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2023 Events

Ludgate Lectures with Alan Manning

By 2023 Events

We are delighted to invite you to join our next Ludgate Lecture, a series where we hear from prominent thinkers and decision-makers on the biggest issues of our time.

For this event, we will be hosting Alan Manning, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and former Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (2016-2020).

Matthew will speak to the Executive Chair of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, about how the UK Government should go about ‘reducing immigration responsibly’.

Date:

Monday 18th December 2023, 15:00 – 16:00

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all on our YouTube channel here.

RSVP to emily@brightblue.org.uk for a reminder and all event notifications.

Q&A:

Attendees can submit questions, before or during the event, via Slido here or by using the code: #LudgateLectures.

December 18, 2023

Regional Drink Tank with Andrew RT Davies MS

By 2023 Events

For our next Regional Drink Tank in Cardiff, we welcome Andrew RT Davies MS.

He will be talking about ‘The future of Welsh conservatism’.

Andrew is the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd. He has also been a Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central since 2007.

Date:

Wednesday 6th December 2023, 18:30 – 20:00.

The event:

Guests will be invited to join us from 18:30 onwards. Andrew will begin speaking at 19:00 before taking questions from the audience. Attendees will then be invited to stay longer and socialise if they wish.

Location:

The event will be held in Cardiff. Attendees will be sent the exact location closer to the time.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you need to sign up via Eventbrite here.

December 6, 2023

Ludgate Lectures with Matthew Goodwin

By 2023 Events, Events, Uncategorized

We are delighted to invite you to join our next Ludgate Lecture, a series where we hear from prominent thinkers and decision-makers on the biggest issues of our time.

For this event, we will be hosting Matthew Goodwin, Professor of Political Science at the University of Kent.

Matthew recently served as Senior Fellow at the Legatum Institute and Senior Advisor to the UK Education Select Committee. Last year, he was appointed as a Social Mobility Commissioner. The author of six books, Matthew recently wrote the bestseller Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics. Additionally, he shares his views on his Substack, writing fortnightly newsletters and discussions with leading experts, thinkers, and writers – subscribe here.

Matthew will speak to the Executive Chair of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, about ‘The impact of the New Elite’.

Date:

Thursday 16th November 2023, 15:00 – 16:00

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all on our YouTube channel here.

RSVP to liam@brightblue.org.uk for a reminder and all event notifications.

Q&A:

Attendees can submit questions, before or during the event, via Slido here or by using the code: #LudgateLectures.

November 16, 2023

A Steely Solution? Unlocking Clean Steel In The UK

By 2023 Events

Bright Blue’s next public panel event is in partnership with Liberty Steel, titled ‘A steely solution? Unlocking clean steel in the UK.’

This event follows the release of our recent report, A carbonless crucible? Forging a UK steel industry, which outlined the pathways, challenges and policies to develop a commercial market for clean steel in this country.

Speakers

  • The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland MP, Former Secretary of State for Wales
  • Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Immigration Minister and MP for Aberavon
  • Roz Bulleid, Research Director, Green Alliance
  • Sandip Biswas, Chief Investment Officer, Liberty Steel Group
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

More speakers to be announced

Key questions 

  • What are the viable processes and technologies to support the development of clean steel?
  • How effective are existing policies at decarbonising the UK steel industry?
  • What are the key challenges for building a clean steel market in the UK?
  • How can policy enable the transition to clean steel in the UK by the mid-2030s?

Date and time

Wednesday 18th October, 18:30 – 20:30

Location

The event will be held in the House of Commons in Westminster. Confirmed attendees will be sent the location closer to the event.

RSVP

This event is free and open to all, but please RSVP to liam@brightblue.org.uk asap.

November 7, 2023

Party Conferences 2023

By 2023 Events, Party Conferences 2023

Conservative Party Conference 2023

View all party conference events

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2023 Conservative Party Conference. We are running 18 events with over 100 speakers.

