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.  

Sunday 14th September, 13.00

Labour and the Liberal Democrats: allies or enemies? 
with Charles Clarke MP, David Lammy MP, Vince Cable MP, Stephen Williams MP.  Chair: Michael White (the Guardian) 

Bryanston Suite, Highcliff Marriott, Bournemouth

Tuesday 16th September, 18.15

Climbing the ladder: can social mobility end child poverty in the 21st Century? 
with David Laws MP, Martin Narey (Chair of Lib Dem Commission on Social Moblity), Kate Wareing (Oxfam), Tim Horton (Fabian Society).  Chair: Julian Astle (CentreForum)

Tregonwell Room, Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth

Wednesday 17th September, 07.30

Building Sustainable Communities: Can housing policy tackle worklessness?
with Lembit Opik MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Housing; Anabel Palmer, Southern Housing Foundation; Kevin Browne, Reed in Partnership

Tregonwell Room, Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth

This event is kindly supported by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Groundwork , and attendance is by invitation only.