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2017 Events

Bright Blue conference: Green conservatism

By 2017 Events

We are pleased to announce we will be hosting a Green conservatism Conference on Wednesday 1st November 2017 in Central London with Claire Perry MP (Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy) and The Rt Hon Lord Deben (Chair, Committee on Climate Change) as confirmed keynote speakers.

Date: Wednesday 1st November 2017, 8.30 – 19.00.

Venue: The British Academy, St. James’s

RSVP: Here

Bright Blue’s Green conservatism Conference is an opportunity for centre-right politicians and thought leaders, as well as experts and industry practitioners, to discuss conservative approaches to the great environmental challenges we face in the UK and internationally.

The conference will be held on Wednesday 1st November 2017 at the British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. There will be keynote speeches by Claire Perry MP (UK Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry) and Lord Deben (Chair of the UK Committee on Climate Change). Four panel sessions will explore: agriculture and CAP reform; strengthening the role of markets in energy; the future of conservation; and energy security in the UK an d Europe. For more detail on each of the panels, click here to view the programme agenda on the dedicated Energy and environment microsite.

08:30 Registration 

09:00 Introduction from Ben Caldecott (Senior Associate Fellow, Bright Blue)

09:10 A keynote speech from Claire Perry MP (UK Minister for Climate Change and Industry)

09:45 Panel I: Agriculture and CAP reform – Benet Northcote (Director, Corporate Responsibility, John Lewis) (chair); Meurig Raymond (President, National Farmers’ Union); Julie Girling MEP (Spokesperson, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee); Sam Bowman (Director, Adam Smith Institute); Tamsin Cooper (Strategy Director, Green Alliance)

11:15 Refreshments break 

11:45 Panel II: The future of conservation – Ben Caldecott (Senior Associate Fellow, Bright Blue) (chair); Rebecca Pow MP (Parliamentary Private Secretary, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs); Maurice Golden MSP (Spokesperson for the Low-Carbon Economy, Scottish Conservatives); Beccy Speight (CEO, Woodland Trust); Lord Inglewood (President, Uplands Alliance)

13:15 Networking lunch 

14:15 Panel IIIStrengthening the role of markets in energy – Sam Hall (Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue) (chair); Sara Bell (CEO, Tempus Energy); Laura Sandys (CEO, Challenging Ideas); Paul Massara (CEO, North Star Solar); James Heappey MP (Vice Chair, Energy Storage APPG)

15:45 Refreshments break 

16:15 Panel IV: Energy security in the UK and Europe – Laura Round (Communications Manager, Bright Blue) (chair); Rob Bailey (Energy, Environment and Resources Research Director, Chatham House); Rt Hon Sir Oliver Letwin MP (Former Shadow Environment Secretary); Richard Howard (Head of Research, Aurora Energy Research)

17:15 A keynote speech from Lord Deben (Chairman of the UK Committee on Climate Change) 

17:30 Closing remarks 

17:35 Drinks reception 

18:00 A keynote speech from the Rt Hon Lord Howard (Former Secretary of State for Environment and Leader of the Conservative Party)

Guests will include MPs, councillors, activists, journalists, business and third sector representatives, and campaigners. Chairs and panellists are to be confirmed shortly. To become a member of Bright Blue, click here.

Partnership opportunities: Partnership and sponsorship opportunities are still available for this event. Should you be interested in learning more, please contact our Senior Researcher Sam Hall at sam@brightblue.org.uk.

Britain in Europe think forum

By 2017 Events, Think forums

In the latest of the Europe Forum talks we will be discussing the impact of Brexit on the UK economy. The evening will be centred around three discussion points: (i) the economy since the referendum; (ii) what kind of economic agreement Britain should pursue with the EU; and (iii) as the focus of the evening, a forward-looking discussion on what kind of economy we want post-Brexit. The event will be guest chaired by Asa Bennett, Brexit commissioning editor at the Telegraph and author of their must-read Brexit Bulletin. Speaking will be Henry Newman, director at Open Europe and former special adviser in the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Office, and Sam Bowman, executive director at the Adam Smith Institute.

Date: Monday 23rd October 2016, 19.00 – 20.30.

