What’s going on at the party conferences 2021

Political parties are holding their conferences throughout September and October and there are many events being run by Bond members and allies.

Click here for relevant events at the Labour Party Conference, 25-29 September, and here to scroll down to events at the Conservative Party Conference, 3 October – 6 October.

Bond events

Liberal Democrat: Saturday 18 September at 16:30 – Bond and LDID panel event on decolonising aid and development

In partnership with the Liberal Democrats in International Development, online.

Speakers include Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for International Development, Lord Purvis of Tweed; Peace Direct Policy Associate, Shannon Paige; and All We Can Programmes Director, Angela Zamaere Smith.

Labour: Sunday 26 September at 18:30 – Bond and LCID Labour Party Conference International Development Drinks Reception

In partnership with Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID), Hilton Brighton Metropole, Tyne Room.

Speakers include Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Preet Gill MP; Chair of the International Development Select Committee, Sarah Champion; Kim Leadbeater MP; Ian Byrne MP; Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Research at Bond, Simon Starling; and LCID Chair, Heather Staff.

Conservative: Sunday 3 October 18:30 to 20:00 – Bond and CFID Conservative Party Conference International Development Drinks Reception

In partnership with Conservative Friends of International Development, The Midland Hotel, Victoria Suite.

Speakers include: CFID Founder Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, Anthony Mangnall MP, Bond CEO Stephanie Draper, CFID Interim Director Caroline Sargent and other speakers to be announced.

Labour Party Conference, 25 – 29 September

Sunday 26 September

Human Rights And Corporate Supply Chains: How To Prevent UK Companies From Profiting From Slave Labour

SME4Labour, Labour Campaign for Human Rights, Labour Campaign for International Development

1:30 pm, Gloucester, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Emily Thornberry MP (invited), Stephen Kinnock MP, Mark Dearn, Corporate Justice Coalition, Daniel Leader, Leigh Day, Rahima Mahmut, UK Director, World Uyghur Congress

Ending Planet Plastic

SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign with BBIA (Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Assoc.)

2:00 pm, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Ruth Jones MP, Shadow Minister for Natural Environment and Air Quality, Leonie Cooper AM, GLA Labour Environment Lead, David Newman, Managing Director, BBIA

Overseas Aid And Trade – Fighting For Social And Environmental Justice Abroad

SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign and Christians on the Left

5:30 pm, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Preet Gill MP, Shadow Secretary for International Development, Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Secretary for International Trade (invited), Clare Lyons, Co-Leader, Global Advocacy Team, Tearfund, Jennifer Larbie, UK Advocacy & Policy Lead, Christian Aid, Mark Sheard, CEO, World Vision UK

Bond and LCID Labour Party Conference International Development Drinks Reception

Bond and the Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID)

6:30pm, Tyne Room, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Preet Gill MP, Chair of the International Development Select Committee Sarah Champion, Kim Leadbeater MP, Ian Byrne MP, Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Research at Bond Simon Starling, and LCID Chair Heather Staff.

Monday 27 September

Labour’s Policy Roadmap: Stronger Together for Britain in the World

Labour Foreign Policy Group and Labour Campaign for International Development

9:00 am, Durham Hall, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow International Trade Secretary, Jessica Toale, Co-Chair, Labour Foreign Policy Group, David Taylor, Vice-Chair, Labour Campaign for International Development, Mariela Kohon, Senior International Officer, Trades Union Congress, Preet Kaur Gill MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development

The Threat of the International Far Right

HOPE Note Hate

10:00 am, Lancaster, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Paul Mason, Other Speakers (invited)

Action Meeting Rhetoric: Acting To Reverse Biodiversity Decline

SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign with RSPB

10:00 am, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Luke Pollard MP, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Beccy Speight, CEO, RSPB (invited), Other speakers to join panel – see sera.org.uk or conference app

Global Britain: Britain’s Role In A Changing World

Labour Campaign for International Development, Oxfam, Crisis Action

11:00 am, Arundel 2, Holiday Inn

Speakers: Wayne David MP, Shadow Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hilary Benn MP, Former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Representative from the Syrian British Council (invited), Representative from Yemeni Civil Society (invited), Molly Mulready, Former FCO lawyer and writer

