2025 July SLF Conference
In July 2025, the Social Liberal Forum brought together leading politicians and political leaders in the UK for our annual Conference for our members. Across the day in St Albans, members engaged with each other and with leading MPs in the area, including local MP and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats as well as Treasury Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP
Our first principal session was on the economy, and was chaired by Board Member of the Lib Dem Business Network and Social Liberal Forum Council member, Sarah Walker-Smith. This session offered wide-ranging discussions on the economic choices facing the country and what liberal answers should look like: covering growth, public services, and how to pay for priorities fairly. We were delighted to be joined by Daisy Cooper MP (Deputy Leader & Treasury Spokesperson), Victoria Collins MP (Science, Innovation & Technology Spokesperson) and Bobby Dean MP (Treasury Select Committee Member).
We then heard from Chair of the Social Liberal Forum, John Shreeve, giving the keynote Beveridge Lecture, linking big ideas to today's political challenges. Previous Beveridge Lectures have been given by leading MPs in social liberal circles, and in the midst of increasing populism on the right and the left, this Lecture reminded us of the importance of fighting for principled social liberalism within politics.
After Lunch, we hosted three breakout sessions on important issues
- Environmentalism and Culture War, featuring Pippa Heylings MP (Energy Security and Net Zero Spokesperson) and Humaira Ali (Director of the London Doughnut Economy Coalition)
- Electoral Success with Young People, featuring Harvey Jones (Chair of the Young Liberals) and SLF Council Members Sarah Anderson and Ulysse Abbate
- Welfare and Low Pay, featuring Janice Turner (Vice-Chair of the Lib Dem Campaign for Race Equality) and Bobby Dean MP
These breakout sessions allowed SLF members to tackle the issues of the day with leading politicians in these areas.
Our penultimate session brought an evidence-led look at the rise of Reform UK, who their voters are, what drives their support, and how liberals should respond politically and on the ground. To take up this important issue, we were pleased to be joined by Daisy Cooper MP, Sunder Katwala (Director of British Future) and Prof. John Curtice (Political Scientist and Pollster).
Finally, we concluded the conference with a topical, future-looking panel on where the Liberal Democrat party can grow next: strategic opportunities, messaging, alliances, and how to build lasting support in communities. We were delighted to bring together more top-flight speakers for the panel, including Olly Glover MP (Transport Select Committee), Lord Pack (President of the Liberal Democrats) and Luke Tryl (Director of More in Common).
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