Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2025

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference.

You can join us in-person for two public panel events outside the secure zone in Bournemouth. There is no need to RSVP; just turn up.

If you would like more information about our events at the Party Conferences, please contact Cyril Davydenko.

Bigger and better? Reforming the private rental sector

Sunday 21st September 2025, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Blandford Syndicate 3, Highcliff Marriott Hotel Bournemouth

Outside the secure zone

  • Will Forster MP, Member, Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
  • Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader, Liverpool Liberal Democrats
  • Eleanor Langford, Political Reporter, The i Paper
  • Tom Darling, Director, Renters’ Reform Coalition
  • Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Propertymark
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

A trusted transition: protecting consumers in a changing energy market

Monday 22nd September 2025, 13:00pm – 14:00pm
Sandbanks Room, Highcliff Marriott Hotel Bournemouth

Outside the secure zone

  • Claire Young MP, Member, Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
  • The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable, Former Secretary of State for Business
  • Luke Tryl, Executive Director, UK, More in Common
  • David Pilling, Senior Leader – Policy and Public Affairs, Energy Ombudsman
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Labour Party Conference 2025

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2025 Labour Party Conference.

You can join us in-person for a private roundtable event outside the secure zone in Liverpool.

If you would like more information about our event or are interested in attending, please contact Cyril Davydenko.

Quality and quantity: the right regulation to support growth and standards in the property market

Monday 29th September 2025, 10:30am – 12:00pm
By invitation only. Please contact Cyril@brightblue.org.uk if interested in attending.

Outside the secure zone

  • Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
  • Leonie Cooper AM, Member, London Assembly Housing Committee
  • Cllr Duncan Enright, Councillor, West Oxfordshire District Council; Member, LGA People and Places Board
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Conservative Party Conference 2025

Bright Blue is delighted to announce our fringe event programme at the 2025 Conservative Party Conference.

All our public events will take place inside the secure zone in Central 7 in Manchester Central. No RSVP is required but you will need a Conservative Party Conference pass to attend in person. You can register for a pass here.

Livestreams of all our events will be available on our YouTube channel, where recordings will also be published after the conference.

If you would like more information about our events or are interested in attending our private roundtables, please contact Cyril Davydenko.

Reflections on resettlement: improving routes and outcomes for refugees

Monday 6th October 2025, 08:15am – 09:30am
By invitation only. Please contact Cyril@brightblue.org.uk if interested in attending.

Inside the secure zone

  • David Simmonds MP, Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

A trusted transition: protecting consumers in a changing energy market

Monday 6th October 2025, 10:00am – 11:00am
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • Amanda Solloway, Former Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability
  • Rachel Brisley, Director, Energy and Environment, Ipsos
  • Juliet Davenport, Founder, Good Energy
  • Ed Dodman, Chief Ombudsman, Energy Ombudsman
  • Kiran Stacey, Policy Editor, The Guardian
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Brave New World? Fighting corruption and kleptocrats in an age of Trump 

Monday 6th October 2025, 12:00pm – 13:00pm
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • The Rt Hon Sir Andrew Mitchell MP, Former Deputy Foreign Secretary
  • John Penrose, Former Conservative MP UK and Anti-Corruption Champion
  • Cat Neilan, Whitehall Editor, The Observer
  • Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive, Transparency International UK
  • Joe Harrison, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)

Can homegrown electricity deliver clean, secure and affordable energy for the UK? 

Monday 6th October 2025, 14:00pm – 15:00pm
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • Andrew Bowie MP, Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero
  • The Rt Hon Charles Hendry CBE, Former Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change
  • Ben Westerman, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Electrify Britain
  • Professor Jim Watson, Professor of Energy Policy and Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London
  • Josh Buckland, Director of Strategy and Policy, EDF
  • Diane Banks, Non-executive Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

A needy state? Getting the relationship right between government and charities

Monday 6th October 2025, 16:00pm – 17:00pm
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • Joe Robertson MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Culture Media and Sport Team
  • Polly Toynbee, Columnist, The Guardian
  • Catherine Johnstone CBE, CEO, Royal Voluntary Service
  • Nick Cook, Head of UK Public Affairs, People’s Postcode Lottery & Director of the Lotteries Council
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

The right road? How conservatism can be popular and effective again

Monday 6th October 2025, 18:00pm – 19:30pm
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • The Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary
  • The Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  • Ellen Demuth, MdB for Neuwied
  • The Rt Hon Lord Willetts, Former Minister for Universities and Science
  • Dr Canan Atilgan, Head of the UK-Ireland Office, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Chair)
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Fuelling green investment? Attracting private capital for net zero industry and infrastructure

Tuesday 7th October 2025, 08:15am – 09:30pm
By invitation only. Please contact Cyril@brightblue.org.uk if interested in attending.

Inside the secure zone

  • Gareth Davies MP, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury
  • Jerome Mayhew MP, Shadow Minister for Transport
  • Elizabeth de Jong, CEO, Fuels Industry UK
  • Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Bigger and better? Reforming the private rental sector

Tuesday 7th October 2025, 10:00am – 11:00am
Central 7, Manchester Central

Inside the secure zone

Watch live on our YouTube channel here, and ask your questions via Slido here.

  • Lord Jamieson OBE, Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Neil Garratt AM, Former Leader, London Conservatives
  • Henry Hill, Deputy Editor, Conservative Home
  • Vicky Spratt, Housing Correspondent, The i Paper
  • Tom Darling, Director, Renters’ Reform Coalition
  • Nathan Emerson, Chief Executive, Propertymark
  • Bartek Staniszewski, Head of Research, Bright Blue (Chair)

Safe and sound? A new centre-right reformist approach to social security

Tuesday 7th October 2025, 14:00pm – 15:15pm
By invitation only. Please contact Cyril@brightblue.org.uk if interested in attending.

Inside the secure zone

  • Joe Robertson MP, Member, Health and Social Care Select Committee
  • Rebecca Smith MP, Opposition Assistant Whip
  • Frank Soodeen, Director of Communications and Public Engagement, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • Bartek Staniszewski, Head of Research, Bright Blue (Chair)