Minister, but Adam Sampson of Shelter and Dave Prentis of Unison warned of the danger of stigmatising social housing.

Social housing must act as a springboard, not just a safety net, new Housing Minister Caroline Flint told a Fabian conference in her first major speech in the role.

 
Ed Milliband Research Project launch lecture: Fighting Poverty and Inequality in an Age Affluence

ed miliband

Wednesday 30 January 2008

Ed Miliband launched a new two-year research project "Fighting Poverty and Inequality in an Age of Affluence;100 years on from the Poor Law Minority Report" to be run by the Fabian Society and the Webb Memorial Trust .

 

 
Fabian policy seminar: Urban Britain - the next decade agenda
 Thursday, 24th January 2008

 

Key speaker: John Healey MP, Minister of State for Local Government

Respondent: Nick Johnson, Deputy Chief Executive of Urban Splash

John Healey MP will lead discussion on the socio-economic and political changes facing urban Britain, and the role of the build environment in tackling the future policy and political challenges facing policy makers.

 
Fabian Society New Year Conference 2008: 'Change the World'

david_miliband_nyc08_small.jpg

Saturday 19 January 2008

David Miliband predicts that 'civilian surge' will reshape global politics as over 700 people debate ideas to change the world at the Fabian new year conference.

Britain must become a 'global hub' to deal with fundamental shifts in power from west to east, and from governments to civilians, David Miliband told the Fabian New Year Conference 'Change the World'.

 
Social Justice, Conservatism and the State
Tuesday 15th January 2008  

 

This seminar forms part of a two-year project run by the Fabian Society and the Webb Memorial Trust to commemorate the centenary of the 1909 Minority Report to the Poor Law Reform Commission. The project will seek to engage with and influence all major parties on their response to the challenge of tackling poverty and inequality in 21st Century Britain.

 The speaker at this seminar was Greg Clark MP (Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and member of the Social Justice Policy Group) and the respondents were Sunder Katwala (Fabian Society General Secretary) and Cameron Watt (Centre for Social Justice).

 

 
Sunder Katwala lecture: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

Tuesday 11th December 2007

Breaking the cycle of disadvantage in Britain will require a cross-party and public consensus on equality as deep as that which backs the NHS, Fabian General Secretary Sunder Katwala told the Guardian/CEHR Diverse Britain conference.

 
Social Justice, Liberal Democracy and the State
Monday 10th December 2007  

 

This seminar forms part of a two-year project run by the Fabian Society and the Webb Memorial Trust to commemorate the centenary of the 1909 Minority Report to the Poor Law Reform Commission. The project will seek to engage with and influence all major parties on their response to the challenge of tackling poverty and inequality in 21st Century Britain. 

The speaker at this seminar was Danny Alexander MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary) and respondents were Alasdair Murray (Centreforum) and Tim Horton (Fabian Society).

 
 
Bill Rammell lecture: Academic Freedom in the 21st Century

Tuesday, 27th November 2007 

Far right speakers such as Nick Griffin and David Irving should not be banned from speaking at British universities because scrutiny was the best antidote to extremist views, argued Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell in a Fabian lecture inviting the academic community to open a major public debate about how free inquiry can challenge and refute violent extremism.

 

 
Malcolm Wicks lecture: Energy Security and Climate Cange

Tuesday, 20th November 2007

Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Energy and Sustainable Development, spoke to the Fabian Society on what he said would be two of the major political themes of the 21st Century. Elaborating on the implications for fairness and social justice, Wicks suggested action that should be taken on energy security and climate change by both governement and citizens.

 
Fabian AGM 2007

Saturday, 10th November 2007

The Fabian AGM will take place this year on Saturday 10th November at Central Westminster Hall.

In addition to the usual AGM business, members can enjoy a debate on the relevance today of Beatrice Webb and the 1909 Poor Law Minority Report, previewing a major new Fabian research project into the future of the welfare state, with Karen Buck MP and Tim Horton, Fabian Society Research Director.

 
Ed Balls 'Progressive Manifesto' lecture: Raising the education participation age

Monday, 5th November 2007

At this Fabian Education lecture, launching the Progressive Manifesto series, Schools Secretary Ed Balls set out how his department planned to raise the educational participation age to eighteen in order to improve the life chances of young people in this country.