COP26 Question Time: What Do We Need From The COP

Alex Sobel MP, Chair APPG Net Zero, COP Rapporteur for the IPU (global body for parliamentarians) and SERA Executive

12:30 pm, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Cllr Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council, Claudia Beamish, Special Advisor to the Scottish Labour Group on COP26, Darren Jones MP, Chair, BEIS Select Committee, Matt Pennycook MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Change (invited), Julie James SM, Welsh Minister for Climate Change (invited), Marvin Rees, Bristol Mayor and C40 Climate Cities Leadership Group

Free to Believe – Can Religious Freedom Be Assured?

Christians on the Left In Partnership with SAT-7

12:30 pm, St Paul’s Church

Speakers: Shabana Mahmood MP, Yasmin Qureshi MP, Shadow Minister for International Development, Archbishop Angaelos of London, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, Fleur Anderson MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Stephen Doughty MP, Shadow Minister for Africa and International Development, Iranian Representative (invited), SAT-7 Representative (invited)

The Fight For Working Class Justice & The Right To Protest

Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign

12:30 pm, Empress Room, The Grand

Speakers: Yvette Williams, Justice4Grenfell, Sheila Coleman, Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Lois Austin, Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance, Emmott Baddeley, Sheffield Against the Policing Bill, Joe Rollin, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, Unite the Union Representative (invited)

CPTPP and the Integrated Review: How Should the UK Respond to the Growing Importance of the Indo-Pacific Region

13:30 pm, Clyde, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: TBC

In Conversation with Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary

Coalition for Global Prosperity (CGP) and Labour Campaign for International Development (LCID)

2:00 pm, Lancaster, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Board Member of CGP & LCID, Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, Libby Smith, Director of Advocacy at CGP & Executive of LCID, David Taylor, Founder and Vice-Chair of LCID

Global Vaccine Access – What Is Labour’s Plan?

Global Justice Now, STOPAIDS, Just Treatment, and Oxfam

6:00 pm, The Walrus

Speakers: Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Emily Thornberry, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade (invited), Sangeeta Shashikant, The Third World Network, Eldred Tellis, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust, Other Speakers (invited)

SERA Rally: A Fairer Greener Recovery

SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign

6:00 pm, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Ed Miliband MP, Shadow BEIS Secretary, Preet Gill MP, Shadow Secretary International Development, Luke Pollard MP, Shadow Secretary Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dan Jarvis, Mayor Sheffield City Region, Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dan Norris, Mayor West of England, Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow International Trade Secretary, Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour Party Chair, Other Speakers (invited)

Defending The Rights Of Refugees And People Seeking Asylum

Refugee Action

7:00 pm, Avon, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Shadow Home Secretary (invited), Christina McAnea, Unison (invited), Tim Naor Hilton, Refugee Action, Lily Parrott, Duncan Lewis Public Law, Dr Waheed Arian, NHS and Expert by Experience

Securing Our Future: COP26 Reception

SERA: Labour’s Environment Campaign with Green Alliance and WWF

7:45 pm, Dome Room, Hotel du Vin

Speakers: Shaun Spiers, Executive Director, Green Alliance, Tanya Steele, Chief Executive, WWF, Senior Labour Party Representative (invited)
Recovering From Covid-19: The Humanitarian Path To Building Back Better, Together

New Statesman and British Red Cross

8:00 pm, Preston, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: Zoe Abrams, Executive Director of Communications and Engagement, British Red Cross, Jo Stevens MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (invited), Steve Reed MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (invited)

Tuesday 28 September

Labour’s approach to human rights, China, and ethical investment

9:00 am, Queens, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Speakers: TBC

A Racial Justice and Global Health approach to Drug Policy

Health Poverty Action

12:00 pm, Pavilion, The Grand

Speakers: Jane Slater, Anyones Child, Viv Ahmun, BlaxSox, Laura Garius, Release, David Lammy MP (invited), Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (invited)

How Can We End 20 Years Of The War On Terror?

