Labour Party Conference 2025 – Text Version

The Festival of Ideas is the Fabian Society’s biggest and boldest conference programme ever. Our new home at The Bluecoat Liverpool will be alive with debate, discussion, and fresh thinking. . Across more than 40 events,  hundreds of leading voices, campaigners, and politicians will tackle the defining issues of our time – from climate action and housing to democracy, work, and the economy. If you care about shaping Labour’s future, this is where the conversation begins.

Hear from speakers including:

Wes Streeting MP • Lisa Nandy MP • Bridget Phillipson MP • Douglas Alexander MP • Lucy Powell MP • Anas Sarwar MSP • Matthew Pennycook MP • Michael Shanks MP • Nick Thomas-Symonds MP • Stephen Doughty MP • Sir Stephen Timms MP • Alison McGovern MP • Torsten Bell MP • Miatta Fahnbulleh MP • Kirsty McNeill MP • Karin Smyth MP • Seema Malhotra MP •  Martin McCluskey MP • Maria Eagle MP • Anneliese Dodds MP • Dawn Butler MP • Liam Byrne MP •  Florence Eshalomi MP • Baroness Margaret Hodge • Lord Charlie Falconer • Mayor Oliver Coppard • Mete Coban MBE • Tom Copley and many more!

 

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

 

17.00 – 18.00 | Only Halway? A Rights Based Approach Towards Ending Violence Against Women | Fabian Women’s Network

 

• Sarah Russell MP – Member of Parliament for Congleton. Member, Justice Committee
• Dr Purna Sen –
• Ciara Bergman – CEO, Rape Crisis England and Wales
• Cllr Dr Sara Hyde – Chair, Fabian Society. Executive Member for Health and Social Care, Islington Council

 

18.00 – 20.00 | Fabian Women’s Network Reception

 

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SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

 

14.00 – 15.00 | Berlin Barometer: Prospects for Germany’s New Coalition Government | in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

 

• Anneliese Dodds MP – Member of Parliament for Oxford East, Former Minister of State
• Phil Brickell MP – Member of Parliament for Bolton West. Secretary, Germany APPG
• Hubertus Heil MdB – Member of the Bundestag for Gifhorn – Peine, Former Minister
• Tarik Abou-Chadi – Professor of European Politics at Nuffield College, University of Oxford
• Michèle Auga – Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung UK and Ireland
• Iggy Wood – Head of Editorial, Fabian Society

 

14.00 – 15.00 | Bright Ideas: Unlocking Rooftop Solar for Businesses and Homes | in partnership with Solar Energy UK

 

• Martin McCluskey MP – Minister for Energy Consumers
• Mike Reader MP – Member of Parliament for Northampton South, Member, Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
• Gemma Grimes – Director of Policy & Delivery, Solar Energy UK
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society

 

15.15 – 16.15 | The Rising Cost of Growing Old: How to Support Pensioners in Poverty | in partnership with Independent Age

 

• Sarah Edwards MP – Member of Parliament for Tamworth. Chair, Pensions and Growth APPG
• Cllr Dr Sara Hyde – Chair, Fabian Society. Executive Member for Health and Social Care, Islington Council
• Joanna Elson CBE – CEO, Independent Age
• Sasjkia Otto – Senior Researcher, Fabian Society

 

15.15 – 16.30 | Planet, Profit and People: Who Pays the Price for Corporate Harms? | in partnership with Corporate Justice Coalition, ActionAid UK, Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of the Earth

 

• Lord Charlie Falconer – Former Secretary of State for Justice
• Martin Rhodes MP – Member of Parliament for Glasgow North. Chair, Fairtrade APPG
• Dominique Muller – Director, Corporate Justice Coalition
• Asad Rehman – Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth
• Hannah Bond – Co-CEO and Director of Advocacy and Influencing, ActionAid UK
• Marie Rumsby – Director of Communications and Advocacy, Fairtrade Foundation
• Nancy Githaiga – Tea farmer and factory unit manager, Gatunguru tea factory, Kenya

 

16.30 – 17.30 | Childhood in Crisis: Tackling Early Years Anxiety and Supporting School Readiness | Fabian Women’s Network

 

• Sarah Smith MP – Member of Parliament for Hyndburn. Member, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
• Joanne McCartney – Deputy Mayor of London for Children and Families
• Cllr Kamal Preet Kaur – Hillingdon Council. Early Years Practitioner
• Sarah Ronan – Director, Early Education and Childhood Coalition
• Cristin O’Brien – Senior Policy Advisor, The Difference
• Cllr Kelly Grehan – Co-Vice Chair, Fabian Women’s Network. Dartford Borough Council