You can join us in person in Manchester, or watch virtually. A Conservative Party Conference pass will be needed to access our events, in-person or digitally, inside the secure zone, which you can register for here. 

Livestreams of all of our events inside the secure zone will be available to watch via the Conservative Party Conference virtual platform. Recordings of all our events will be available on our YouTube channel after the conference.

If you would like more information about our events at Conservative Party Conference 2023, please get in touch with our Event and Operations Manager, Liam Bruce.

Daylight robbery? Tackling economic crime in the UK

Sunday 1st October 2023, 15:00 – 16:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • The Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP, Minister for Security
  • John Penrose MP, Former UK PM’s Anti-Corruption Champion
  • Lucy Nash, Bureau of Investigative Journalism
  • Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive, Transparency International
  • Diane Banks, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Lift off: accelerating levelling up in the 2020s

Sunday 1st October 2023, 17:00 – 18:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Dehenna Davison MP, Former Minister for Levelling Up
  • Jo Gideon MP, Vice-Chair, APPG for ‘Left Behind’ Neighbourhoods
  • Chris Smyth, Whitehall Editor, The Times
  • Cllr James Jamieson, Leader of the LGA Conservative Group
  • Tom Pope, Deputy Chief Economist, Institute for Government
  • Ailbhe McNabola, Director of Policy and Communications, Power to Change
  • Zoe Billingham, Director, IPPR North
  • Alexandra Jezeph, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Reaching out, levelling up? How Conservatives can foster social cohesion

Sunday 1st October 2023, 19:00 – 20:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Civil Society (invited)
  • Samuel Kasumu, Former Special Adviser to No.10 for Local Communities
  • Tim Montgomerie, Founder, ConservativeHome
  • David Goodhart, Author, The Road to Somewhere
  • Luke Tryl, Director, More in Common UK
  • Jon Knight, Chief Executive, Together Coalition
  • Max Anderson, Associate Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Drink Tank: The future of the UK in Europe

Sunday 1st October 2023, 20:30 – 22:30
Stanley Suite, Midland
Inside the secure zone

  • Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands
  • The Rt Hon David Gauke, Former Secretary of State for Justice
  • Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Criminally deprived? How the cost of living is affecting youth crime 

Monday 2nd October 2023, 10:00 – 11:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

  • James Daly MP, Member, House of Commons Justice Committee,
  • Susan Hall AM, Conservative Mayoral Candidate for London
  • Jon Yates, Chief Executive, Youth Endowment Fund
  • Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive, Revolving Doors
  • Diane Banks, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Restoring trust and confidence between businesses and consumers in essential markets

Monday 2nd October 2023, 12:00 – 13:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Dr Luke Evans MP, PPS to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • Melissa Lawford, Economics Correspondent, The Times
  • Laura Sandys OBE, Former Chair, UK Government’s Energy Digitalisation Taskforce
  • Daisy Powell-Chandler, Head of Energy and Environment Practice, Public First
  • Guy Newey, Chief Executive, Energy Systems Catapult
  • Ed Dodman, Chief Ombudsman, Energy Ombudsman
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Innovation and inclusivity? The changing world of work

Monday 2nd October 2023, 13:30 – 15:00
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email liam@brightblue.org.uk

  • George Freeman MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (invited)
  • The Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP, Former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
  • Anna Thomas, Chief Executive, Institue for the Future of Work
  • Anna Bradley, Chair, SRA
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Energy secured? The UK’s energy market on the road to net zero

Monday 2nd October 2023, 14:00 – 15:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Andrew Bowie MP, Minister for Nuclear and Networks
  • Sam Richards, Director, Britain Remade
  • Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive, Energy UK
  • Nick Molho, Head of Climate Policy, Aviva Investors
  • Patrick English, Associate Director, YouGov
  • Simon Virley, Head of Energy and Natural Resources, KPMG
  • Alexandra Jezeph, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Going private: reforming England’s rental market