Stop the War

12:30 pm, Charlotte Room, The Grand

Speakers: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Lindsey German, Stop the War, Andrew Murray, Unite the Union, Other Speakers (invited)

Speaking Up For Palestine – A Litmus Test for Labour

Labour & Palestine and Unite the Union

5:30 pm, Empress Room, The Grand

Speakers: HE Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador, Karma Nabulsi, Palestinian Writer & Activist, John McDonnell MP, Kim Johnson MP, Vice-Chair, APPG on Palestine, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary & Unions for Labour Chair, Tony Burke, Unite the Union Assistant General Secretary, Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine

Conservative Party Conference, 3 – 6 October

Sunday 3 October

How should the UK challenge China on climate change?

15:00, Central 3 & 4, Manchester Central

Conservative Environment Network (CEN)

Speakers include Richard Graham MP, James Rogers Co-founder, and Director of Research

Does the Conservative Party care about Social Justice?

18:00, Alexandra A, Midland Hotel

The Centre for Social Justice

Invited speakers include Tim Montgomerie, Political Commentator and Journalist, Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Fraser Nelson, Editor of The Spectator, Baroness Helena Morrissey DBE, Nusrat Ghani MP

Bond/CFID Conservative Party Conference Drinks Receptions

18:30, Victoria Suite, The Midland Hotel

Bond and the Conservative Friends of International Development

Speakers include: CFID Founder Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, Anthony Mangnall MP, Bond CEO Stephanie Draper, CFID Interim Director Caroline Sargent and other speakers to be announced.

It happens all the time: girls’ and young women’s experience of sexual harassment

19:00, Youth Zone, Manchester Central

Girlguiding and Digital Tories

Speakers include Ruth Edwards MP, Sara Britcliffe MP, Katy Bourne OBE Police & Crime Commissioner for Sussex, Abbee McLatchie Director of Youth Work, Angela Salt OBE CEO, Abi Brown Councillor

Drinks Reception: Bouncing back – the humanitarian path to post-pandemic recovery

19:00, ConservativeHome Marquee, Manchester Central

ConservativeHome in partnership with the British Red Cross

Speakers include Michael Adamson CEO, Mark Wallace Media/Journalism

The UK Government’s Approach to Human Rights, China & Ethical Investment

20:30, Exchange 4-5 Combined, Manchester Central

Hong Kong Watch and the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission

Speakers include Benedict Rogers Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Tim Loughton MP

Conservative Friends of Cyprus Annual Reception

20:30, Lancaster, Midland Hotel

Conservative Friends of Cyprus

Speakers include Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Wendy Morton MP, HE Andreas Kakouris High Commissioner, Jason Charalambous Chairman CFCyprus

Drinks Reception: Celebrating the UK’s role in fighting infectious diseases and preventing future pandemics

20:30, Exchange 2-3 Combined, Manchester Central

STOPAIDS, Malaria No More, RESULTS UK, Frontline AIDS, ONE Campaign UK and Youth Stop AIDS

Speakers include Peter Sands Executive Director, Andrew Mitchell MP

Monday 4th October

Clean, green and free – how trade can help the planet

14:00, The Centre for Policy Studies, Manchester Central

The Centre for Policy Studies / Tate & Lyle Sugars

Speakers include Eamonn Ives Head of Energy and Environment, Gerald Mason Senior Vice President, The Hon George Brandis QC High Commissioner to the UK

Resilience and Prosperity

15:00, Victoria Suite Midland Hotel

HALO Trust

Impact investment was one of the fastest growing markets to support development finance. Economic pressures make it more important than ever. Meanwhile, the UK’s international agenda and ambition in a post-Brexit world are linked to trade and prosperity. What role should the private sector and impact investment have for an equitable and green development and prosperity agenda? And what role should trade play?

Speakers include Dominic McVey, Entrepreneur and Business Leader, Ibukun Adabeyo, Co-Head Emerging Markets Strategy, London Stock Exchange, Katherine Mulhern, CEO Restitution and Veronica Bolton-Smith, COO Invest Africa.

