King's College London

This autumn King's College London is hosting its largest-ever party conference programme. Across the annual gatherings of all five main parties, our panels will see King's experts, MPs, ministers, peers and leading commentators come together to discuss some of the key policy challenges facing this parliament, informed by findings from King’s research. We hope to see you there.

All events held on Tuesday 29 September 
Arena Room Wye at the Liverpool Experience Campus
Venue inside the secure zone – conference pass required

From workforce to careforce: delivering the NHS 10-year plan

09:20–10:20

• Kevin McKenna MP, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Health and former critical care nurse
• Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist
• Professor Subodh Dave, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Professor Irene Higginson, Director of the Better Health & Care Hub, King’s College London
• Professor Graham Lord, Senior Vice-President (Health & Life Sciences), King’s College London (chair)

Defence and security in an uncertain world

10:30–11:30

• Calvin Bailey MBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People
• Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos
• Claire Ainsley, former Executive Director for Policy for Keir Starmer, and Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal, Progressive Policy Institute
• Dominic Hauschild, Defence Correspondent at The Sunday Times
• Jessica Toale MP, co-founder of the Labour Foreign Policy Group
• Professor Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies at King's College London (chair)

How should the Burnham government approach its EU agenda?

11:40–12:40

• The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
• Jukka Salovaara, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Kingdom
• Lara Spirit, Deputy Political Editor at The Sunday Times
• Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe at King's College London (chair)

From fear to action: making AI work for everyone

12:50–13:50

• The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee
• Kate Bell, Assistant General Secretary, TUC
• Anna Thomas MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Institute for the Future of Work
• Professor Elena Simperl, Director, King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence
• Professor Damian Grimshaw, Professor of Employment Studies, King’s College London (chair)

What can the government learn from the New Labour years?

15:25–16:25

• Baroness Sally Morgan, Downing Street Director of Government Relations, 1997–2005, and Honorary Professor at King's College London
• John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator at The Independent and Visiting Professor at King's College London
• John McTernan, former Political Secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair
• Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester & Adult Social Care at Manchester City Council
• Professor Jon Davis, Director of the Strand Group at King's College London (chair)

Rising prevalence or rising demand: what's behind the mental health crisis?

16:35–17:35

• Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Social Care and Mental Health
• Dr Simon Opher MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Health
• Dr Shubulade Smith CBE, former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Sarah Holloway, Chief Executive of Maudsley Charity
• Professor Sir Simon Wessely, Vice-chair of the government’s Independent Review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism (chair)

King's College London reception

18:30–20:30

Register interest >

• The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
• Baroness Deborah Mattinson, former Director of Strategy for Sir Keir Starmer (2021–2024) and Honorary Professor at King's College London

With remarks from Professor Rachel Mills CBE, Senior Vice President (Academic), and Tania Rhodes-Taylor, Executive Director, Communications & External Affairs, King’s College London

The future of the workforce: what should the Conservative plan be for tertiary education?

Tuesday 06 October, 10:30–11:45
Hall 10b, ICC, Birmingham
Venue inside the secure zone – conference pass required

• Baroness Amanda Spielman, Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions
• The Rt Hon Lord Willetts, former Minister for Universities and Science and Visiting Professor at King's College London
• Jess Lister, Director (Education) at Public First
• Professor Baroness Alison Wolf, crossbench peer in the UK House of Lords and former adviser on skills and workforce to the UK Prime Minister
• Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (chair)

Valuing the health and care workforce our communities depend on

Friday 2 October, 11:00–12:15
Doubletree by Hilton, Brighton
Conference pass required

• Baroness Natalie Bennett, former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
• Ellen McNicholas, Regional Director, Royal College of Nursing South East region
• George Imafidon MBE, Chief Executive of Motivez
• Professor Annette Boaz, Director of the Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King's College London
• Professor Graham Lord, Senior Vice-President (Health & Life Sciences) at King's College London (chair)

Rethinking mental health: a prevention-first approach to address the crisis

Sunday 20 September, 13:45–14:45
Charlotte Room, the Grand Brighton
No conference pass required

• Dr Danny Chambers MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Mental Health
• The Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb, former Minister of State for Care and Support
• Dr Shubulade Smith CBE, former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Julia Ellingwood, Research Fellow, the Policy Institute at King's College London
• Professor Michael Sanders, Director of the School for Government at King's College London (chair)

What do Reform voters really want?

Saturday 05 September, 12:45–14:00
Endeavour Theatre, NEC, Birmingham
Venue inside the secure zone – conference pass required

• Gawain Towler, Reform UK Governing Board Member
• Peter Walker, Senior Political Correspondent at the Guardian
• Sophie Stowers, Research Manager at More in Common
• Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe at King's