Monday 2nd October 2023, 16:00 – 17:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Rachel Maclean MP, Minister for Housing
  • David Simmonds CBE MP, Chair, APPG on Housing and Planning
  • Liam Halligan, Economics and Business Editor, GB News
  • Zoe Grunewald, Policy and Politics reporter, New Statesman
  • Ben Beadle, Chief Executive, NRLA
  • Alexandra Jezeph, Non-Executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Flexibility first? Boosting labour market participation

Monday 2nd October 2023, 18:00 – 19:00
Central Room 6, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Matt Warman MP, Chair, Future of Work APPG
  • Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer, E.ON
  • Neil Carberry, Chief Executive, Recruitment and Employment Confederation
  • Claire McCartney, Senior Policy Adviser, The Charted Institute of Personal and Development
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

The rural road to net-zero: decarbonising rural homes and businesses

Monday 2nd October 2023, 21:00 – 23:00
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email liam@brightblue.org.uk

  • Rebecca Pow MP, Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience
  • Roger Mortlock, CEO, CPRE
  • Mark Tufnell, President, CLA
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Building, maintaining and restoring consumer trust in the energy market

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 08:00 – 09:00
By invitation only. If you would like to attend, please email liam@brightblue.org.uk

  • The Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP, Member, Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee
  • The Rt Hon Charles Hendry, Former Minister for Energy
  • Matt Vickers, Chief Executive, Trust Alliance Group
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Shifting gears? The future of automated vehicles

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 10:00 – 11:00
Exchange 2 – 3, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Former Secretary of State of Transport
  • Ben Everitt MP, Member, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee
  • Nicholas Hellen, Transport Editor, Sunday Times
  • Laura Shoaf CBE, Chief Executive, West Midlands Combined Authority
  • Professor John McDermid, Professor of Software Engineering, University of York
  • Alexandra Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis, Director of Underwriting for Retail, Allianz Personal
  • Will Prescott, Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)

Safer Surfing: Reducing cyber crime

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 10:30 – 11:30
Churchill Theatre, Midland Hotel
Inside the secure zone

  • The Rt Hon Lord Vaizey, Former Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy
  • Damian Collins MP, Former Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy
  • Markos Zachariadis, Chair of Financial Technology, University of Manchester
  • Julia Linehan, CEO, Digital Voice
  • Alistair Law, Policy Director, Sky
  • Ian Moss, Partner, Draft Council
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Building up? How housing can bolster British prosperity

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 12:00 – 13:00
Exchange 2 – 3, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Ben Everitt MP, Chair, Housing Market and Housing Delivery APPG
  • Cllr Jane MacBean, Advisory Board Member, Conservative Environment Network
  • Nicholas Boys Smith, Founding Director, Create Streets
  • Bartek Staniszewski, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue
  • Geeta Nanda OBE, Chief Executive, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing
  • Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive, Karbon Homes
  • Kate Henderson, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation
  • Vicky Spratt, Housing Editor, i Paper (Chair)

Spending, saving, surviving: A conservative plan to support under-pressure households

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 14:00 – 15:00
Exchange 2 – 3, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
  • Deven Ghelani, Director, Policy in Practice
  • Sacha Romanovitch, CEO, Fair4AllFinance
  • Richard Lane, Director of External Affairs, StepChange
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Can fossil fuel companies play a role in the energy transition?

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 16:00 – 17:00
Exchange 2 – 3, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Jerome Mayhew MP, Vice-Chair, APPG for Environment
  • Peter Aldous MP, Chair, APPG for British Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
  • Sam Hall, Director, Conservative Environment Network
  • Andrew Kulpecz, General Manager of UK Upstream, Chevron Britain Ltd
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Family-friendly Britain? Removing barriers to help families get on

Tuesday 3rd October 2023, 18:00 – 19:00
Exchange 2 – 3, MCCC, Manchester
Inside the secure zone

You can watch the recording here.

