05/10/2026
Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
The Future of the BBC
Luke Tryl (More in Common, Executive Director)
Dylan Sparks (Reset Tech, UK Director)
Polly Curtis (Demos, Chief Executive (Invited))
The Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright MP KC (., MP for Kenilworth and Southam, former Culture Secretary and former Attorney General (Invited))
Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP (., Member of Parliament for Gosport, Chair of the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Former Minister of State for Digital and Culture (Invited))
The BBC has long been part of the national fabric but its place in people's lives is changing. As audiences fragment and trust in institutions comes under pressure, the broadcaster is facing growing challenges around funding, independence and relevance. This panel will explore what Britons want from the BBC, what its future means for our democracy and the stakes for the Conservatives in the debate ahead.


Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
Nature - A winning Conservative issue?
Luke Tryl (More in Common, Executive Director)
Robbie Moore MP ( , Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Invited))
Andy Beer (National Trust, Director of Strategy and Places)
Dr James Cooper (Woodland Trust, Head of External Affairs)
As the Conservatives confront hard questions about their future we’ll examine fresh polling to examine what it says about the party’s coalition and how it can start rebuilding trust. With faith in politicians’ ability to deliver at a critical low, could championing nature - one of the few issues that unites voters - offer a path back? And can any party credibly champion nature while stepping back from net zero?


Hyatt Regency Birmingham : Sonata
Can Badenoch turn the Conservatives around?
The Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE (House of Lords, Peer)
Luke Tryl (More in Common, Executive Director)
Nick Timothy MP ( , Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (Invited))
Chaired by Emily Maitlis (The News Agents, Host)
Join us for More in Common's flagship deep dive into public opinion, asking why Kemi Badenoch's popularity isn't translating into a recovery for the Conservatives. Using exclusive polling, Luke Tryl, joined by senior politicians and journalists, will explore where the party is making inroads, where it's still struggling, and what it would take to close the gap.


Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
Strong community and prosperous economy: Can a Conservative communitarianism renew Britain?
How can conservative political thought rebuild the economy and strengthen our communities? Building on the UCL Policy Lab's recent essay collection in partnership with Andrew O'Brien, this panel brings together voices from across politics, academia and civil society to examine how a renewed vision of conservatism, grounded in place and belonging, might reshape and strengthen Britain.


06/10/2026
Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
The Big Tax Debate: Our expert panel discuss where Conservative should go next with JRF, UCL Policy Lab and Stone Centre
We bring together leading experts and the latest analysis on taxation to explore what a conservative agenda for reforming the UK tax system might look like. From capital gains tax to tax on investment income, and from tax cliff edges to inheritance tax, we’ll explore how reform can deliver fairer and more progressive outcomes while also driving growth and productivity.


Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
Shared Institutions: The role of universities in national and local life
The Rt Hon Lord David Willetts (House of Lords, Peer)
Luke Tryl (More in Common, Executive Director)
The Rt Hon Laura Trott MP ( , Shadow Secretary of State for Education (Invited))
Jennie Shaw (UCL, Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience))
Charlotte Armstrong (Policy Manager, Higher Education Policy Institute)
From developing the skills to disagree well, to adapting to the changes in the job market driven by AI, universities remain central to the success or failure of our economic and civic life. How can conservatives ensure these remain shared institutions, rooted in the life of communities and the nation?


Birmingham ICC : Executive Room 7
Can the Conservatives be the tactical choice for both left and right?
In today's multi-party Britain, seats are increasingly being decided on smaller margins, with more voters lending support tactically rather than backing their first-choice party. Could the Conservatives win that tactical vote from both flanks - those tempted by Reform, and those wanting to stop it? Using exclusive polling, we examine how big that opportunity is, the barriers in the way, and issues that could cut across the political spectrum.