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW

Party Conferences 2017

By 2017 Events

Conservative Party Conference 2020

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Getting Fair and decent jobs

Sunday October 1st 2017: 12:45-14:00
Chester Suite: Midland Hotel

The Rt Hon Rob Halfon MP, Chair, Education Select Committee
Paul Gregg, Professor of Economic & Social Policy, University of Bath
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
Ayesha Hazarika MBE, Comedian and Columnist, London Evening Standard (Chair)

Cleaning up the air we breathe

Sunday October 1st 2017: 15:00-16:15
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Andrew Selous MP, Member, Health Select Committee
Cllr Sean Anstree, Leader, Trafford Council
Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue
Alison Cook, Policy & Communications Director, British Lung Foundation
James Thornton, Chief Executive, ClientEarth
Jess Shankleman, Business Journalist, Bloomberg (Chair)

From ‘burning injustice’ to social justice

Sunday October 1st 2017: 15:45-17:15
Exchange 6-7: Manchester Central 

Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion
David Cohen, Campaigns Editor, London Evening Standard
Sir Ferdinand Mount, Former Head, Number 10 Policy Unit
Dr Faiza Shaheen, Director, CLASS
Alison Garnham, Director, Child Poverty Action Group
Matthew d’Ancona, Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Britain’s place in the world after Brexit

Sunday October 1st 2017: 17:45-19:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for International Trade
Sir Lockwood Smith, Former High Commissioner of New Zealand
Dan Hannan MEP
Jonathan Freedland, Columnist, The Guardian
Sue Edwards, Spokesperson, Destination for Education
Laura Round, Communications Manager, Bright Blue (Chair)

Green and pleasant land? The countryside after Brexit

Sunday October 1st 2017: 17:45-19:00
Exchange 2-3: Manchester Central

Thérèse Coffey MP, Minister for the Environment
Ian Bateman, Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Exeter
Ross Murray, President, Country Land and Business Association
Rebecca Speight, Chief Executive, Woodland Trust
Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Creating the great meritocracy 

Sunday October 1st 2017: 19:45-21:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Damian Hinds MP, Minister of State for Employment
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts, Chair, Resolution Foundation
Isabel Oakeshott, Author and political commentator
Jane Malcom, Executive Director of External Affairs, Solicitors Regulation Authority
Diane Banks, Non-exec Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

The new Giant Evil? Tackling loneliness in modern Britain

Sunday October 1st 2017: 19:45-21:00
Central 6: Manchester Central

Dr Phillip Lee MP, Minister for Justice
Paul McGarry, Head, Greater Manchester Ageing Hub, Manchester City Council
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue
Angela Kitching, Head of External Affairs, Age UK
Asa Bennett, Political Columnist, The Telegraph (Chair)

Drink Tank

Sunday October 1st 2017: 21:30-23:00
Standley Suite: Midland Hotel  

The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health
Laura Round, Communications Manager, Bright Blue

Private renting: A tenure of choice?

Monday October 2nd 2017: 8:30-10:00
This event is by invitation only

Alok Sharma MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning
James Murray, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing
Rafael Behr, Columnist, The Guardian
Alexandra Jezeph, Non-exec Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

A country that works for everyone – achieving fairness for disabled people

Monday October 2nd 2017: 10:30-12:00
This event is by invitation only

Penny Mordaunt MP, Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work
Ian Birrell, Contributing Editor, The Mail on Sunday
Mark Atkinson, Chief Executive, Scope
Ryan Shorthouse Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Turning the blue agenda green

Monday October 2nd 2017: 10:30-12:00
Lord Mayor’s Parlour: Manchester Town Hall 

Richard Harrington MP, Minister for Energy and Industry
Maurice Golden MSP, Spokesperson for the Low Carbon Economy, Scottish Conservatives
Gareth Redmond-King, Head of Climate and Energy, WWF-UK
Sarah Kostense-Winterton, Executive Director, MIMA
Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue
Hugo Rifkind, Columnist, The Times (Chair)

Solutions for social care

Monday October 2nd 2017: 12:45-14:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Cllr Izzi Seccombe OBE, Leader, Warwickshire County Council
Richard Humphries, Senior Fellow, The King’s Fund
Alice Thomson, Columnist, The Times
Dame Clare Tickell, Chief Executive, Hanover Housing
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Getting the talent we need

Monday October 2nd 2017: 12:45-14:00
Lord Mayor’s Parlour: Manchester Town Hall 

Rory Stewart MP, Minister of State at the Foreign Office
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics, King’s College London
Séamus Nevin, Head of Policy Research, Institute of Directors
Margaret Burton, Partner, Ernst & Young
Matthew d’Ancona, Chair, Bright Blue (Chair)

Building the great meritocracy in a modern economy 

Monday October 2nd 2017: 15:00-16:15
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion
Philip Collins, Columnist, The Times
Lizzie Crowley, Skills Policy Adviser, CIPD
Rory Sutherland, Wiki Man, The Spectator
Nick Owen, Chair, Deloitte UK
Kate Maltby, Associate Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