  • Laura Farris MP, Chair, Access to Justice APPG
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue
  • Luke Robert Black, Chairman, LGBT+ Conservatives
  • Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield, Co-Founder and Director, BOOM
  • Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact, Save the Children UK
  • Victoria Benson, CEO, Gingerbread
  • Kiran Stacey, Political Correspondent, The Guardian (Chair)

Labour Party Conference 2023

View all party conference events

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2023 Labour Party Conference.

You can join us in-person in Liverpool. No RSVP is required and all our events will be taking place outside the secure zone. Therefore, you will not need a conference pass to attend.

If you would like more information about our events at Labour Party Conference 2023, please contact our Events and Operations Manager Liam Bruce.

Can fossil fuel companies play a role in the energy transition?

Monday 9th October, 10:30am – 11:30am
Rooms 1&2, Premier Inn Liverpool Albert Dock
(Outside the secure zone)

  • The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero (invited)
  • Andy Prendergast, National Secretary, GMB Union
  • Steph Spyro, Environment Editor and Political Correspondent, The Daily Express
  • David Whitehouse, CEO, Offshore Energies UK
  • Andrew Kulpecz, General Manager of UK Upstream, Chevron Corporation
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Rebooting levelling up for the next general election

Tuesday 10th October, 10:00am – 11:30am
IPPR Fringe Zone, Education Area 3, Museum of Liverpool
(Outside the secure zone)

  • Paula Barker MP, Shadow Minister for Devolution and the English Regions
  • Steve Rotherham, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
  • Jen Williams, Northern Correspondent, Finacial Times
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue
  • Ailbhe McNabola, Director of Policy and Communications, Power to Change
  • Zoë Billingham, Director, IPPR North (Chair)

Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2023

View all party conference events

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2023 Liberal Democrat Party Conference.

You can join us in-person in Bournemouth. As all our events will be held outside the secure zone, you won’t need a conference pass to attend. No need to RSVP; all are welcome to just turn up!

If you would like more information about our events at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2023, please contact our Events and Operations Manager Liam Bruce.

Can fossil fuel companies play a role in the energy transition?

Monday 25th September, 18:15pm – 19:15pm
Sandbanks Room, Highcliff Marriot Hotel
(Outside the secure zone)

  • Lord Teverson, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on Climate Change
  • Duncan Brack, Former Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
  • Jenny Stanning, External Relations Director, Offshore Energies UK
  • Emily Gosden, Energy Editor, The Times (invited)
  • Andrew Kulpecz, General Manager of UK Upstream, Chevron Corporation
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)
September 11, 2023

Drink Tank with Chloe Smith MP

By 2023 Events

For our next Drink Tank we welcome the Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP.

Fresh from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Chloe will discuss the race to regulate artificial intelligence ahead of Rishi Sunak’s global AI summit later this year.

Chloe Smith MP is the former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. She has also been the Member of Parliament for North Norwich since 2009.

Date:

Wednesday 13th September 2023, 18:30 – 20:00.

The event:

Guests will be invited to join us from 18:30 onwards. Chloe will begin speaking at 19:00 before taking questions from the audience. Attendees will then be invited to stay longer and socialise if they wish.

Location:

The event will be held in a Central Westminster Location. Attendees will be sent the exact location closer to the time.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you need to sign up via Eventbrite here.

August 23, 2023

Ludgate Lecture with Matthew Taylor CBE

By 2023 Events

This event is free and open to all, but please register through Eventbrite here.

Join us for our next Ludgate Lecture the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, Matthew Taylor CBE.

We are delighted to invite you to join the next of our Ludgate Lectures, a series where we hear from prominent thinkers and decision makers on the biggest issues of our time.

For this event, we will host Matthew Taylor CBE, who joined the NHS Confederation as its chief executive in June 2021, having been chief executive of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) for 15 years.  During his tenure, Matthew transformed the RSA into a global institution, with 30,000 fellows and a high profile and influential research programme. 

