The Spectator at Conservative conference 2024: events programme

The Spectator is delighted to be at Conservative party conference in Birmingham this year. Our schedule is below:

Sunday 29 September

Coffee House Shots Live – welcome reception

4-5pm

Join The Spectator team for a drink as conference begins. Open to all.

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

Private drinks reception: The Spectator in association with National Gas

5.30-6.30pm

Invitation only. Email spectatorevents@spectator.co.uk to request an invitation.

With Fraser Nelson (editor, The Spectator) and Claire Coutinho (Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero).

Monday 30 September

Is the Conservative party ready to talk about tax?

12.30-1.30pm

What happened to the Conservatives being the party of low taxation? Join The Spectator and guests as they discuss the rising tax burden – and what can be done about it. Free drinks will be served.

Chair: Kate Andrews, economics editor, The Spectator

Speakers:

• The Rt Hon Laura Trott MP MBE (shadow chief secretary to the Treasury)

• Andrew Griffith MP (shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology)

• Paul Johnson (Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies)

• Tom Clougherty (Executive Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs)

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

Are the Tories for or against illiberal conservatism?

2-3pm

Smoking bans, sugar taxes, poor housebuilding, lockdowns, the highest tax burden in nearly 70 years: is the Tory party’s drift from classical liberalism a blip – or the future?

Join The Spectator and guests as they debate the ideological shift in the Conservative party over the past decade, and where it should go from here. Free drinks will be served.

Chair: Kate Andrews (economics editor, The Spectator)

Speakers:

• Danny Kruger MP (shadow parliamentary under-secretary of State for defence)

• Lord Frost (Telegraph columnist)

• Fraser Nelson (editor, The Spectator)

• Madeline Grant (Telegraph columnist and sketch writer)

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

How to turbo-boost UK trade: The Spectator in association with IOE&IT

3.30-4.30pm

Can Britain set an example for what it means to remain open, while other countries embrace protectionism? Join The Spectator and guests for a panel, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, to discuss how the UK can turbo-boost its trade. Free G&Ts will be served.

Chair: Katy Balls, political editor, The Spectator

Speakers

• Lord Houchen (Tees Valley Mayor)

• Lord Offord (shadow minister for energy security and net zero)

• Victoria Hewson (solicitor and former special adviser to the Business Secretary)

• Marco Forgione (director-general of the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade)

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

Private drinks reception: The Spectator in association with Santander

5-6pm

Join The Spectator and Santander for a drinks reception and thoughts from shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Invitation only. Email spectatorevents@spectator.co.uk to request an invitation.

With Fraser Nelson (editor, The Spectator) and Jeremy Hunt MP (shadow chancellor)

Private drinks reception: The Spectator in association with The Royal Society

6.30-7.30pm

Join The Spectator and the Royal Society for a drinks reception to discuss the contribution of scientific research to economic growth.

Invitation only. Email spectatorevents@spectator.co.uk to request an invitation.

With Fraser Nelson (editor, The Spectator) and Andrew Griffith MP (shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology)

Tuesday 1 October

Coffee House Shots Live

11-11.45am

Join The Spectator’s home team and US commentator Sarah Elliott for a live podcast recording to discuss the Tory leadership race, updates from Conference and the US election.

Chair: Katy Balls (political editor, The Spectator)

Speakers

• Fraser Nelson (editor, The Spectator)

• Kate Andrews (economics editor, The Spectator)

• Sarah Elliott, Board Member of Republicans Overseas UK

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

Where are the Brexit dividends?

12.30-1.30pm

Voters were promised a Brexit agenda, but it never arrived. Was Brexit always a lost cause? Join The Spectator and guests as they ask what happened to the promises of Brexit – and can they still be realised? Free drinks will be served.

Chair: James Heale (political correspondent, The Spectator)

Speakers:

• Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP

• Lord Hannan (Sunday Telegraph colunnist)

• Sherelle Jacobs (Telegraph columnist)

• Tom Lubbock, Co-Founder of JL Partners

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

How conservatism recovers: lessons from New Zealand and Canada

2-3pm

In both countries, conservative parties rebounded fast. What can be learned? Join The Spectator and guests as they discuss how the Tories can rebuild their party. Free drinks will be served.

Chair: Katy Balls, political editor, The Spectator

Speakers

• Joy Morrissey MP (shadow minister for energy security and net zero)

• Rachel Wolf (Founding Partner of Public First)

• Sean Topham (Founding Partner of Topham Guerin)

• James Kanagasooriam (Chief Research Officer of Focaldata)

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

Can the Conservatives be the party of home ownership once again?: The Spectator in association with Santander

3.30-4.30pm

Join The Spectator and guests for a panel, hosted by Santander UK, on how to fix the housing crisis, and the role that planning reform must play in the rebuilding of the Conservative party. Free G&Ts will be served.

Chair: Kate Andrews, economics editor, The Spectator

Speakers:

• The Rt Hon Michael Gove (incoming Spectator editor and former housing secretary)

• The Rt Hon Kit Malthouse MP

• Liam Halligan (Telegraph columnist)

• Miriam Cates (former Conservative MP)

• Nick Potter (Director of Mortgages of Santander)

Location: The Spectator – Hall 4, ICC Birmingham

The Spectator: in conversation with The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP

5-6pm

Free drinks will be served.

Fraser Nelson, editor, The Spectator, and The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government