How to attract younger voters

Monday October 2nd 2017: 15:00-16:00
Lord Mayor’s Parlour: Manchester Town Hall 

Sam Gyimah MP, Minister for Prisons and Probation
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts, Executive Chair, Resolution Foundation
Laura Round, Communications Manager, Bright Blue
Michael Lynas, Chief Executive, National Citizen Service
Matt Chorley, Editor of Red Box, The Times (Chair)

The consumer is king: Making markets work

Monday October 2nd 2017: 16:00-17:15
Exchange 6-7: Manchester Central

George Freeman MP, Chair, Conservative Policy Forum
Helia Ebrahimi, Buisness Correspondent, Channel 4 News
Mark Littlewood, Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs
Richard Neudegg, Head of Regulation, uSwitch
Lewis Shand-Smith, Chief Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services
Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

What should the immigration system look like after Brexit?

Monday October 2nd 2017: 17:45-19:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

The Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP
David Goodhart, Head of Demography, Immigration and Integration, Policy Exchange
Robert Ford, Professor of Political Science, University of Manchester
Julia Onslow-Cole, Global Head of Immigration, PricewaterhouseCoopers
James Dobson, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue (Chair)

Left behind no longer: Achieving social justice in Britain

Monday October 2nd 2017: 19:45-21:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Chris Skidmore MP, Minister at the Cabinet Office
Polly Toynbee, Columnist, The Guardian
Christian Guy, Former Policy Adviser, Number 10 Downing Street
Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive, Early Intervention Foundation
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive, Relate
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Is the future of energy smart and flexible?

Monday October 2nd 2017: 19:45-21:00
Exchange 8: Manchester Central

Claire Perry MP, Minister of State for Climate Change & Industry
Laura Sandys, CEO, Challenging Ideas
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive, Renewable Energy Association
Ben Caldecott, Senior Associate Fellow, Bright Blue
Louis Shaffer, Renewable Energy Segment Manager, Eaton
Nathalie Thomas, Energy Correspondent, The Financial Times (Chair)

Start-up Britain

Monday October 2nd 2017: 21:30-23:00
This event is by invitation only

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Chief Secretary to HM Treasury
Alexandra Frean, Business Columnist, The Times
Stephen Kelly, Chief Executive, Sage Group
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue

The future of electricity after coal

Monday October 2nd 2017: 21:30-23:00
This event is by invitation only

Rebecca Pow MP, PPS to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Alex Kazaglis, ‎Engagement Manager, Vivid Economics
Ben Caldecott, Senior Associate Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Up-skilling Britain: Homegrown technical talent

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 10:30-11:45
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Gillian Keegan MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee
Joshua Hardie, Deputy Director-General, CBI
Heather Stewart, Political Editor, The Guardian
Nigel Milton, Director of Communications, Heathrow Airport
Dr Alison Birkinshaw, President, Association of Colleges
Diane Banks, Non-exec Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Learning from Grenfell: Social housing in modern Britain

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 12:45-14:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Shaun Bailey AM, Deputy Chairman of the Regeneration Committee, London Assembly
Cllr Sean Anstee, Leader, Trafford Council
Emma Maier, Editor, Inside Housing
David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation
Rachel Johnson, Non-exec Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Powering the industrial strategy

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 15:00-16:15
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
John Penrose MP
Richard Nourse, Managing Partner, Greencoat Capital
Jillian Ambrose, Business Reporter, The Daily Telegraph
Paul Bircham, Director, Electricity North West
Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Closing the attainment gap

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 15:45-17:15
Exchange 8: Manchester Central

The Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, Minister for School Standards
Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union
Russell Hobby, Chief Executive, Teach First
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue
Andy Ratcliffe, Chief Executive, Impetus-PEF
Randeep Ramesh, Chief Leader Writer, The Guardian (Chair)

An invitation to international students

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 17:45-19:00
Committee Room 1: Manchester Town Hall 

Luke Graham MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee
Sir David Warren KCMG, Former British Ambassador to Japan
Shakira Martin, President, National Union of Students
James Dobson, Senior Researcher, Bright Blue
Julia Onslow-Cole, Global Head of Immigration, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Rosemary Bennett, Education Editor, The Times (Chair)

Getting the best deal for jobs: The future relationship of the UK with the EU

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 17:45-19:00
Committee Room 3: Manchester Town Hall 

The Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, Member, Exiting the European Union Select Committee
Frances Coppola, Columnist, The Financial Times
Liam Halligan, Columnist, The Daily Telegraph
Vicky Pryce, Former Head, UK Government Economic Service
Kevin Green, Chief Executive, Recruitment & Employment Confederation
Rachel Johnson, Non-Exec Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Top of the class: Attracting & retaining excellent teachers

