Chatham House explores UK foreign policy at the 2025 party conferences
News release
jon.wallace
8 September 2025
Chatham House will hold events addressing the most pressing issues in UK foreign policy at the Labour and Conservative Party conferences this September and October.
Chatham House will host a series of events at both the Labour Party conference, from 28 to 30 September in Liverpool; and at the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday 7 October in Manchester.
Chatham House will be at the party conferences to discuss the most pressing foreign affairs questions for the UK, including: Can the UK spend more on defence and kickstart economic growth at the same time? How can the country navigate the new trade wars? What role can the UK play in combatting climate change? And what does this mean for voters at home?
Chatham House events will set out the options and help shape what’s next – with speakers including ministers, policymakers, business leaders and civil society figures.
Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of Chatham House’s UK in the World Programme, said:
‘Foreign affairs has dominated the first year of this government. And voters are feeling the effect of global shocks – on energy prices, on growth and on international stability.
‘Chatham House is at the conferences to help make sense of this new age of insecurity and what it means for our politics. Our events will ask the big questions – on defence, economic growth, trade, and climate – and debate the answers with senior decision-makers.’
All events listed below are to be attended on a first come, first served basis. All events are within the secure zone, and you will need a conference pass to attend these discussions.
Labour Party Conference
Sunday 28 September – Wednesday 1 October
Location: ACC Liverpool
Safeguarding Britain’s future: UK security and defence policy in 2025 and beyond
Monday 29 September, 15:00-15:45
Location: Exhibition Event Hub, ECL, Main Hall ACC Liverpool
How can the UK strengthen its security and diplomatic ties within Europe, whilst maintaining close relations with Washington? And to what extent should it forge closer security partnerships within the Global South?
Speakers
- Graeme Downie, MP for Dunfermline and Dollar
- Louise Hellem, Chief Economist, CBI
- Luke Pollard MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
- Chair: Sir Simon Fraser, Chair, Chatham House
Building the UK’s resilience: Economic security in an uncertain world
Tuesday 30 September, 08:30–10:00
Location: Suite 3-5, Leonardo Hotel, Liverpool
Exploring two key questions for UK policymakers relating to the economic security agenda: how can the security of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) be improved? And what policy interventions can enhance cooperation between the public and private sector to deliver consistent growth?
This event is being held in partnership with the Getlink Group
Speakers
- Matthew Grigor, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Getlink.
- Olivia O’Sullivan, Director, UK in the World Programme
- Emily Lydgate, Co-Director, UK Trade Policy Observatory
- Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee
- Chair: Sir Simon Fraser, Chair, Chatham House
Chatham House will host a further event in partnership with Labour Together. Details on signing up can be found here.
Conservative Party Conference
Tuesday 7 October
Midland Hotel, Manchester
Safeguarding Britain’s future: UK security and defence policy in 2025 and beyond
Tuesday 7 October, 11:00–12:00
Location: Stanley Suite, The Midland Hotel, Manchester
How can the UK strengthen its security and diplomatic ties within Europe, whilst maintaining close relations with Washington? And to what extent should it forge closer security partnerships within the Global South?
Speakers
- Dame Priti Patel, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
- Ambassador Pedro Serrano, Ambassador to the United Kingdom, European Union
- John Foster, Chief Campaigns Officer, CBI
- Chair: Bronwen Maddox, Director, Chatham House
Building the UK’s resilience: Economic security in an uncertain world
Tuesday 7 October, 13:30–14:30
Location: Stanley Suite, The Midland Hotel, Manchester
Exploring two key questions for UK policymakers relating to the economic security agenda: how can the security of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) be improved? And what policy interventions can enhance cooperation between the public and private sector to deliver consistent growth?
Speakers
- Marco Forgione, Director General, The Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade
- Minako Morita-Jaeger, Senior Research Fellow, International Trade, University of Sussex
- Alison Griffiths MP, Member, Business and Trade Select Committee
- Chair: Olivia O’Sullivan, Director, UK in the World Programme, Chatham House