IEA at Conservative Party Conference 2024

See you in Birmingham!

The Institute of Economic Affairs is delighted to announce a series of events at Conservative Party Conference. The IEA team will be in Birmingham from Sunday. If you’re going to be there, I do hope you will join us.

Sunday 29th September

IEA Panel Discussion - Intergenerational Injustice: Can the Conservative Party win back the young?

13:15 - 14:15 Concerto, Hyatt Regency Hotel

To paraphrase the old adage, ‘if you’re not a socialist by 25, you have no heart, and if you’re not a conservative by 35, you have no brain’. However, polling suggests that younger generations are staying left-wing even as they age. This raises significant challenges for the Conservative Party’s electoral prospects, particularly as many struggle to buy property, earn higher incomes, or feel they have a stake in the economy. To win back younger voters, do the Conservatives need a new approach? 

IEA Panel Discussion - Torch of Liberty: Can the Conservative Party rediscover its love of freedom?

15:45 - 16:45 Concerto, Hyatt Regency Hotel

The last government occasionally paid homage to individual freedom, but pursued heavy-handed policies from seeking to ban tobacco for future generations to new online speech regulations and harsh Covid lockdowns. Their approach to issues like Net Zero and the NHS prioritised central planning over individual choice or market incentives, all while imposing a record-high tax burden. This raises the question: can the Conservatives rediscover their love of freedom in opposition?

IEA Late Night Drinks Reception - ‘Free Spirits’

23:00 Sonata, Hyatt Regency Hotel

By invitation only. Apply at VIPEvents@iea.org.uk.

Monday 30th September

The Spectator - Is the Conservative party ready to talk about tax?

12:30 - Birmingham ICC : Spectator - Hall 4

Tom Clougherty, Kate Andrews, Laura Trott MP, Andrew Griffith MP, Paul Johnson

What happened to the Conservatives being the party of low taxation? Did this goal flounder under the pressure of demographic change, global protectionism and public demands for higher spending? Or can the Tories credibly claim to be the party that will make voters better off? Join The Spectator and guests as they discuss the rising tax burden – and what can be done about it. Free drinks will be served.

ThinkTent - A legacy betrayed: Can the Conservatives ever again be the party of low tax?

16:30 - Birmingham ICC : ThinkTent Marquee

Reem Ibrahim, Darwin Friend, Lord Frost, Rachel Wolf, Steve Barclay MP, Greg Smith MP

Having set the country on course for an 80 year high tax burden, have the Conservatives abandoned the idea of being the party of low tax? Did the ‘mini-budget’ do irreparable harm to the low tax movement? How can the Conservatives make the case for a low tax economy? Which taxes should the Conservatives focus their campaigning on?

Tuesday 1st October

IEA Panel Discussion - Going for Growth: The Abundance Agenda

13:15 - 14:15 Concerto, Hyatt Regency Hotel

The new government has put economic growth at the heart of its agenda, but will their top-down plan work? Do we need a free market approach instead? This panel will look at tax, regulation, housing, and infrastructure – identifying barriers to growth and propose liberalising reforms.

Young Conservatives with Blue Beyond - The Kids Aren’t Alright: How Do We Make The Economy Work For Young People?

15:00 - Birmingham ICC : Disraeli Theatre

Reem Ibrahim, Olivia Lever, Victoria Hewson, Shivani Raja MP, Sam Bidwell

Tax burden at a 40 year high, unemployment rising, growth and housing building is practically dead. Join our esteemed panel to explore how we can make the economy work for young people in a post COVID economy.

Cap X - Boomer and bust? Building a Conservatism for the young

16:30 - Birmingham ICC : CPS - Hall 4

Reem Ibrahim, Joseph Dinnage, Katie Lam MP, Ruth Marvel, Sam Bidwell

Demographic trends are dragging the UK towards a future of lower growth and higher taxation. Meanwhile, a succession of Tory governments showered cash on pensioners while neglecting younger voters. So how can we build a Britain, and a conservatism, that works for young people? And if we don't what will the consequences be?

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