 

17.00 – 18.30 | Winning in 2026 Rally: Delivering the Labour Government Scotland Needs | Scottish Fabians and True North Advisors

 

• Douglas Alexander MP – Secretary of State for Scotland
• Jackie Baillie MSP – Deputy Leader, Scottish Labour Party
• Michael Shanks MP – Member of Parliament for Rutherglen. Minister of State
• Lucy Powell MP – Labour Party Deputy Leadership Candidate
• plus many more leading Scottish MPs, MSPs and Holyrood 2026 Candidates

 

17.45 – 18.45 | Growth vs Net Zero: Do We Have to Choose? | in partnership with Smith Institute and Local Authority Pension Fund Forum 

 

• Michael Shanks MP – Minister of State for Energy
• Bill Esterson MP – Chair, Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
• Cllr John Gray – Vice Chair, Local Authority Pension Fund Forum
• Tessa Khan – Executive Director and Founder, Uplift. Environmental Lawyer
• Sue Ferns – Deputy General Secretary, Prospect

 

18.45 – 19.45 | Security in Numbers: UK-EU Cooperation in an Age of Uncertainty | in partnership with City of London Corporation and Independent Commission on UK-EU Relations

 

• Nick Thomas-Symonds MP – Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations
• Stephen Doughty MP – Minister of State for Europe
• Chris Hayward – Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation
• Mike Buckley – Director, Independent Commission on UK-EU relations
• Sam Peacock – Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, Regulation and Strategy, SSE
• Karen Northey – Director, Corporate Affairs, The Investment Association
• Cllr Dr Sara Hyde – Chair, Fabian Society

 

19.00 – 20.00 | Social Insecurity: How to Restore Trust in the System | in partnership with Turn2us

 

• Sir Stephen Timms MP – Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
• Professor Sara Davies – Associate Professor in Household Finance, University of Bristol
• Tom Lawson – CEO, Turn2us
• Jo Burridge  – Turn2us Co-Producer. Contribution via video
• Katherine Sangster – National Director, Scottish Fabians. Scottish Labour Candidate for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent

 

20.00 – 23.00 | Guarantee our Essentials Reception | in partnership with Trussell and Joseph Rowntree Foundation | ticket holders only

 

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MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

 

10.00 – 11.00 | Clean Air Justice: Time for Labour to Lead | in partnership with Healthy Air Coalition

 

• Barry Gardiner MP – Member of Parliament for Brent-West. Member, Environmental Audit Committee
• John Whitby MP – Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales. Member, Environmental Audit Committee
• Mete Coban MBE – Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy
• Dr Mike McKean – Vice-President for Policy, Royal College of Paediatrics
• Cllr Waseem Zaffar MBE – Founder, Clean Air Justice Network. Birmingham City Council
• Dr Sonia Adesara – Vice-Chair, Fabian Society. NHS Doctor and Activist

 

10.00 – 11.00 | Every Age, Every Stage: Opening Doors to Lifelong Learning | in partnership with Global Banking School

 

• James Kennedy – CEO, Global Banking School
• Sian Elliott – Director of Organising, Regions, Public Services and Skills, TUC
• Dr Fiona Aldridge – CEO, Skills Federation
• Louisa Dollimore – Chief of Staff, Good Growth Foundation
• Joe Dromey – General Secretary, Fabian Society

 

12.30 – 13.30 | Pressing Issues: Restoring Trust and Standards in the UK’s Media | in partnership with Media Reform Coalition and Hacked Off

 

• Tom Chivers – Campaign Co-orindator, Media Reform Coalition
• Penny East – Chief Executive, Fawcett Society
• Bob Ward – Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE
• Iggy Wood – Head of Editorial, Fabian Society
• Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana – CEO, Impress
• Hardeep Matharu – Editor, Byline Times
• Nathan Sparkes – CEO, Hacked Off

 

13.45 – 14.45 | Planning for Change: A New Blueprint for Housebuilding | in partnership with Hallam Land

 

• Matthew Pennycook MP – Minister of State for Housing and Planning
• Ruth McKeown – Executive Director, Hallam Land South
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society
• Ellie Brown – Reporter, Inside Housing

 

