Ensuring councils are heard at the party conferences
As summer quickly turns to autumn and Parliament briefly returns from recess before breaking up again (more on that later), the LGA looks ahead to what is expected to be another busy quarter.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has now passed its second reading and is on its way to committee. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill continue to be debated in the House of Lords.
It’s not just legislation we are monitoring. Further policy announcements and strategies are expected later this year, including on long-term housing, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), among others.
But before all this, the parliamentary calendar pauses once again for the annual political party conferences.
Attending party conferences is a vital way for the LGA to ensure that the voice of local government is heard at the heart of national debate.
By bringing councillors, parliamentarians and ministers together, we can champion the sector’s priorities and ensure that local perspectives shape the development of national policy.
Over the coming weeks, the LGA will travel to Bournemouth twice – first for the Liberal Democrats and then for the Green Party – before heading to Liverpool for Labour, and finally to Manchester for the Conservative Party Conference.
Our first stop, however, was in Birmingham in early September, where for the first time the LGA joined hundreds of first-time councillors at Reform UK’s annual conference.
Following the local elections in May, Reform UK was invited to join the LGA, creating a brand-new and fifth political group office. The LGA’s Reform UK Group was formally constituted at our General Assembly in July.
With the Reform UK group office establishing itself within the LGA, we took a different approach to the party’s conference by co-sponsoring its councillors’ lounge.
This provided a space for Reform UK councillors to take a break from speeches, meet colleagues from across the country, and learn more about the work of the LGA.
For the remaining conferences, we will continue with our usual programme, facilitating a combination of panel discussions with local government representatives and receptions with keynote speakers from across the political parties.
In line with this, our discussions this year will focus on key themes such as devolution and local government reorganisation, employment and skills, and effective governance.
Alongside our own events, we are working with partner organisations to highlight the importance of cross-sector collaboration. From health and housing to business and voluntary services, we want local government to remain central to joined-up solutions.
The LGA will use every opportunity to showcase the excellent work of local government and explore the issues that matter most to the sector.
We will also highlight best practice and share innovations, particularly as councils continue to navigate and adopt emerging technologies to improve services and deliver efficiencies.
Party conferences also provide an important opportunity to reflect on the past year and reconnect with key partners and stakeholders, sharing intelligence, exchanging ideas, and planning engagement for the year ahead.
The LGA’s public affairs team will be available to take questions and discuss policy at each of the upcoming conferences. To learn more about our presence at each event, including which members of our team will be attending, or to arrange a meeting, please contact publicaffairs.team@local.gov.uk.
Liberal Democrat Conference
Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), 20-23 September
‘Celebrating success – Stockport’
Saturday 20 September, 1pm to 2pm, Branksome suite, BIC
Hosted by LGA Lib Dems and the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).
A beacon of Liberal Democracy in a sea of red – how the Lib Dem council works with local Lib Dem MPs.
Chair: Cllr Bridget Smith, Deputy Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group
Speakers: Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council; Cllr Jilly Julian, Deputy Leader; and Tom Morrison MP (Lib Dem, Cheadle) (tbc).
‘A precarious progressive moment: constructive opposition in the age of populism’
Sunday 21 September, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Bryanston Suite, Marriott Hotel
Hosted by The Future Governance Forum, LGA Lib Dems and ALDC.
Chair: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Chair of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group
Speakers: Josh Babarinde MP (Lib Dem, Eastbourne); Nathan Yeowell, Director of The Future Governance Forum; Polly Mackenzie, former Director of Policy to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The Local Government Reception
Sunday 21 September, 7.45pm to 9.00pm, Main Function Room, Hermitage Hotel
Hosted by LGA Lib Dems and ALDC. All friends of local government welcome. The Hermitage is just opposite the main entrance to the BIC.
Speakers: Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group; Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
‘Partnering for jobs and growth: how Whitehall and town hall can work better together’
Monday 22 September, 1pm to 2pm, Blandford Room, Marriott Hotel
Hosted by The Future Governance Forum, LGA Lib Dems and ALDC.
Chair: Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of the LGA’s Liberal Democrat Group
Speakers: Vikki Slade MP, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government; Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council; Hamida Ali, The Future Governance Forum; Julia Goldsworthy, former MP and Head of Social Impact Investment at Legal & General (tbc).
The full programme of Lib Dem fringe events and training is available at the Liberal Democrats group website.
Labour Party Conference
ACC Liverpool, 28 September to 1 October
‘English devolution: empowering people, empowering places’
Monday 29 September, 2.30pm, Room 12, ACC Liverpool
Speakers: Cllr Louise Gittins, LGA
Chair: Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of the LGA Labour Group
Local Government Reception
Sunday 28 September, ACC Liverpool
Green Party Conference
Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), 3-5 October
‘Neighbourhood governance: how to empower local communities’
Saturday 4 October, 5:30pm to 6:30pm, BIC.
Speakers: TBC
Local Government Reception
Friday 3 October, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, AGC Room, BIC.
Conservative Party Conference
Manchester Central, 5-8 October
Local Government Reception
Sunday 5 October, 3.30pm to 5.00pm, Trafford Room, Midland Hotel
Speakers: Cllr Kevin Bentley, Leader of the LGA Conservative Group
‘Getting LGR right for Conservatives in local government’
Monday 6 October, 3.30pm to 5.00pm, Thatcher Theatre, Midland Hotel
Speakers: TBC
- For the latest updates to the LGA’s programme of events at the 2025 party conferences, please visit www.local.gov.uk/party-conferences-2025