Before the RSA, Matthew was chief adviser on political strategy to Prime Minister Tony Blair and he also ran the Institute for Public Policy Research for 5 years. He is a widely known commentator on policy, politics and public service reform and regularly appears on national media programmes, including as a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze.  He is series editor for the Thames and Hudson ‘Big Ideas’ books and his own book ‘Do we need to work?’ is published in 2021. He was commissioned by the Conservative government in 2016 to carry out an independent review into modern employment practices.  Matthew previous roles include trade union researcher, leading a health policy research unit, university research fellow and a County Councillor. 

He will speak to the Chief Executive of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, discussing ‘Has the NHS become unmanageable?’

Date:

Thursday 2th July 2023, 12:00 – 13:00

Location:

On our YouTube channel here.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you can register for updates and reminders via Eventbrite.

Please contact our Senior Communications Manager, Max Anderson, at max@brightblue.org.uk if you have any queries.

July 20, 2023

Ludgate Lectures with Nikki Kaye

By 2023 Events

This event is free and open to all, but please register through Eventbrite here.

Join us for our next Ludgate Lecture with the former Deputy Leader of the National Party for New Zealand, Nikki Kaye.

We are delighted to invite you to join the next of our Ludgate Lectures, a series where we hear from prominent thinkers and decision makers on the biggest issues of our time.

For this event, we will be hosting Nikki Kaye, former Deputy Leader of the National Party of New Zealand. She has also previously been Minister of Education, Minister for Youth and Minister of Civil Defence.

She will speak to the Chief Executive of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, about her time in government and the centre-right in New Zealand and internationally. She will also answer questions from attendees.

Date:

Wednesday 28th June 2023, 10:30 – 11:30

Location:

On our YouTube channel here.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you can register for updates and reminders via Eventbrite.

Contact Max Anderson at max@brightblue.org.uk if you have any queries.

June 28, 2023

Boosting Britain’s workforce

By 2023 Events

You are invited to Bright Blue and Citizens UK’s next drinks reception to discuss ‘Boosting Britain’s workforce‘.

Speaking at the event will be the Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP and the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP. We will also be joined by other MPs, civil servants, special advisers, journalists, business representatives, civil society representatives, opinion formers and academics.

The event will discuss the state of the UK’s current labour market and how the Government can best tackle economic inactivity to fulfil the PM’s pledges, especially considering the potential of – and policies for – parental, older age and migrant employment.

Date:

Monday 19th June, 18:30 – 21:00.

Location:

Guests will be invited to join us from 18:30 onwards. Speeches will begin at 19:00. Attendees will then be invited to stay longer and socialise over drinks.

Location:

The event will be held in Westminster. Attendees will be sent the exact location closer to the time.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you must pre-register through Eventbrite here.

If you have any questions about the event please contact Max Anderson, Senior Communications Manager, on max@brightblue.org.uk.

In partnership with:

June 19, 2023

Regional Drink Tank with Douglas Ross MP MSP

By 2023 Events

For our next Regional Drink Tank in Edinburgh, we welcome Douglas Ross MP MSP.

He will be talking about ‘Upskilling Scotland’ as well as big issues in Scottish and UK Politics and will take part in a Q&A with attendees.

Douglas is the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. He has also been a Member of Parliament for Moray since 2021 and a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands since 2021.

Date:

Wednesday 24th May 2023, 18:30 – 20:00.

The event:

Guests will be invited to join us from 18:30 onwards. Douglas will begin speaking at 19:00 before taking questions from the audience. Attendees will then be invited to stay longer and socialise if they wish.

Location:

The event will be held in Edinburgh. Attendees will be sent the exact location closer to the time.

RSVP:

This event is free and open to all, but you need to sign up via Eventbrite here.

May 24, 2023
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