The Spectator is delighted to be at Conservative party conference in Birmingham this year. Join us in Hall 8B, ICC Birmingham. Our schedule is below:

Sunday 4 October

Coffee House Shots Live welcome reception

4-5pm

Join The Spectator’s team to kick off party conference with a glass of wine. Meet subscribers from across the country and toast the start of three days of stimulating discussion and debate.

Monday 5 October

No Neet Solution: Unleashing Britain’s Youth

10.30-11.20am

Britain’s young adults are entering one of the most competitive labour markets in a generation – and too many are being left behind. Persistent skills shortages, a higher education system that still prioritises academic theory over practical competence and the trades, and a cultural drift that has sometimes downplayed the value of hard work and personal responsibility have combined to leave large numbers of people poorly equipped for the economy we actually have.

Weak incentives for employers to take on young staff have been compounded by intense competition for entry-level roles linked to recent spikes in migration and regulatory burdens. The result: the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) is approaching one million.

High Neet rates are not just a social statistic: they are a drag on national prosperity. They mean lower output, lower tax revenues and even higher welfare spending. For the individuals concerned the cost is even more personal: delayed independence, stalled earnings and diminished confidence in their ability to build a stable future.

This discussion will focus on practical, growth-focused solutions: expanding high quality vocational and apprenticeship routes, sharpening incentives for employers to hire and train, stripping away unnecessary barriers that deter businesses from offering opportunities, and restoring a clear emphasis on skills, discipline and personal responsibility.

Coffee House Shots Live

12-1pm

Join Tim Shipman, James Heale, Noa Hoffman and a special guest for a live recording of The Spectator’s flagship politics podcast.

Quite right! Live

1.30-2.30pm

Join The Spectator’s Quite right! team for a live podcast recording. Michael Gove and a special guest will entertain, amuse and inform in an hour-long chat on day two of conference.

The Future of Britain’s High Streets: From Decline to Renewal – The Spectator in association with Post Office

3-4pm

Britain’s high streets are where people feel economic and social change most acutely. From bank closures and declining footfall to the loss of local services, they have become a symbol of both the challenges facing communities and the debate about how to renew them.

Join The Spectator and the Post Office to discuss one of the key policy questions facing government, businesses and communities in the years ahead: what should the high street of the future look like? As high street renewal climbs the political agenda, our panellists will explore how trusted local institutions, new partnerships and innovative service models can help bring people, services and economic activity back to the heart of communities.

Competing in a Changing World: How Can UK Businesses Stay Ahead? – The Spectator in association with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade

4.30-5.30pm

British businesses face an increasingly complex landscape shaped by shifting trade relationships, fast-changing regulations, technological developments and security challenges. This panel, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, will explore what companies most need to remain competitive at home and abroad. Panellists will consider how government and industry can work effectively to reduce barriers to trade, build resilience in the face of geopolitical threats, and support businesses to adapt competitively in a fast-changing global economy.

Private drinks reception: The Spectator x Visa

6.30-8pm

Join us for the launch of Let’s Celebrate Towns 2026, a national competition run by Visa and Nationwide Building Society, recognising the towns that are helping local businesses, communities and residents thrive.

Tuesday 6 October

Leaders of Tomorrow: How Can the UK Develop Politicians Fit For the Future? – The Spectator in association with Institute for Government

10.30-11.30am

Good government requires good political leadership. This means it is vital to find and support the political leaders of the future, at all levels of government. While many sectors have established career development pathways, in politics there has historically been less focus on ensuring future leaders can grow and develop the skills and knowledge that they need to do their jobs well.

At the same time, like anyone heading an organisation, being a political leader is hard. Much of the work it entails can be complex and is often invisible, while social media means that criticism – and abuse – can be intense. As well as professional development, the leaders of the future need support to navigate the personal reality of what it means to be a politician.

So how do we build a pipeline of future talent? What support do the leaders of the future need? And who should provide it?

UK Tech Sovereignty: Competing and Thriving in a Global Digital Economy – The Spectator in association with Computer & Communications Industry Association

12-1pm

Technology is central to the Conservatives’ ambitions for economic growth, productivity and innovation. But as governments around the world pursue greater technological sovereignty, can Britain strengthen its position and support UK tech by protecting domestic markets, or remaining open to global investment, infrastructure and expertise?

This panel, hosted by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, will examine how the UK can support its successful tech sector without drifting into protectionism; the role of regulatory reform in supporting growth and innovation; and whether the investment and infrastructure provided by global tech is an obstacle to UK tech or an essential part of the solution.

Against the backdrop of new AI opportunities and a changing transatlantic relationship, panellists will also consider the next era of UK–US technology co-operation, and how Britain can secure its place as a competitive, outward-looking leader in the global digital economy.

The Spectator in conversation with Nick Timothy MP

2-3pm

Join The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove and Nick Timothy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, for an in-conversation event at Conservative Party Conference.

The War on Fun: Are Adult Freedoms Under Threat?

3.30-4.30pm

From a drink at the pub and a day at the races to the products adults choose to buy, everyday pleasures are facing an expanding web of tax and regulation. Measures intended to improve public health or raise revenue can carry wider consequences for consumer choice, personal responsibility and the businesses and communities that depend on them.

This panel at Conservative Party conference will examine whether government has become too willing to dictate how adults live their lives. Panellists will consider the cumulative impact of policies affecting alcohol, tobacco, vaping, gambling, hospitality and the high street – and ask how the