 

 
Not the General Election Night Debate

Thursday, 1st November 2007

For anyone who loves a good general election night debate, and is feeling that they have missed out this year, the Fabian Society had the answer. Sadiq Khan chaired a discussion between Polly Toynbee, Peter Kellner and Sunder Katwala about the policy priorities Labour needs for the next 18 months.

 
Fabian Fringe at Labour Conference 2007: Policy Roundtables

Monday 24th to Thursday 27th September 2007

Our policy roundtables are the format in which we undertake most of our substantive policy discussions. Expert participants debate emerging policy trends and ideas and interrogate key players in an invited forum of their peers.

This year we have our strongest programme of policy roundtables ever, tackling the key issues on the political agenda from housing and the Respect agenda to the environment and energy policy.

 
Fabian Fringe at Labour Conference 2007: Public Fringes

Sunday 23rd to Thursday 27th September 2007

Our headline public events at Labour Party Conference are among the most prominent events of the conference fringe, providing a forum for the political debates that delegates want to have, and a chance to hear A-list speakers discussing the most pressing issues of the moment.

This year the Fabians will be holding debates on topics ranging from the future of equality in the UK to the approach we need to Iran.

 
Labour v Conservatives: who will be best for business?

Tuesday, 18th September 2007

Both parties may have different visions of the prosperous society, but how will a Brownite business agenda compare to a Cameronian one? What will the main policy and political challenges be for the party leaders at the next election in wooing the business vote?

 
Fabian Fringe at Liberal Democrat Party Conference

Sunday, 16th September 2007

The Fabian Society made its debut appearance at Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton this year.

In 'Labour and the Lib Dems - Whose progressive agenda?' Gareth Thomas MP and Tim Horton, Fabian Research Director, debated with Vince Cable MP and Baroness Shirley Williams the dividing lines between the parties as well as the potential for a progressive consensus in British politics to develop.

Our second event, a roundtable seminar, explored whether policy competition between the parties would prove a driver to real progress in meeting our environmental targets for energy generation and consumption.

 

 
Fabian Fringe at TUC 2007

Monday, 10th September 2007

The Fabian Society held two high profile events at this year's TUC. Continuing the debate on party reform begun in recent pamphlet Facing Out, David Coats led a panel assessing the state of the Labour-union relationship, while Roger Liddle presented his recent Fabian freethinking paper, A New Social Europe, with union voices from across Europe.

 
Democracy Day

Saturday, 8th September 2007

The Fabian Autumn Conference will kick off the new political season. Come along to listen to speakers including Liam Byrne, Michael Wills and Hazel Blears. Have your say and join leading politicians, thinkers and grassroots campaigners as we debate ideas that will renew our democracy.

Keynote speaker: Ed Miliband MP.

 
Dr Howard Stoate MP Fabian Health Policy Seminar: The future of the NHS

Thursday, 26th July 2007

Dr Howard Stoate MP, author of Fabian pamphlet 'Challenging the Citadel: Breaking the hospitals' grip on the NHS', led a discussion on the future of the NHS.

 
Fabian Summer Reception 2007

Tuesday, 26th June 2007

Ed Balls toasted a fantastic year for the Fabians at the annual summer reception on the House of Commons terrace. The reception was an opportunity for the Fabians to thank all contributors, partners and friends of the Society for their support over the past year.

 
Fabian Fringe at Special Leadership Conference - Manchester

Sunday, 24th June 2007

Neither the Conservative Party's election strategy nor whether David Cameron, David Davis or William Hague will be the party leader can be predicted with certainty, Ed Balls told a Fabian fringe meeting on the morning of the Labour special leadership conference in Manchester. He suggested that the smooth transistion between Blair and Brown had focussed the public gaze on the Conservative split over grammar schools.

 
James Purnell Next Decade Lecture: The Aspiration Society

Thursday, 21st June 2007

In this lecture, DWP Minister James Purnell set out the case and vision for building an aspiration society where life chances are not inherited at birth, but depend on each person's own efforts and talents. He addressed some of the key policy questions for the next decade agenda, in particular placing education at the centre of the future political and policy debates and of the Labour government's future social vision.

 
Hilary Benn and Tony Klug lecture: The Middle East - How to make peace possible

Monday, 18th June 2007

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn MP was among the speakers debating Tony Klug's new Fabian freethinking paper How Peace Broke Out in the Middle East: A Short History of the Future.