13.45 – 14.45 | Mind the Skills Gap: Putting Skills and Apprenticeships at the Heart of Growth | in partnership with CIPD and Youth Futures Foundation

 

• Darren Paffey MP – Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen. Member, Education Committee
• Lizzie Crowley – Senior Skills Policy Adviser, CIPD
• Barry Fletcher – CEO, Youth Futures Foundation
• Joe Dromey – General Secretary, Fabian Society
• Sasjkia Otto – Senior Researcher, Fabian Society

 

15.00 – 16.00 | Critical Condition: Ending Corridor Care and Moral Injury in the NHS | in partnership with Age UK

 

• Karin Smyth MP – Minister of State for Secondary Care
• Caroline Abrahams CBE – Charity Director, Age UK
• Professor Nicola Ranger – General Secretary and Chief Executive, Royal College of Nursing
• Sue Vardy – Age UK Storyteller
• Dr Sonia Adesara – Vice-Chair, Fabian Society. NHS Doctor and Activist

 

15.00 – 16.00 | Brave New World? Fighting Corruption in the New Trump Era | in partnership with UK Anti-Corruption Coalition

 

• Baroness Margaret Hodge – Anti-Corruption Champion
• Liam Byrne MP – Chair, Business and Trade Select Committee. Member, National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
• Phil Brickell MP – Member of Parliament for Bolton West. Chair, Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax APPG
• Dr Susan Hawley – Executive Director, Spotlight on Corruption
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society

 

16.15 – 17.15 | From the Ground Up: Expanding the Role of SMEs to Deliver 1.5 Million New Homes | in partnership with Nationwide Foundation

 

• Florence Eshalomi MP – Chair, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
• Tom Copley – Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development
• Kate Markey MBE – CEO, Nationwide Foundation
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society

 

16.15 – 17.15 | Make It Count: How Labour Can Deliver Electoral Reform and Rebuild Trust in Politics | in partnership with Labour For A New Democracy and the APPG for Fair Elections

 

• Alex Sobel MP – Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Headingley. Chair, Fair Elections APPG
• Lizzi Collinge MP – Member of Parliament for Morecambe and Lunesdale
• Alex Zur-Clark – Parliamentary Organiser, Labour For A New Democracy
• Alex Thomas – Programme Director, Institute for Government
• Cllr Dr Sara Hyde – Chair, Fabian Society. Executive Member for Health and Social Care, Islington Council

 

17.30 – 18.30 | Back to Business: How Infrastructure Can Drive Regional Growth | in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group

 

• Liam Byrne MP – Chair, Business and Trade Select Committee
• Catherine Atkinson MP – Member of Parliament for Derby North. Member, Transport Committee
• Scott Barton – Managing Director – Corporate & Institutional Coverage – Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group
• Luke Raikes – Deputy General Secretary, Fabian Society

 

17.30 – 18.30 | Value and Retain: Securing the Future NHS Workforce | in partnership with Royal College of Nursing and British Medical Association

 

• Dr Beccy Cooper MP – Member of Parliament for Worthing West. Member, Health and Social Care Committee. Public Health Doctor
• Kevin McKenna MP – Member of Parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Registered Nurse
• Professor Nicola Ranger – General Secretary and Chief Executive, Royal College of Nursing
• Dr Tom Dolphin – Council Chair, British Medical Association
• Sasjkia Otto – Senior Researcher, Fabian Society

 

18.45 – 19.45 | Progressive, Practical and Popular: How Should the Left Approach Immigration?

 

• Chris Murray MP – Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh. Member, Home Affairs Committee
• Sunder Katwala – Director, British Future
• Sarah Mulley – Independent Migration Researcher and author of ‘Lawful and Fair’
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society
• Katherine Sangster – National Director, Scottish Fabians. Scottish Labour Candidate for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent

 

18.45 – 19.45 | Future Development: What Next for International Development?

