Here we go again…

Every autumn at the party conferences, the New Statesman teams up with dozens of partners and sponsors to deliver a range of high-quality fringe events that attract some of the biggest names in politics and business. This year, the New Statesman will host events across three conferences, bringing together policymakers and thought leaders in an exciting schedule of thought-provoking discussion and debate. With expert panels, Q&As and drinks receptions attended by leading parliamentarians from all sides of the House, New Statesman fringe events are at the cutting edge of the conference calendar.

In this most volatile of years, when all the main party conferences will likely prove to be momentous occasions, join politicians and high-profile figures in local government, charities, NGOs and industry, to discuss the most pressing policy issues and hot political topics of the day.

Labour

As Jeremy Corbyn faces his 3^rd Conservative Prime Minister and rumours of an imminent general election begin to swirl, Labour’s September conference in Brighton takes on even greater significance. Will the evolution of Labour’s Brexit policy be enough to hold the party together? This year’s conference promises to be one that defines the path of the Party in the years to come, and offers Labour the opportunity to repudiate the infighting and factionalism of previous years, and project itself to the nation as truly a government in waiting.

As usual, the New Statesman and our partners offer a full programme of essential fringe events scheduled over the whole weekend, taking over the iconic i360 building on Brighton waterfront, from the opening party to an exciting series of panel discussions and Q&As.

Conservative

Despite having barely moved in to Downing Street, Boris Johnson’s premiership may come to be defined by this year’s Conservative Party conference in Manchester. With 31^st October the current Brexit deadline, he’ll either be on an election footing, pursuing a No Deal Brexit, or looking to secure another extension from the EU. Whichever path he chooses, an increasingly factional Conservative party with a decreasing majority will struggle to be united – emboldened backbenchers now wield significant power to influence policy. In any event, this year’s gathering of Government Ministers and heads of department will no doubt prove to be politically explosive.

Once again, this year the New Statesman will organise events spanning a variety of policy fields.

SNP

With Boris Johnson in Number 10, and a No Deal Brexit looking likelier, the SNP’s case for a second independence referendum is picking up steam.

As British politics looks likely to realign along Remain/Leave lines, will Scotland’s unambiguous Remain outlook aid the SNP? Are the SNP threatened by the election of young Scottish liberal Jo Swinson as leader of the Liberal Democrats?

New Statesman and our partners will cover economic themes at this year’s Annual Party Conference.