Benn spoke alongside Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House and Atallah Said of the Arab Labour Group. The paper is generating an extraordinary response from a wide range of commentators, academics and government and civil society voices in the UK, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

 
Baroness Andrews lecture: Housing Provision for an Ageing Society

Wednesday, 13th June 2007

In this lecture, DCLG Minister Baroness Andrews explored the Government's response to the future provision of housing for a growing and ageing society, and argued that housing policy must be at the heart of the social justice and social care agenda.

 
David Coats seminar: The Challenges of Global Integration

Wednesday, 13th June 2007

David Coats of the Work Foundation and Richard Exell of the TUC lead discussion in the second seminar of 2007 in the Fabian City, Business and Politics Network on the challenges of global integration and the response of the UK government and business to economic nationalism and protectionist tendencies in Europe and elsewhere.

 
David Coats 'Next Decade' lecture: The Future of Work

Tuesday, 12th June 2007

Leading workplace analyst David Coats argued that workers in the south of England find the combination of a long commute, rising interest rates and a job they don't like contributes to their "southern discomfort".

But Coats, the former head of economics at the TUC, also argued in a Fabian lecture that workplaces have actually become more secure and better paid for the most vulnerable in his Next Decade lecture for the Fabians. He threw down a challenge to employers and government to improve workplaces.

 
Fabians at Compass Conference 2007: How do we win on equality?

Saturday, 9th June 2007

The Fabian Society will be running a session at this year's Compass conference to debate the public politics of equality. Tim Horton, Fabian Research Director, will be joined on a panel by Professor Anthony Giddens, LSE, Karen Buck MP and Louise Bamfield, Fabian Research Fellow.

 
Jim Murphy seminar: The New Deal at Ten - The Next Decade Agenda

Thursday, 7th June 2007

Jim Murphy, Minister of State, Department of Work and Pensions, led a Fabian policy seminar marking the tenth anniversary of the New Deal, assessing Labour's achievements in the area of employment policy and setting out the next decade challenges still to be met.

 
Ruth Kelly and Liam Byrne seminar: Next steps for citizenship

Wednesday, 6th June 2007

Ruth Kelly and Liam Byrne will speak at a Fabian seminar to launch their new freethinking paper. Drawing on their different perspectives in government, they will propose and debate new recommendations to strengthen citizenship and a common, shared British identity.

This event is by invitation only.

 

 
Baroness Amos seminar: Health Development - Next Decade Challenges

Wednesday, 6th June 2007

Baroness Amos will lead a high-level seminar exploring the next decade challenges in the area of internatioanl health development policy.

 
Andy Burnham 'Next Decade' lecture: The Next Decade in the NHS: Quality Not Quantity

Tuesday, 5th June 2007

Continuing the Fabian 'Next Decade' series, Health Minister Andy Burnham argued that the era of the top down NHS is over. You can read the full transcript of his speech here.

 
John Denham lecture: Southern Discomfort Revisited

Wednesday, 23rd May 2007

Labour cannot comfortably govern the UK as a whole without a significant presence in its largest and most prosperous region, argued former Home Office minister John Denham in a Fabian lecture. New Labour's unquestioned achievement was the solid base of councillors and MPs from the south of England. Read Denham's arguments on why that advance has been halted and, in many cases, reversed.

 
David Lammy 'Next Decade' lecture: Empowerment and the Community

Tuesday, 22nd May 2007

Fear and unfamiliarity are the problems creating division in our society, Culture Minister David Lammy said in a Fabian lecture. "What we really need as a society is the social glue created by an encounter culture – in which it becomes normal, commonplace and comfortable to meet people from other backgrounds and cultures.We need workplaces that are representative. Public spaces that are welcoming."

 
Fabian Society/Progress Deputy Leadership Hustings

Wednesday, 16th May 2007

Hazel Blears topped a straw poll following an exclusive Fabian Society and Progress deputy leadership hustings. All six candidates - Alan Johnson, Hazel Blears, Harriet Harman, Hilary Benn, Jon Cruddas and Peter Hain - debated major issues including democracy, education and foreign policy in a session chaired by The Guardian's Michael White. Read more in the full transcript.

Plus: Fabians publish book of candidates' essays:

Labour's Choice: The Deputy Leadership

 
Yvette Cooper 'Next Decade' lecture: Housing and Life Chances

Tuesday, 15th May 2007

Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning, continued the Fabian 'Next Decade' series, discussing the link between housing policy and the government's child poverty agenda.

