Coffee House

Day one at Conservative conference 2023: The Spectator guide

Rishi Sunak (Credit: Getty images)

It’s the first day of the annual Conservative party conference in Manchester. Grant Shapps, who is making his first major speech since being promoted to Defence Secretary, is the headline act on the main stage. Here are the rest of the highlights:

Main agenda – from 14:00:

1400: Greg Hands MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party

1415: Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 

1430: Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd 

1445: David TC Davies MP, Secretary of State for Wales 

1500: Douglas Ross MP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionists 

1515: Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland 

1530: Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Defence 

1545: James Cleverly MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Fringe events:

13:00 – Scottish Conservative and Unionist fringe

Douglas Ross MP welcomes Scottish members, Charter 4

13:00 – What should the Conservative manifesto offer schools?

NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Sinéad Mc Brearty, Trafford Room – Midland Hotel 

14:00 – Centre for Policy Studies

The CPS interviews Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP, CPS Theatre – Charter Foyer

15:00 – Daylight robbery? Tackling economic crime in the UK

Security minister Tom Tugendhat MP joins a Bright Blue and UK anti-corruption coalition panel to talk about how to combat the spread of economic crime, Central 6

15:30 – Getting Britain working

Resolution Foundation panel with Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, Seb Payne, David Willetts, Victoria Suite – Midland Hotel

16:30 – The Spectator Coffee House Shots drinks reception

Join The Spectator team for a gin and tonic to mark the start of conference, Exchange 11

17:00 – What is the future of Conservatism?

Onward panel with Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP, pensions minister Laura Trott MP, security minister Tom Tugendhat, Nick...

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