Advocacy party conferences
Tom Ridgway Public Affairs Manager , FBUK
During September and October, FBUK was busy visiting various political party conferences. Policy and Public Affairs Director Matt Jaffa and Public Affairs Manager Tom Ridgway spent time at Reform, Labour and Conservative conferences, ensuring policymakers across the political spectrum are hearing the voice of family business. Whilst it is tempting to dismiss party conferences as little more than tub-thumping, they tell us a lot about how the parties are positioning themselves for the months and years ahead. For Reform, the narrative was one of how the mainstream parties are failing to deliver on key promises, whilst the other parties were keen to put clear blue water between them and Reform. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned either the Reform party or Nigel Farage more than a dozen times during his conference speech. That was trumped by Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, who mentioned Mr Farage 31 times during his 49-minute speech. The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch instead chose to position her party as just being tougher on the key issues. As all parties jostle for position ahead of the next General Election, you can be sure FBUK’s policy and public affairs team will be at the heart of the matter.
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly MP
Matt Jaffa meets Reform Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkins
FBUK Chair Steve Rigby discusses mid-size family firms during the Labour conference
Tom Ridgway with Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake MP
Claire Coutinho MP Shadow Energy Secretary
FBUK Issue 5 10
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