SLF Weekly Newsletter

23 February - 1st March 2026

1. SLF News

Lib Dem Spring Conference, 2026

In less than two weeks, the Social Liberal Forum will join the Liberal Democrat Spring 2026 Conference, with events including:

1. Pre-Conference Lunch (with keynote speaker Victoria Collins MP)
2. Pre-Conference Workshop
3. Fringe: The Economy, Is something for everyone possible?
4. Fringe: No excuses, Liberalism as antidote to populism?

Make sure to register your interest and buy your tickets today!

RSVP Here!

Social Liberal Forum Summer Conference, 2026

The Social Liberal Forum is also pleased to announce the “Save the Date” for our Summer Conference. On Saturday 18th July 2026, we will return to St Albans and would love to have you join us.

With previous speakers including senior Liberal Democrat politicians, senior pollsters and commentators and other key social liberals, make sure to keep the date free in your diaries!

Find out more here

Social Liberal Forum Groups

Recently, the Social Liberal Forum has set up a number of new groups, run by members of the SLF Council, found below. Email [email protected] for questions about these groups, which will look to publish their own content in the coming weeks.

1. Economy Group
2. Vision and Purpose Group
3. Communications and Editorial Group
4. Policy Group
5. Events Group

2. Westminster

By-election shock shows fragmentation of politics

The biggest Westminster story this week was the Gorton & Denton by-election, where the Greens defeated Labour in one of their safest seats, with Reform UK also polling strongly. The result highlights growing fragmentation among voters, and a multi-party politics where the strongest-performing parties can all represent ideologies at odds with social liberalism.

For Liberal Democrats, and with strong, justified caveats that were outlined in an email to members by CEO of the party Mike Dixon, the result reinforces the challenge of standing out in a crowded pluralist space while making the most of opportunities where political parties have lost credibility among socially liberal voters. 

SEND reform raises many questions about localism and support for children

Government proposals to reform special educational needs provision aim to shift responsibility from councils to schools, with a large funding package promised. This raises familiar questions about:

• local accountability
• adequate funding for public services
• and the balance between central direction and community control.

Read the full White Paper here.

Liberal Democrats leading in Parliament

In our weekly round-up of key social liberal parliamentary activity this week, Liberal Democrats led on debates, questions and legislation, including:

House of Commons

1. Liberal Democrat Leader, Ed Davey MP and Cabinet Office Spokesperson, Lisa Smart, led an opposition day debate on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Tuesday 24th)
2. Education Spokesperson, Munira Wilson MP and DSIT Spokesperson, Victoria Collins MP, led an opposition day debate on protections for children from online harms (Tuesday 24th)
3. DSIT Spokesperson, Victoria Collins MP, led a Westminster Hall debate on the impact of planning development on local transport (Tuesday 24th)
4. Manuela Perteghella MP led an Urgent Question on the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation rules and its impact on British dual nationals (Wednesday 25th)
5. DESNZ Spokesperson, Pippa Heylings MP, tabled a Ten Minute Rule Bill on designating chalk streams as UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites (Wednesday 25th)
6. Christine Jardine MP secured a Backbench Business Debate on Government support for bereaved children (Thursday 26th)
7. Transport Spokesperson Olly Glover MP secured an Adjournment Debate on the AEA Technology pension scheme (Thursday 26th)
8. Wera Hobhouse MP secured a Westminster Hall debate for Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2026 (Thursday 26th)

House of Lords

1. DESNZ Spokesperson Earl Russell, questioning the Government on the Findings of the Nature security assessment (Monday 23rd)
2. Deputy Leader Lord Storey, questioning the Government on the provision of education in prison (Tuesday 24th)
3. New Lib Dem Peer, Baroness Leaman, was introduced to the House of Lords (Thursday 26th)

3. Reports out this week

Democracy, civil liberties, and how the state works

• Demos: “The Digital-Democratic Doom Loop” (23rd February)
  • Explores how online platforms can corrode trust and the citizen-state relationship, and what policy might interrupt that spiral (transparency, platform governance, civic resilience). 

• Demos: “Democracy on Default Settings” (25th February)
  • A deep dive into how outdated processes and systems undermine MPs’ day-to-day work, with recommendations aimed at modernising Parliament and improving accountability and responsiveness.

Poverty, living standards, and dignity at work

• Joseph Rowntree Foundation: “The hidden cost of low pay in the social care sector” (27th February)
  • Argues low pay drives staff churn and imposes large costs on providers and service users, strengthening the case for workforce pay reform, better commissioning, and stable funding. 

Localism, devolution, and place-based growth

• Institute for Government: “How mayors can secure investment into regional economies” (24th February)
  • Considers what three case studies (West Midlands, Greater Manchester and North East) can teach us about how devolution of powers can lead to investment into regional economies.

Public finances and what to watch next

• Institute for Fiscal Studies: “Looking ahead to the Spring Forecast” (25th February)
  • Briefs what the Spring Forecast is (and isn’t) likely to contain, and flags the risks and constraints in the public finances.

Identity, integration, and social cohesion

• British Future: “From Diwali to Discord: What happened to Leicester’s shared belonging?” (26th February)
  • Examines lessons from the 2022 Leicester unrest, including the role of civic leadership and policing, and what can rebuild shared belonging.

The Social Liberal Forum newsletter is edited by SLF Council Member, Ulysse Abbate. The views outlined in reports and other events referenced in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the SLF as a whole.

Contact the Social Liberal Forum here.