Inflect and DevoInflect are planning a number of exciting fringe events over the course of this years’ Labour and Conservative Party Conferences. 

Conservative Party Conference 

The BIG Transport Fringe 

Monday 2nd October, 10:30 – 12.00, Thatcher Theatre (SZ)

Ahead of the General Election, this year’s BIG Transport Fringe at Conservative Party Conference will provide a platform to generate debate on what needs to change to unlock world-class transport in the UK.

From HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, ports and airports to freight and roads, The BIG Transport Fringe tackles the big national issues on the agenda, including how to deliver a better connected, accessible, reliable, affordable transport network in the UK.  

The BIG Transport Fringe provides a platform for lively and interactive debate on what we need to do to unlock the barriers to big infrastructure, investment, and innovation if we are to deliver world-class transport and at the same time scale-up productivity, net-zero, skills and growth in all parts of the UK. Confirmed speakers so far include Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

Caring about Care: Why We Need to Fix Social Care to Fix the Economy 

Monday 2nd October, 13:00 – 14:30, Churchill Theatre (SZ)

The Future Social Care Coalition’s Conservative fringe will follow on from the upcoming report launch of the coalition’s research looking at the enormous social and economic value of social care. The session will focus on the need to invest in the future workforce and ensure that social care becomes an attractive, skilled and respected career choice which is properly remunerated and why the return on that investment outweighs the cost.

The panel, hosted by former Conservative Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell, will discuss how best to catalyse the economic potential of the sector to deliver the high quality and integrated social care that we will all rely on at some point in our lives. Speakers, including care workers and those in receipt of care, will set out their vision for the future of social care.

The Net Zero Challenge: Myth Busting Quiz  

Tuesday 3rd October, 11:00 – 12:00, Youth Zone (SZ)

Last year’s inaugural Myth-Busting Quiz was enormously popular with MPs, delegates and speakers alike, drawing large audiences to hear Shadow/Ministers and MPs face off against industry experts on the BIG myths about the Net Zero transition!

Breaking away from traditional formats, our Myth-Busting Quiz works to generate a fun debate and discussion whereby two panels face each other in a fast-paced and fun fringe event. This year we will introduce a “POINTLESS” element to the Quiz, as per the popular TV programme, where the two teams will need to guess the most “POINTLESS” answer. Confirmed speakers so far include Alexander Stafford MP.

Unlocking Net Zero: Bridging the Skills Gap

Tuesday 3rd October, 16:15-17:30, Skills Zone (SZ)

From carbon capture and storage to green hydrogen, space solar to the smart grid, we know that innovation will be crucial to reaching Net Zero and driving the UK’s full economic potential. Unfortunately, there is a green skills gap.

If we are going to tackle the climate emergency, the UK must unlock Net Zero skills and invest in the future green jobs we need.  The Net Zero APPG Fringe – in the new Skills Zone – will provide for a lively and interactive debate on what the UK needs to do to bridge the Net Zero skills gap.  

We will ask, “How can we accelerate investment, innovation and create incentives for employers and consumers to go further and faster to reach Net Zero by 2050 – or sooner?”

The panel will include high-profile political and business leaders, and we believe this session will be a highlight in this year’s fringe calendar. Speakers so far include the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP.

Labour Party Conference 

CoreCities UK Fringe/Reception

Sunday 8th October, 15:00 – 18:30, Albert Theatre

CoreCities UK will hold a panel followed by a reception at Labour Party Conference. The fringe will consist of two panel sessions on investment and improvement of the UK’s urban areas. We will bring together an excellent panel of leading Labour thinkers to focus on the findings of the new UK Urban Futures Commission and ask:

“How would a Labour Government realise the power and potential of the UK’s urban areas?” 

The Cities Reception will be held immediately afterwards in the Albert Suite Mezzanine. 

The BIG Transport Fringe 

Monday 9th October, 14:00 – 15:30, Auditorium 1C (SZ)

Ahead of the General Election, this year’s BIG Transport Fringe at Labour Party Conference will provide a platform to generate debate on what needs to change to unlock world-class transport in the UK.

From HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, ports and airports to freight and roads, The BIG Transport Fringe tackles the big national issues on the agenda, including how to deliver a better connected, accessible, reliable, affordable transport network in the UK.  As you know, too many of our towns, cities and regions are all too often left behind through lack of connectivity, investment, and infrastructure. 

The BIG Transport Fringe provides a platform for lively and interactive debate on what we need to do to unlock the barriers to big infrastructure, investment, and innovation if we are to deliver world-class transport and at the same time scale-up productivity, net-zero, skills and growth in all parts of the UK.

Confirmed speakers so far include Tan Dhesi MP, Shadow Minister for Railways; Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Caring about Care Rally: How Will Labour Fix the Social Care Crisis for Good

Monday 9th October, 18:00 – 19:30, Nova Scotia (OSZ)

The Future Social Care Coalition’s Caring about Care Rally will feature keynote speeches followed by a Q&A and “in conversation” with Mirror Editor, Alison Phillips. 

The rally will provide a chance to discuss how the Labour Party will work to catalyse the economic potential of the sector to deliver the high quality and integrated social care which we will all rely on.  Each year our fringe event generates a great deal of support and helps to raise the profile of the value of social care to the UK. Speakers will include parliamentarians, charities, think tanks, and care receivers themselves, ensuring all views are represented. Speakers include former Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell, and Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care Liz Kendall.

The Net Zero Challenge: Myth Busting Quiz

Tuesday 10th October, 11:00 – 12:00pm, Youth Zone (SZ)

Last year’s inaugural Myth-Busting Quiz was enormously popular with MPs, delegates and speakers alike, drawing large audiences to hear Shadow/Ministers and MPs face off against industry experts on the BIG myths about the Net Zero transition!

Breaking away from traditional formats, our Myth-Busting Quiz works to generate a fun debate and discussion whereby two panels face each other in a fast-paced and fun fringe event. This year we will introduce a “POINTLESS” element to the Quiz, as per the popular TV programme, where the two teams will need to guess the most “POINTLESS” answer. Confirmed speakers so far include Alex Sobel MP, Shadow Minister for Nature & Chair of the Net Zero APPG.

Unlocking Net Zero: Bridging the Skills Gap

Tuesday 10th October, 16:30-17:30, Skills Zone (SZ)

If we are going to tackle the climate emergency, the UK must unlock Net Zero skills and invest in the future green jobs we need.  The Net Zero APPG Fringe – in the new Skills Zone – will provide for a lively and interactive debate on what the UK needs to do to bridge the Net Zero skills gap.  

We will ask, “How can we accelerate investment, innovation and create incentives for employers and consumers to go further and faster to reach Net Zero by 2050 – or sooner?”

The panel will include high-profile political and business leaders, and we believe this session will be a highlight in this year’s fringe calendar.