Party Conferences 2023
Join Centre for Cities at this year's Conservative and Labour Party Conferences
Party conference starts in:
Overview
Centre for Cities will host more than twenty events across this year's Conservative and Labour Party Conferences.
Start your conference at our Welcome to the city receptions in Manchester Art Gallery and the Tate Liverpool, featuring remarks from the respective city leaders.
We are also running a full programme of panel discussions across the Monday and Tuesday of both conferences including events on housing, economic inactivity, transport and levelling up, as well as 'in conversation' sessions with Metro Mayors.
There is no need to register in advance for panel events, simply attend on the day. If you have any questions about our events programme or how to attend, please contact us.
Conservative Party Conference
Sunday 1st - Tuesday 3rd October 2023
Sunday 1st
October
Centre for Cities' Welcome to Manchester Reception
Speakers including:
- Gareth Davies MP | Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
- Cllr Bev Craig | Leader, Manchester City Council
- Phil Mayall | Managing Director - North West, Muse
Monday 2nd October
What's driving the UK's economic inactivity problem?
- Cllr James Jamieson | Central Bedfordshire Council and former Chair, LGA
- Dr Elaine Dewhurst | University of Manchester
- Jo Bibby | Director of Health, The Health Foundation
- Ben Harrison | Director, The Work Foundation
How do we fix the housing crisis?
- Rachel Maclean MP | Minister for Housing and Planning
- Ben Everitt MP | Chair, APPG for Housing Market and Housing Delivery
- Henry Hill | Deputy Editor, Conservative Home
- Richard Fearon | Chief Executive, Leeds Building Society
In conversation with Mayor Oliver Coppard
- Mayor Oliver Coppard | Mayor of South Yorkshire
In conversation with Mayor Andy Burnham
- Mayor Andy Burnham | Mayor of Greater Manchester
Tuesday 3rd October
The future for our High Streets
- John Stevenson MP | Chair, Northern Research Group & Key Cities APPG
- Councillor Abi Brown | former Leader, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Deputy Chairman, LGA Board and Chairman, LGA Improvement and Innovation Board
- Dr Lucy Montague | Manchester Metropolitan University
- Matt Colledge | Executive Director, High Streets Taskforce, Fellow, Institute of Place Management and former Leader, Trafford Council
Unlocking innovation across the UK
- George Freeman MP | Minister for Science, Research and Innovation
- Lord David Willetts | UKRI Board Member and Former Innovation Minister
- Lou Cordwell | Chair, Greater Manchester Business Board and Chief Creative Officer, Magnetic
- Katherine Bennett | CEO, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
- Jenny Tragner | Director & Head of Policy, ForrestBrown
How do we create a sustainably funded transport system to support thriving places?
- Anne Shaw OBE | Executive Director, Transport for the West Midlands
- Mayor Andy Burnham | Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Dame Sarah Storey | Active Travel Commissioner, Transport for Greater Manchester
- Cllr Martyn Cox | Conservative Leader of Bolton Council
- Paul Swinney | Director of Policy & Research, Centre for Cities
Labour Party Conference
Sunday 8th - Tuesday 10th October 2023
Sunday 8th
October
Centre for Cities' Welcome to Liverpool Reception
Speakers including:
- Paula Barker MP | Shadow Minister, Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Mayor Steve Rotheram | Mayor of Liverpool City Region
- Phil Mayall | Managing Director - North West, Muse
Monday 9th
October
Connected Cities: How to deliver on digital connectivity to make Britain more prosperous
- Sir Chris Bryant MP | Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital
- Patrick Melia | Chief Executive, Sunderland City Council
- Katie Gallagher | Chair, UK Tech Clusters Group
- Billy D'Arcy | UK&I CEO, Boldyn Networks
Strengthening local economies with a real living wage
- Justin Madders MP | Shadow Minister, Business, Employment Rights and Levelling Up
- Imran Hussain MP | Shadow Minister for the New Deal for Working People
- Chris Smallwood | Director, Anchor Removals
- Katherine Chapman | Director, Living Wage Foundation
What’s driving the UK’s economic inactivity problem?
- Alison McGovern MP | Shadow Minister for Employment
- Baroness Judith Blake of Leeds | Shadow Spokesperson for Business and Trade and Net Zero and former Leader of Leeds City Council
- Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe | Leader, Bradford Council
- Dr Elaine Dewhurst | University of Manchester
In conversation with Mayor Steve Rotheram
- Mayor Steve Rotheram | Mayor of Liverpool City Region
How do we fix the housing crisis?
- Andrew Western MP | Officer, APPGs for Housing Market & Housing Delivery and Regeneration & Levelling Up
- Mayor Marvin Rees | Mayor of Bristol
- Carol Lewis | The Times
- Richard Fearon | Chief Executive, Leeds Building Society
In conversation with Mayor Andy Burnham
- Mayor Andy Burnham | Mayor of Greater Manchester
How do we create a sustainably funded transport system to support thriving places?
- Simon Lightwood MP | Shadow Transport Minister
- Mayor Andy Burnham | Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Mayor Tracy Brabin | Mayor of West Yorkshire
- Andy Lord | Commissioner, TfL
Paul Swinney | Director of Policy & Research, Centre for Cities - Laura Shoaf CBE | Chief Executive, West Midlands Combined Authority (Chair)
Tuesday 10th
October
The future for our High Streets
- James Murray MP | Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury
- Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe | Leader, City of Bradford Council
- Dr Lucy Montague | Manchester Metropolitan University
- Professor Steve Millington | Director, Institute of Place Management and Expert, High Streets Task Force
Unlocking innovation across the UK
- Tan Dhesi MP | Shadow Exchequer Secretary
- Mayor Dan Norris | West of England Mayor
- Cllr John Cotton | Leader, Birmingham City Council
- Jenny Tragner | Director & Head of Policy, ForrestBrown
In conversation with Mayor Oliver Coppard
- Mayor Oliver Coppard | Mayor of South Yorkshire
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