 

• Kirsty McNeill MP – Minister for Scotland
• Alice Macdonald MP – Member of Parliament for Norwich North. Member, International Development Committee
• Melanie Ward MP – Member of Parliament for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy. Former Humanitarian Aid Worker
• Moazzam Tufail Malik – Former British Civil Servant and Diplomat
• Cllr Heather Staff – Islington Council. Chair, Labour Campaign for International Development

 

20.00 – 00.00 | Fabian Society Reception | in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group | ticket holders only

 

• Wes Streeting MP – Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
• Lisa Nandy MP – Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
• Bridget Phillipson MP – Secretary of State for Education. Labour Party Deputy Leadership Candidate
• Lucy Powell MP – Labour Party Deputy Leadership Candidate
• Miatta Fahbulleh MP – Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities
• Torsten Bell MP – Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, Minister of State for Pensions
• Alison McGovern MP – Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness

 

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TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER

 

The College Convention: Putting Further Education at the Heart of Government | in partnership with Association of Colleges | ticket holders only

 

10.00 – 11.00 | It Takes A Village: Placemaking and the Infrastructure Behind New Homes | in partnership with RICS

 

• Rachel Blake MP – Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster. Member, Treasury Committee
• Cllr Bev Craig – Leader, Manchester City Council
• Justin Young – CEO, RICS
• Ben Cooper – Research Manager and Head of the Fabian Housing Centre, Fabian Society

 

11.15 – 12.15 | Net Zero, Net Gain: How to Tackle Reform and Make the Case for Green Energy | Scottish Fabians and CWP Energy

 

• Michael Shanks MP – Minister of State for Energy
• Rhys Thomson – Commercial Director, CWP Energy
• Jess Hardwick – Head of Policy, SSE
• Ben Carter – Executive Director, SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign
• Claire Mack OBE – Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables
• Katherine Sangster – National Director, Scottish Fabians. Scottish Labour Candidate for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent

 

12.30 – 13.30 | Resetting the Relationship: A New Chapter for the UK and EU | in partnership with City of London Corporation

 

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO SUNDAY 28, 18.45-19.45

 

13.30 – 16.30 | Starmer’s Speech and State of the Nation | in partnership with YouGov and LabourList | ticket holders only

 

• Dr Patrick English – Director of Political Analysis, YouGov
• Emma Burnell – Editor, LabourList
• Ava Evans – Political Editor at PoliticsJOE
• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul – Political commentator, campaigner and writer. Former Parliamentary Candidate for Clacton

 

16.30 – 17.30 | A Tale of Two Cities: Tackling Inequality in London | in partnership with Central London Forward

 

• Dawn Butler MP – Member of Parliament for Brent East
• Cllr Adam Hug – Leader, Westminster Council
• Joe Dromey – General Secretary, Fabian Society
• Helen Barnard – Director of Policy, Research and Impact, Trussell

 

16.30 – 17.30 | A Manifesto for Britain on a Budget | Young Fabians

 

• Rachel Taylor MP – Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire and Bedworth. Member, Women and Equalities Committee
• Dr Jeevun Sandher MP – Member of Parliament for Loughborough. Member, Treasury Select Committee
• Alice MacDonald MP – Member of Parliament for Norwich North. Member, International Development Committee
• Praful Nargund – Director, Good Growth Foundation
• Adam Allnutt – Managing Director, The YIMBY Initiative
• Francesca Reynolds – Co-Chair, Young Fabians

 

17.45 – 18.45 | Mind the Gap: How to Address Ethnic Health Inequalities Facing Women | Fabian Women’s Network

 

• Seema Malhotra MP – Minister for Equalities
• Cllr Kamal Preet Kaur – Hillingdon Council. Early Years Practitioner
• Dr Sonia Adesara – Vice-Chair, Fabian Society. NHS Doctor and Activist
• Rebecca Montacute – Research Director, Social Market Foundation
• Cllr Marianna Masters – Lambeth Council. Chair, Fabian Women’s Network

 

18.00 – 19.30 | Fabian Councillor Network Launch

 

• Alison McGovern MP – Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness
• Cllr Bev Craig –  Leader, Manchester City Council. Leader, LGA Labour Group
• Mayor Brenda Dacres – Mayor of Lewisham
• Cllr John Cotton – Leader, Birmingham City Council
• Cllr Arooj Shah – Leader, Oldham Council
• Cllr Bella Sankey – Leader, Brighton Coucil. Deputy Leader, LGA Labour Group
• Cllr Michael Morday – Leader, Sunderland Council
• Cllr Kam Rai – Leader, Redbridge Council
• Cllr Susan Brown – Leader, Oxford City Council
• Cllr Carole Williams – Cabinet Member for Employment, Human Resources and Equalities, Hackney Council

 

20.00 – 23.00 | Rethinking Rural Reception | in partnership with CPRE: The Countryside Charity

 

• Dame Angela Eagle MP – Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs
• Jess Asato MP – Member of Parliament for Lowestoft
• Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP – Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal