Programme

Increasing life expectancy is to be welcomed - but the costs cannot be ignored. Pressure is building up on pensions, the NHS, social care and retirement housing. At the same time, a falling birth rate means fewer workers paying the taxes needed to fund higher public spending on the elderly. What policies should a future Conservative government consider to support an ageing population without bankrupting the young?

With local election gains in Wandsworth and Westminster, the Conservatives are winning in London again. But what does a Tory vision for the nation's capital look like? The city is responsible for around a quarter of the UK's GDP, but it struggles with an acute housing crisis, an overstretched transport network, and a financial services sector navigating uncertainty. Join the panel to discuss how we can cement London's status as a premier global city.

CPS Director Liam Halligan sits down with Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride MP to discuss the Conservatives' plans for the economy and where Labour are going so wrong. The discussion will touch on what a future Conservative government would do to reduce the tax burden, close the deficit, and what broader reforms are needed to get Britain back on a growth trajectory.

Invitation only. Please contact events@cps.org.uk

Private roundtable by invitation only. Enquiries please email Nicole Noyes nicole@cps.org.uk

Welfare spending is out of control, with the total bill on track to eclipse the entire defence budget while economic inactivity keeps climbing. For many, the system is no longer a safety net but a way of life - yet anyone calling for reform is accused of attacking the vulnerable. Helen Whately, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, joins CPS Director Liam Halligan, to ask whether a rational debate on welfare is possible.

One of Labour's most striking planning reforms has been the introduction of the 'grey belt'. This has been welcomed by planning experts - but stoked predictable opposition in many communities and constituencies. So how is the 'grey belt' policy working? And how can the next government balance the desperate need for homes with protecting our green spaces?

Britain needs investment and businesses want to invest but there are too many barriers are holding both back. Regulatory constraints, poor capital allocation, and tax disincentives all play a role. Join us to discuss how financial services can drive growth and what a future Conservative government could do to keep the UK a top destination for domestic and international capital.

Despite the billions being ploughed into it each year, the NHS is still struggling to keep up with demand. Britain, like most developed nations, is seeing people living longer but rates of strokes, heart attacks and cancer are not declining. How should the Conservative Party approach public health policy in a way that is focused on outcomes and enables people to live well?

Immigration has topped the political agenda in recent years, with record numbers coming to our shores. But what about those leaving? Whether it's young and aspirational workers who despair at the apparent lack of opportunity or highly productive entrepreneurs being driven overseas by punitive taxation, emigration is becoming a problem too.

From alcohol duties and waste recycling taxes to changes in employer National Insurance contributions and the ongoing challenge of business rates reform, high street businesses and the broader consumer-facing economy are struggling under ever increasing cost and regulatory pressures. Join our expert panel to discuss what policy changes businesses want to see and how government and industry can work collaboratively to keep high streets thriving.

Energy prices are crippling Britain, as heavy industry is driven overseas and families worry about their heating bills. Labour remain ideologically blind to opportunities in the North Sea, new nuclear is tied up in planning red-tape, fracking myths are holding back exploration and renewables are viewed as too reliant on public subsidy. So how can we fix things?

99% of all UK businesses are small businesses, collectively employing over 13 million people. But since 2024, more of them have seen their revenue shrink than grow. Supporting small business is key not just to our prosperity, but to remaining a country in which hard work pays off. Join us to discuss what a Conservative agenda for small businesses should look like, from rewarding risk-taking to a tax and regulation regime that supports instead of stifling.

From phonics to free schools, the Conservative Party has been at the forefront of education reforms which have driven up standards across the board. But the jobs market is changing - how can educational leaders adapt, developing models that work across vocational and academic pathways to prepare young people for the evolving world of work?

The Centre for Policy Studies and Lloyds Banking Group are delighted to host a fireside discussion with Shadow Housing Secretary Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP. The conversation will cover James' ministerial brief, including how to increase the supply of homes, supporting first-time buyers and the Conservatives' proposals for reforming stamp duty.

Everyone agrees the public finances are on unstable footing, with spending on everything from welfare to defence, health to debt set to rise. The Conservatives' 'golden economic rule' mandates that for every pound in savings, at least 50% must be used to lower our debt. But where are those savings going to come from? Join our panel to discuss how we can tackle public spending and stop Britain going bust.

Successive ministers have complained they struggled to implement change once in government because the levers of Whitehall seem disconnected. Is the problem bad ministers or bad civil servants? Too many arms-length bodies or not enough devolved power? Join our panel to discuss what needs to change to ensure the next Conservative government can make an impact from day one.

CPS Director Liam Halligan sits down with Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith to discuss the Conservatives' plans to support business, boost growth and get the country back on a path to prosperity. The discussion, followed by a Q&A, will touch on Andrew's campaigning against Labour's Employment Rights Bill, how a future Tory government will help a new generation of entrepreneurs as well as support more people into work.