 
Fabian Society Leadership Hustings

Sunday, 13th May 2007

What happened when the Fabian Society invited Gordon Brown, Michael Meacher and John McDonnell to debate Labour's future at a special Fabian hustings event?

 
Hazel Blears lecture: Renewing Labour

Thursday, 10th May 2007

Labour party chair Hazel Blears issued a stark warning that Labour could soon 'cease to exist as a national political party' without major structural and cultural change, in a Fabian Society and Young Fabians lecture on the eve of the party leadership contest.

 
Yvette Cooper seminar: Environmental Objectives in Housing and Planning Policy

Tuesday, 24th April 2007

Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning, led the second seminar in the 2007 Environmental Policy Network programme on environmental objectives in housing and planning policy.

 
Ed Balls seminar: UK Competitiveness in a Global Economy

Thursday, 19th April 2007

Ed Balls MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, led a City, Business and Politics Network seminar discussion on UK competitiveness in the global economy and the Government's promotion of stability and productivity through macro and microeconomic reform.

 
Bill Rammell seminar: The Supply of Skills - Long-term Challenges for the UK

Monday, 2nd April 2007

Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Bill Rammell addressed the Fabian Science and Technology Network on 19th March 2007, leading a discussion on the skills gap in the UK science and engineering sectors.

 
Malcolm Wicks seminar: Science and Innovation Policy

Monday, 19th March 2007

Science Minister Malcolm Wicks spoke on Science and Innovation policy to the Fabian Science and Technology Network on 19th March 2007.

 
Alan Johnson lecture: Taking Class Out of the Classroom

Tuesday, 13th March 2007

Education Secretary Alan Johnson says schools need to focus on working-class boys to close the gap in achievement, launching a major Fabian research project on educational inequality.

 
Neil Kinnock in conversation with Michael White

Monday, 12th March 2007

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock reflected on Labour politics, past, present and future, sharing his views on the Labour leadership, health, education, foreign policy, Lords reform - and why he opposes the government's decision to renew Trident - at a special Fabian members event.

 
South-West Conference 2007: Narrowing the Gap in Life Chances

Saturday, 10th March 2007

Involving parents more in education would help to narrow the attainment gap, Schools Minister Jim Knight told the Fabian South-West conference in Bournemouth.

Speakers: Jim Knight MP, Howard Stoate MP, Jessica Asato, Patrick Diamond, Sunder Katwala, Stephen Twigg

 
Ian Pearson seminar: Government Priorities in Tackling Climate Change

Wednesday, 7th March 2007

Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State, DEFRA, led a discussion on the future priorities in environment policy for the Government over the next decade, in the first seminar in the 2007 EPN programme.

 
Ruth Kelly 'Next Decade' lecture: The Future of Housing Policy

Tuesday, 13th February 2007

Ruth Kelly says building more homes and enabling more tenants to build up a stake in their homes can help to brige the housing divide, in the latest Fabian 'Next Decade' lecture.

 
Howard Stoate lecture: Winning the Battle for Fewer Hospitals

Sunday, 28th January 2007

MP Howard Stoate argues that the public needs to be persuaded that the government's plan to close hospitals will be good for health care.

 
David Miliband 'Next Decade' lecture: Red-Green Renewal

Thursday, 14th December 2006

Environment Secretary David Miliband's lecture in the Fabian 'Next Decade' series gave a powerful warning that any party that does not raise its game on the environment will prove unelectable.

 
Dan Corry seminar: Long-term Challenges Facing the UK Economy and Public Services

Wednesday, 13th December 2006

In light of the many reviews that have taken place ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007, Dan Corry Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, HM Treasury lead a broad discussion about the key long-term challenges facing the UK economy and public services.

 
Charles Clarke 'Next Decade' lecture: The World After Bush

Wednesday, 29th November 2006

Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP gave a major lecture on "The World After Bush", assessing the impact of the US mid-term elections for global politics, and what the Labour government's highly controversial foreign policy record means for the future of British foreign policy.

 
Fabian New Year Conference 2008

Saturday, 19th January 2008

Our biggest event of the year, dedicated to foreign policy, takes place precisely one year before President Bush leaves office. What happens next could be up to us. Can those who believe in a progressive and multilateral approach show that we have effective answers to the world's biggest problems?

 
Fabian AGM 2006

Saturday, 4th November 2006

The Fabian Society's Annual General Meeting, was held on Saturday 4th November 2006 in London.

 
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