FEPS-FABIAN NEW YEAR CONFERENCE 2022
Rising to the challenge: the left’s ambitions in Britain and Europe
The first FEPS-Fabian Society new year conference was held on Saturday 15 January and we were joined by leading members of the shadow cabinet, politicians from across the UK and Europe, expert speakers and over 600 in-person and online participants.
Our first fully hybrid conference looked at the shared challenges facing the UK and countries across Europe. We debated the left’s ambitions, as we seek to rebuild our societies and economies after the pandemic and prepare for green transition and digital transformation.
Keynote Speech and Q&A
Keir Starmer MP | Leader of the Labour Party
Chair: Aletha Adu | Daily Mirror
Challenge 1: A strong economy for all
Jonathan Reynolds MP | shadow secretary for state for business & industrial strategy
Vaughan Gething MS | Minister for economy, Welsh Government
Ann Pettifor | PRIME Economics
Prof Peter Bofinger | former member, German council of economic experts
Polly Billington | chief executive, UK100
Chair: Andrew Harrop | general secretary, Fabian Society
Challenge 2: The climate emergency
Olivia Blake MP | shadow climate change minister
Kerry McCarthy MP | Bristol East
Laura Cunliffe-Hall | chair, Young Fabians
Sakina Sheikh | member, London Assembly
Chair: Andreas Dimmelmeir | policy analyst for climate and environment, FEPS
Challenge 3: Populism, Nationalism, and Division
Daniel Johnson MSP | finance and economy spokesperson, Scottish Labour
Andras Biro-Nagy | director, Policy Solutions, Hungary
Prof Daphne Halikiopoulou | professor of comparative politics, University of Reading
Kirsty McNeill | author, Counter Culture
Sunder Katwala | director, British Future
Chair: Lord Roy Kennedy | treasurer, Fabian Society
Challenge 4: Unequal income, wealth, and power
Liam Byrne MP | Birmingham Hodge Hill
Frances O’Grady | general secretary, TUC
David Rinaldi | director of policy and studies, FEPS
Ayesha Hazarika | presenter, Times Radio
Stewart Lansley | author, ‘The richer, the poorer’
Chair: Luke Raikes | research director, Fabian Society
Challenge 5: Education for the future
Jeremy Miles MS | minister for education and the Welsh language, Welsh Government
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble | children and young people’s lead, LGA Labour
Patrick Roach | general secretary, NASUWT
Mafalda Dâmaso | lecturer in culture, media and creative industries, King’s College London
Chair: Ben Cooper | senior researcher, Fabian Society
Challenge 6: Shared good health
Wes Streeting MP | shadow secretary of state for health & social care
Sara Cerdas MEP | European parliament S&D group
Vytenis Andriukaitis | former EU Commissioner for health & food safety
Sarina Kiayani | communications officer, Young Fabians
Chair: Dr Tom Gardiner | Fabian Society executive committee
Challenge 7: Technology transforming society
Chi Onwurah MP | shadow minister for science, research and innovation
Darren Jones MP | Chair, House of Commons business, energy and industrial strategy committee
Paul Nemitz | principal advisor, justice policy, European Commission
Tom Adeyoola | co-founder, Extend Ventures
Chair: Dr Martin Ebodor | chair, Fabian Society
Challenge 8: Global risks and relationships
David Lammy MP | shadow foreign secretary
Arancha Gonzalez Laya | Former Spanish foreign minister
Jessica Toale | Co-chair, Labour foreign policy group
Peter Apps | Global affairs columnist, Reuters
Chair: Mark Storm | Fabian defence and security policy group
Challenge 9: Supporting family and care
Karin Smyth MP | shadow minister for social care
Polly Toynbee | columnist, the Guardian
Ben Cooper | senior researcher, Fabian Society
Katie Ghose | chief executive, KIDS
Chair: Laeticia Thissen | policy analyst for gender equality, FEPS
Challenge 10: Good work
Justin Madders MP | shadow minister for the future of work
Mikael Leyi | secretary general, SOLIDAR
Shavanah Taj | general secretary, Wales TUC
Josh Abey | senior researcher, Fabian Society
Chair: Cllr Anya Sizer | FWN
Challenge 11: Discrimination and structural inequality
In partnership with Fabian Women’s Network
Anneliese Dodds MP | shadow secretary of state for women and equalities
Cllr Shaista Aziz | Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, Oxford city council & FWN Vice-Chair
Cllr Lucy Caldicott | founder, Change Out
Chair: Cllr Marianna Masters | FWN Vice-Chair
Challenge 12: Fairness and solidarity across generations
In partnership with the Young Fabians
Jonathan Ashworth MP | shadow secretary of state for work and pensions
Catherine Foot | director, Phoenix Insights
Jeevun Sandher | economist, Kings’ College London
Stella Tsantekidou | Senior public affairs and campaigns officer, Crisis
Chair: Victoria Parrett | treasurer & events officer, Young Fabians
Challenge 13: Managing migration
Bambos Charalambous MP | shadow minister for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs
Amreen Qureshi | researcher, IPPR North
Prof Thom Brooks | professor of law & government, Durham University
Heather Staff | specialist policy advisor, RAMP
Chair: Kate Green MP | Fabian Society executive committee
In Conversation
Rachel Reeves MP | shadow chancellor
Chair: Polly Toynbee | columnist, The Guardian
Challenge 14: How the left wins
Anneliese Dodds MP | Labour Party chair
Anas Sarwar MSP | leader, Scottish Labour
Andreas Schieder MEP | chair, Next Left Research Program, FEPS
Paula Surridge | senior lecturer in political sociology, University of Bristol
Chair: Cllr Sara Hyde | chair, Fabian Women’s Network
Jointly organised by
