SLF Weekly Newsletter

23 March - 29 March 2026

 

1. SLF News

 

SLF Summer Conference 2026

 

Have you heard? The Social Liberal Forum is returning to St Albans for our Summer Conference 2026.

 

Last year, we were joined by Lib Dem Deputy Leaders (okay, there’s only one), Spokespeople, Select Committee Members, Presidents, Academics and Think Tank leaders so make sure to keep the date free!

Save the Date: 18th July 2026

2. Social Liberalism in Westminster

 

Party competition intensifies ahead of local elections

With the May local elections approaching, political parties are entering a more volatile and uncertain phase.

The Conservatives remain divided over their electoral prospects, with some expressing cautious optimism while others fear significant losses and a deeper structural decline in support. 

At the same time, Labour faces internal tensions and questions about leadership stability, even as it seeks to navigate both economic pressures and international crises. 

Meanwhile, the continued rise of smaller and challenger parties — including Reform UK and new political movements — reflects an increasingly fragmented political landscape, in which traditional two-party dynamics no longer dominate.

Compiled by Lord Mark Pack in his own Newsletter, bringing together a PollCheckprediction, a (questionable) Bombe prediction (to which there is no published link to the polling...) and Stephen Fisher’s own predictions, the results point to a similar picture: large gains for Reform UK and the Green Party (who admittedly, start from small numbers of councillors so have more opportunity to grow), and a bashing for Labour and the Conservatives.

 

​​Fragmentation and protest politics move centre stage

The most striking political development this week has been the scale of mobilisation around the rise of the populist right, culminating in a major protest in central London.

Tens of thousands marched through the capital in a demonstration against far-right politics and the growing support for Reform UK, highlighting both political polarisation and the increasingly pluralist nature of UK politics. 

The scale and breadth of the protest — involving trade unions, civil society groups and political figures — underlines a wider shift towards extra-parliamentary politics, as campaign groups seek to shape the political agenda outside Westminster.

 

Middle-East: is there a road to ending the war?

Debate this week has continued to focus on whether the escalating Middle East conflict is moving towards de-escalation — or instead becoming a prolonged, multi-front war.

On the one hand, there have been renewed diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end… according to the ever-reliable White House and Iranian sources. Reports suggest that ceasefire proposals have been exchanged between the United States and Iran, with markets responding positively to the prospect of a negotiated settlement. 

However, the positions of both sides remain far apart, with disagreements over issues such as sanctions, nuclear policy and regional influence continuing to stall progress. 

At the same time, developments on the ground point towards continued escalation rather than resolution - the US in particular seems to be willing to put boots on the ground. The conflict has expanded beyond its initial focus, with Iran, Israel, and allied groups involved in a widening regional confrontation, including strikes across multiple countries and threats to key shipping routes. 

Recent attacks — including continued violence in Gaza despite a ceasefire framework — underline the fragility of any existing agreements. 

There are also signs that the war could deepen further. Regional actors such as the Houthis have signalled a willingness to intervene more directly, raising the risk of disruption to global trade and energy supplies

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. Jamie Stone MP: Westminster Hall, Petitions Debate on the clinical trial into puberty blockers (Monday 23rd)
  2. Caroline Voaden MP: Adjournment Debate on Government support for coastal communities in Start Bay (Tuesday 24th)
  3. Anna Sabine MP: Westminster Hall Debate on the impact of planning on women’s safety in rural areas (Tuesday 24th)
  4. Steff Aquarone MP: Backbench Business Debate on transport accessibility for disabled people (Wednesday 25th)
  5. Cameron Thomas MP: Backbench Business Debate on support for Gurkha Veterans (Wednesday 25th)

House of Lords

  1. Lord Teverson: Oral Question on repowering onshore wind farms (Monday 23rd)
  2. Lord Lee of Trafford: Oral Question on the effect of companies holding their annual general meetings solely online on individual shareholders’ ability to hold directors to account (Monday 23rd)
  3. Baroness Pidgeon: Oral Question on ensuring public transport is fully accessible (Tuesday 24th)
  4. Lord Scriven: Short Debate on the use of reasonable adjustments by, and the safety of, people living with learning disabilities when accessing health and social care (Thursday 26th)
  5. Baroness Harris: Short Debate on the UK’s civil preparedness for war

 

3. Reports out this week

 

Education and Employment

  • Resolution Foundation: The long shadow How childhood disadvantage depresses the earnings of university graduates in England (24 March 2026)
    • Finds that university does not erase childhood disadvantage: graduates from poor backgrounds still earn materially less than their peers years later, so reducing child poverty and widening access to high-return courses and careers should be central policy goals.
  • Higher Education Policy Institute: Scaling Opportunities (24 March 2026)
    • Calls for sustained and intensive outreach to tackle persistent higher education access gaps
  • The Sutton Trust: Selective Inclusion (24 March 2026)
    • Finds that schools under-representing one group also tend to under-represent the other, and that under-representation of pupils with SEND at high performing schools is entirely driven by under-representing pupils with SEND who are also in low-income households
  • City-REDI: Skills for the future: Demand for and supply of high-skilled labour across England (25 March 2026)
    • By combining spatial analysis, correlation evidence and econometric modelling, the analysis identifies structural factors associated with local demand-supply gaps and highlights the importance of place-based skills policies

 

Human Rights and Equalities

  • British Future: England and United: Pride not Prejudice (23 March 2026)
    • Acts as a toolkit to building community cohesion, including new research into what the public thinks about English identity and its symbols, together with communications advice and tested messages for those wanting to speak up for an inclusive Englishness. Case studies highlight projects that have successfully demonstrated pride in an English identity that is open to all.
  • Future Governance Forum: Vital Institutions 01: Reform and renewal of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (24 March 2026)
    • Calls for giving the EHRC multi-year budgets rather than annual budgets, as well as considering empowering parliamentary committees to take more of a lead role in the appointment of the chair of the EHRC, including through a binding or advisory veto (as has been proposed for other constitutional bodies).

 

Health and Social Policy

 

Technology and Employment

 

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.

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