05/10/2026

08.30 Institute for Government & YouGov

Hyatt Regency Birmingham : Soprano

Governing in a fractured Britain: How should the Conservatives rethink their approach to power?

Chaired by Alex Thomas (Institute for Government, Executive Director)
Baroness Simone Finn (Conservative Party, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office)
Dr Patrick English (YouGov, Head of Elections and Political and Social Data)
Giles Dilnot (ConservativeHome, Editor (Invited))

The political landscape has changed dramatically since the Conservatives were swept from power in 2024. Multi-party politics is a feature of local government across England, nationalist parties hold power in Scotland and Wales, and Reform UK lead Kemi Badenoch’s party in the polls. So how has the art of governing changed since the party was last in office? And what should Kemi Badenoch learn from the 2010-24 Conservative governments?

Snacks

06/10/2026

15.10 Centre for Policy Studies

Birmingham ICC : Hall 7

Making Whitehall Work

Alex Burghart MP ( , Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster)
Ameer Kotecha (Centre for Government Reform, CEO)
Lee Rowley (Centre for Policy Studies, Research Fellow)
Alex Thomas (Institute for Government, Executive Director - Impact and Influence)
Chaired by Annabel Denham (The Telegraph, Columnist and Senior Political Commentator)

Successive ministers have complained they struggled to implement change once in government because the levers of Whitehall seem disconnected. Is the problem bad ministers or bad civil servants? Too many arms-length bodies or not enough devolved power? Join our panel to discuss what needs to change to ensure the next Conservative government can make an impact from day one.