Party conferences
Each year, we organise panel events at the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat party conferences, offering expertise and evidence on pressing policy topics.
We have been running our conference programme for a number of years, bringing together panels of experts to discuss a wide range of pressing policy challenges at the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat conferences.
Join us at the Liberal Democrats Conference in Bournemouth from 20 to 23 September, the Labour Conference in Liverpool from 28 September to 1 October and in Manchester for the Conservative Conference from 5 to 8 October, for a series of events on topics such as health, technology, and education.
To find out more about any of our events at party conference this year, please email policy@manchester.ac.uk.
Liberal Democrats Party Conference
20 September - 23 September 2025
In partnership with the Social Market Foundation
Monday, 22 September, 13:00pm - 14:00pm
The Hilton Hotel Bournemouth (Outside the conference secure zone)
In the most deprived areas of the UK, life expectancy is 18 years lower than in the wealthiest, with health outcomes influenced by location, gender, ethnicity, quality of work, education, housing and income. Join us as we explore the impact of health inequalities on economic growth, and the cross-government policy levers needed to address them.
- Dr Rebecca Montacute, Research Director, Social Market Foundation (Chair)
- Andrew George MP, Member of Health and Social Care Committee and Member of Parliament for St Ives
- Alex Kenney, Head of Government and External Affairs, British Heart Foundation
- Professor Arpana Verma, Clinical Professor of Public Health, The University of Manchester
Labour Party Conference
28 September - 1 October 2025
In partnership with Social Market Foundation
Monday, 29 September, 08:00am - 09:00am
Meeting Room 5 | The ACC (Inside the secure zone – conference pass required to attend)
In the most deprived areas of the UK, life expectancy is 18 years lower than in the wealthiest, with health outcomes influenced by location, gender, ethnicity, quality of work, education, housing and income. Join us as we explore the impact of health inequalities on economic growth, and the cross-government policy levers needed to address them.
- Dr Rebecca Montacute, Research Director, Social Market Foundation (Chair)
- John Maingay, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Heart Foundation
- Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice
- Professor Arpana Verma, Clinical Professor of Public Health, The University of Manchester
Further speakers to be announced
Monday, 29 September, 10:00am - 11:00am
Albert 5 | The Hilton Hotel Liverpool (Outside the conference secure zone)
The Government has committed to “back the builders, not the blockers” setting a target of 1.5million homes over the next Parliament. Given the contentious nature of the Green Belt, and the arguments made for and against development – including urban sprawl, regeneration and potential harm to natural environments – what can we do differently to help Britain to build better?
- Stephen Delahunty, News Editor, Inside Housing (Chair)
- Emma Antrobus, North West Director, Institution of Civil Engineers
- Claire Griffiths, CEO of Cobalt Housing and Chair of Liverpool City Region Housing Associations
- Professor Ian Mell, Professor of Environmental & Landscape Planning, The University of Manchester
- Councillor Jack Shaw, Vice-Chair of Planning Committee, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Monday, 29 September, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Albert 5 | The Hilton Hotel Liverpool (Outside the conference secure zone)
The digital revolution offers extraordinary opportunities but also brings the potential for new and dangerous threats. The UK government faces a rapidly escalating cyber threat, with major vulnerabilities in over 280 critical and legacy IT systems, and a severe shortage of cybersecurity experts undermining resilience efforts. Does the UK have a plan for cyber security and are the government’s efforts to improve resilience keeping pace with the cyber threat?
- Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK (Chair)
- Professor Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security, The University of Manchester
- Lord Harris of Haringey, Chair, National Preparedness Commission
- Matthew Houlihan, Senior Director for Government Affairs - UK and Europe, Cisco
- Verona Johnstone-Hulse, UK Head of Government Affairs, NCC Group
Further speakers to be announced
Event organised by HEPI and supported by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Monday, 29 September, 12:00pm - 13:00pm
National Suite, Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Hotel, Chapel Street, Liverpool (Outside the conference secure zone)
- Nick Hillman OBE, Director at HEPI (Chair)
- Pamela Baxter, Chief Product Officer, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
- Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK
- Professor Duncan Ivision, Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester
- Chris Havergal, Editor, Times Higher Education
Further speakers to be announced
Monday, 29 September, 13:00pm - 14:00pm
Albert 5 | The Hilton Hotel Liverpool (Outside the conference secure zone)
School absence has wide-reaching consequences - it disrupts learning for pupils, increases workload for teachers, and places additional responsibilities on parents. 150,000 children are missing half (or more) of their time at school, with higher rates in disadvantaged areas. Existing measures to get children back into the classroom are falling short. What can policymakers do next to support parents, children, and teachers alike and tackle the crisis?
- Frank Young, Chief Policy Officer, Parentkind (Chair)
- Professor Caroline Bond, Professor of Educational Psychology, The University of Manchester
- Graeme Duncan, CEO, Right to Succeed
- Rachael Fidler, Schools Trust Leader at Dixons Academies Trust
- Cllr Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council
- Steve Witherden MP, Chair of the APPG for Education
Monday, 29 September, 19:30pm - 20:45pm
Room 4B | ACC (Inside the secure zone, conference pass required to attend)
Join President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Duncan Ivison, to explore how UK universities are driving economic growth through cutting-edge research, skills development, and partnerships. This reception will highlight the vital role higher education plays as an engine of economic growth, with The University of Manchester as a leading example of an ecosystem of innovation.
