2025 Summer SLF Conference

In July 2025, the Social Liberal Forum brought together leading politicians and political leaders in the UK for our annual Conference for 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 and Treasury Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP.

OPENING ECONOMY SESSION

Our first principal session focused on the economy, chaired by Sarah Walker-Smith, Board Member of the Lib Dem Business Network and Social Liberal Forum Council member.

This session offered wide-ranging discussion 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.

Speakers included:

Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson
Victoria Collins MP, Science, Innovation & Technology Spokesperson
Bobby Dean MP, Treasury Select Committee Member

THE BEVERIDGE LECTURE

We then heard from Chair of the Social Liberal Forum, John Shreeve, delivering 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 both the right and the left, this lecture reminded us of the importance of fighting for principled social liberalism within politics.

John Shreeve delivering the Beveridge Lecture

Audience member during the Beveridge Lecture

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

After lunch, we hosted three breakout sessions on important issues, allowing SLF members to tackle the issues of the day with leading politicians and experts.

Environmentalism and Culture War, featuring Pippa Heylings MP and Humaira Ali
Electoral Success with Young People, featuring Harvey Jones, Sarah Anderson and Ulysse Abbate
Welfare and Low Pay, featuring Janice Turner and Bobby Dean MP

PENULTIMATE SESSION: THE RISE OF REFORM UK

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.

For this discussion, we were pleased to be joined by Daisy Cooper MP, Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, and Professor John Curtice, political scientist and pollster.

Closing panel on Liberal Democrat growth

CLOSING PANEL: WHERE NEXT FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROWTH?

We concluded the conference with a future-looking panel on where the Liberal Democrats can grow next, exploring strategic opportunities, messaging, alliances, and how to build lasting support in communities.

2025 SUMMER SLF CONFERENCE