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 19:45-21:00
Alexandra Suite: Midland Hotel 

Lord Lucas, Editor, Good Schools Guide
Prof. Alan Smithers, Director of Centre for Education and Employment Research, University of Buckingham
Siân Griffiths, Education Editor, The Sunday Times
Steve Mastin, Chair, Conservative Education Society
Rupert Myers, Associate Fellow, Bright Blue (Chair)

Looking after mum and dad: Preparing for an ageing society

Tuesday October 3rd 2017: 19:45-21:00
Central 6: Manchester Central

Baroness Camilla Cavendish, Former Director, Number 10 Policy Unit
The Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
Jo Maugham QC, Barrister, Devereux Chambers
David Sinclair, Director, International Longevity Centre
Joel Charles, Deputy Chief Executive, Future Care Capital
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Labour Party Conference 2017

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Looking after mum and dad: Preparing for an ageing society

Monday 25th September 2017: 12:30-14:00
Mercure Brighton Seafront, Ballroom

The Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
Clive Betts MP, Chair, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
Claudia Wood, Chief Executive, Demos
Will Hutton, Principal, Hertford College, University of Oxford
Dean James CBE, Chief Executive, Future Care Capital
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue (Chair)

Liberal Democrats Conference 2017

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Left behind no longer: Achieving social justice in Britain

Tuesday 19th September 2017: 13:00-14:00
Seaview Studio, Pavilion Dance South West

Layla Moran MP, Shadow Education Secretary
The Rt Hon Sir Simon Hughes, Former Minister for Justice and Civil Liberties
Afua Hirsch, Journalist, Sky News
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive, Relate
Rachel Johnson, Columnist, Mail on Sunday (Chair)

Education think forum: Technical education

By 2017 Events, Think forums

The Education Forum is an informal, fun and interactive opportunity to discuss and explore ideas and suggestions that relate to education policy. The intention of the forum is to produce policies that will allow the UK to offer world class education for all, regardless of birth, background or personal circumstances. For this forum, we are joined by Dr Scott Kelly (British Politics lecturer, New York University).

Date: Wednesday 13th September 2017, 19.00 – 20.30.

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW

RSVP: Here

Energy & Environment think forum: How can the centre-right be both pro-business and pro-environment?

By 2017 Events, Think forums

Bright Blue’s Forums are spaces for those on the centre-right to come together to chat about politics and discuss policy. This forum is on the balance of industry and environment, asking, “how can the Government successfully be both pro business and pro environment?” For this forum, we welcome guest speakers Tom Burke (Chairman and Founding Director, E3G) and Tom Pickering (Director at INEOS Upstream).

Date: Wednesday 23rd August 2017, 19.00 – 20.30.

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW

RSVP: Here

Drink Tank with James Cleverly MP

By 2017 Events

Our Drink Tanks are a chance to meet, network, chat, have a beer and share ideas. James Cleverly has been the MP for Braintree since 2015, and is also long-serving a Territorial Army officer. He was previously a member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley from 2008-16.

Date: Monday 24th July, 2017, 19.00 onwards

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW

Bright Blue conference: Social Reform

By 2017 Events

Pictures from the Social Reform Conference can be found here.

Our annual Bright Blue conference this year will be on the theme of “Social reform”. Join us for a day of generating and discussing ideas on this critical agenda outlined by our Prime Minister. The conference will include a keynote speech from The Rt Hon Damian Green MP (First Secretary of State), and break-out sessions with the centre-right’s most influential politicians and thinkers.

Date: Saturday 1st July 2017

Venue: The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James’s, SW1Y 5AH

Kindly supported by Provident.

Education think forum: Lessons from Finland

By 2017 Events, Think forums

For this forum, we are joined by Gabriel Heller Sahlgren. Gabriel is Research Director at the Centre for the Study of Market Reform of Education and Affiliated Research Fellow with the Research Institute of Industrial Economics. In addition, he is academic advisor at the European Centre for Entrepreneurship and Policy Reform and a PhD student at the London School of Economics, where he also works at the Centre for Economic Performance.

Date: Wednesday 3rd May 2017, 19.00 – 20.30.

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW

Drink Tank with Dr Sarah Wollaston MP

By 2017 Events

Our Drink Tanks are a chance to meet, network, chat, have a beer and share ideas. Our guest speaker for this Drink Tank is Dr Sarah Wollaston MP. Sarah was elected Member for Totnes in 2010. She is Chair of the Health Select Committee.

Date: Monday 27th March, 2017, 19.00 – 20:30

Venue: Morpeth Arms (upstairs), 58 Millbank, London, SW1P 4RW