The Success of the Government’s Charity Lottery reforms & Next Steps

15:30, Chester Suite, Midland Hotel

People’s Postcode Lottery

Speakers include Scott Benton MP, Clara Govier Managing Director and Chair, Kate Lee CEO, Lindsey Macdonald PhD Managing Director, Mims Davies MP

In Conversation with David Davis MP

15:30, ConservativeHome Marquee

ConservativeHome in partnership with the Coalition for Global Prosperity

Speakers include Rt Hon David Davis MP, Ryan Henson CEO, Mark Wallace Media/Journalism

The CPS in conversation with the Rt Hon Liz Truss MP

18:30, The Centre for Policy Studies, Manchester Central

The Centre for Policy Studies

Speakers include The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities, Robert Colvile Columnist

International Trade Reception

20:30, Trafford Room, Midland Hotel

The International Department

Speakers to be announced soon

Tuesday 5th October

Global Britain: Trade and business in the age of gender equality

13:00, Chester Suite, Midland Hotel

CWO & ActionAid UK

Speakers include Paul Scully MP Minister for London and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets), Fleur Butler National Chairman

A panel discussion on: COP26 and Environmental Diplomacy

13:00, International Lounge, Manchester Central

The International Department

Speakers to be announced soon

Afghanistan’s Next Chapter: What Happens as British and NATO Troops Leave? (Marking 20th Anniversary of British Troops in Afghanistan)

13:00, Stanley Suite, Midland Hotel

CFOAfghan

Speakers include Shabnam Nasimi Charity/NGO, James Cowan Charity/NGO, Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP Former Secretary of State for International Trade, Ryan Henson CEO

YC Policy Panel: Global Britain and the future of the west

14:00, Young Conservatives Stand, Manchester Central

Young Conservatives

Speakers include Tom Tugendhat MP Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

Net Zero Ambassadors

14:00, Youth Zone, Manchester Central

Oxfam and Send My Friend To School

Speakers include Daniel Kebede (other), Abi Brown Councillor, Christine Wallace Civil/Public Service

UK Foreign Policy After Brexit

14:00, ThinkTent Marquee

Heritage Foundation

Speakers include Ted Bromund Senior Research Fellow in Anglo-American Relations, Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, Sophie Gaston Director, Alexander Downer Chairman of Trustees, Andrew Rosindell MP

In Conversation with Liz Truss MP

15:00, ConservativeHome Marquee

ConservativeHome in partnership with UK in a Changing Europe

Speakers include Anand Menon Director, The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities, Paul Goodman Media/Journalism

Afghanistan and beyond: How can the UK best protect refugees?

15:30, Exchange 2-3 Combined, Manchester Central

Together with Refugees

Speakers to be announced soon

Global Britain as a Force for Good

15:30, Stanley Suite, Midland Hotel

Crisis Action and The HALO Trust

Speakers include Eleanor Kennedy UK Director, Tom Tugendhat MP Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Daphne Jayasinghe Chief Policy Adviser, Chris Loughran Senior Policy Advisor

Global Britain and the Middle East – challenges and opportunities

15:30, Central 7, Manchester Central

Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC)

Speakers to be announced soon

Reaching Generation Zero

16:00, Youth Zone, Manchester Central

Net Zero APPG and The Spectator supported by Centrica

Speakers include Alok Sharma MP, Stanley Johnson International Ambassador, Katy Balls Deputy Political Editor

In conversation with Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP

16:45, ConservativeHome Marquee, Manchester Central

ConservativeHome in partnership with Raytheon

Speakers include The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Mark Wallace Media/Journalism

In conversation with … the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP

17:45, ThinkTent Marquee, Manchester Central

Institute of Economic Affairs & The TaxPayers’ Alliance

Speakers include John O’Connell Chief Executive, Mark Littlewood Director General, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Chancellor of the Exchequer

Drinks Reception: Science Superpower: How Britain’s Fight Against Malaria is Driving Innovation and Saving Lives

19:00, ConservativeHome Marquee

ConservativeHome in partnership with Malaria No More UK

Speakers include James Whiting CEO, George Freeman MP, James Sunderland MP

Save the Children and Conservative Home Drinks Reception

20:30, Exchange 10, Manchester Central

Save the Children in partnership with Conservative Home

Speakers include Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP Secretary of State for Work and Pensions