In Partnership with Institute for Government
Tuesday, 30 September, 09:00am - 10:00am
Clyde - Lower Level | ACC (Inside the secure zone, conference pass required to attend)
Regional mayors and combined authorities can drive economic growth through investment in skills, employment, transport and regeneration, and by developing polices to create better jobs, improve connectivity and lift labour market productivity. The panel will explore how mayors can best use their powers, consider the role of key institutions such as universities in supporting local growth plans, and explore which further powers and funding should be devolved.
- Akash Paun, Programme Director, Institute for Government (Chair)
- Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester
- Bassam Mahfouz AM, Chair, Greater London Authority Oversight Committee
- Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Nadine Peatfield, Deputy Mayor, East Midlands Combined Authority
- Cllr Bella Sankey, Leader, Brighton & Hove City Council
- Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Conservative Party Conference
5 October - 8 October 2025
Monday, 6 October, 09:30am - 10:30am
Main Hall | Friends Meeting House (Outside the conference secure zone)
The Government has committed to “back the builders, not the blockers” setting a target of 1.5million homes over the next Parliament. Given the contentious nature of the Green Belt, and the arguments made for and against development – including urban sprawl, regeneration and potential harm to natural environments – what can we do differently to help Britain to build better?
- Dan Whelan, Deputy Editor, Place North (Chair)
- Emma Antrobus, North West Director, Institution of Civil Engineers
- Sean Houlston, Head of Membership & Digital, National Federation of Builders
- Baroness Maclean, Former Minister of State for Housing and Planning
- Professor Ian Mell, Professor of Environmental & Landscape Planning, The University of Manchester
Further speakers to be announced
Event organised by HEPI and supported by the University of Sussex and Goldsmiths, University of London
Monday, 6 October, 9:30am - 10:30am
Piccadilly Room, Manchester Clayton Hotel, 55 Portland Street, Manchester (Outside the conference secure zone)
- Nick Hillman OBE, Director at HEPI (Chair)
- Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex
- Professor Frances Corner, Vice-Chancellor, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Professor Duncan Ivison, Vice-Chancellor, University of Manchester
- Neil O’Brien MP, Shadow Minister for Education (Invited)
Monday, 6 October, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Main Hall | Friends Meeting House (Outside the conference secure zone)
It is places, and not people, who are left behind. The de-industrialisation of our towns and cities has diminished traditional routes to work, leaving behind a jobs and skills gap. But in Greater Manchester there are signs of a new skilled, creative, and innovation driven economy. So how can we make sure every community in the region benefits from Manchester’s growing success, and what can be done to create a place-based approach to jobs and regeneration, including the Mayor’s plan for a Manchester Baccalaureate.
- Joseph Timan, Politics Writer, Manchester Evening News (Chair)
- Victoria Braddock, Managing Director, Marketing Manchester
- Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Lou Cordwell OBE, Chair of GM Business Board
- Professor Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business, The University of Manchester
- Lord David Willetts, President, Resolution Foundation
Further speakers to be announced
Monday, 6 October, 12:30pm - 13:30pm
Main Hall | Friends Meeting House (Outside the conference secure zone)
The digital revolution offers extraordinary opportunities but also brings the potential for new and dangerous threats. The UK government faces a rapidly escalating cyber threat, with major vulnerabilities in over 280 critical and legacy IT systems, and a severe shortage of cybersecurity experts undermining resilience efforts. Does the UK have a plan for cyber security and are the government’s efforts to improve resilience keeping pace with the cyber threat?
- Matt Robinson, Head of Nations and Regions, techUK (Chair)
- Professor Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security, The University of Manchester
- Matthew Houlihan, Senior Director Government Affairs - UK and Europe, Cisco
- Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- Katharina Sommer, Group Head of Government Affairs & Analyst Relations, NCC Group
In partnership with Social Market Foundation
Monday, 6 October, 13:00pm - 14:00pm
Chester Suite | Midland Hotel (Inside the secure zone – conference pass required to attend)
In the most deprived areas of the UK, life expectancy is 18 years lower than in the wealthiest, with health outcomes influenced by location, gender, ethnicity, quality of work, education, housing and income. Join us as we explore the impact of health inequalities on economic growth, and the cross-government policy levers needed to address them.
- Dr Rebecca Montacute, Research Director, Social Market Foundation (Chair)
- Tom Almond, Health Analytics Lead, British Heart Foundation
- Dr Luke Evans, Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Health and Social Care)
- Professor Arpana Verma, Clinical Professor of Public Health, The University of Manchester
In Partnership with Institute for Government
Tuesday, 7 October, 10:30am - 11:30am
Exchange 6-7 | Manchester Central (Inside the secure zone – conference pass required to attend)
Regional mayors and combined authorities can drive economic growth through investment in skills, employment, transport and regeneration, and by developing polices to create better jobs, improve connectivity and lift labour market productivity. The panel will explore how mayors can best use their powers, consider how key institutions like universities can support local growth plans, and explore which further powers and funding should be devolved.
- Akash Paun, Programme Director, Institute for Government (Chair)
- Mayor Paul Bristow, Mayor, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
- Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester
- Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Communities and Business Engagement, Essex County Council