UCL experts meet with politicians and policymakers at party conferences

UCL President & Provost, Dr Michael Spence, Kirsty Walker, Vice-President External Engagement, and the UCL Policy Lab think-tank, led by Marc Stears, were at both party conferences and met with government and shadow ministers, MPs, advisers and national journalists.

At the annual Labour meet in Liverpool, Dr Spence spoke at a fringe event organised by the Russell Group Students’ Union and the Social Market Foundation, on ‘A fairer deal for students’. The panel discussed the importance of supporting students through the whole experience of university, in particular financial challenges, and this was reported by WonkHE.

To coincide with the party conferences, Dr Spence also wrote this article, Universities in service of national renewal, highlighting how universities, like UCL, have a huge role to play in the UK’s intellectual, economic and social renewal.

The UCL Policy Lab hosted numerous panel discussions, covering topics including health, neighbourhood, and civic society, and also recorded a live podcast.  

Dr Spence gave the closing remarks at the UCL Policy Lab’s Britain Renewed reception, alongside fellow speakers Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Shabana Mahmood, Secretary of State for Justice.

Also at the Labour conference was leading economist, Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director of UCL Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), whose work around ‘missions‘ has influenced the thinking and policies of the new Labour government.

Professor Mazzucato spoke at three panel discussions, including two hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), and met with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves. A full review of Professor Mazzucato’s engagement can be found here: IIPP news.

At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Dr Spence joined a panel discussion organised by the UCL Policy Lab and the Social Market Foundation on the future of public services and reform.

Across both conferences UCL Policy Lab panel discussions were joined by UCL academics including Dr Wei Cui (UCL Economics), Professor Gabriella Conti (UCL Economics), Dr Alexandra Hartman (UCL Political Science), Professor Naomi Fulop (UCL Applied Health Research), Professor Fabien Postal-Viney (UCL Economics), Dr Lukasz Rachel (UCL Economics), Dr Alan Renwick (UCL Constitution Unit), and Dr Ellie Woodhouse (UCL Political Science). 

To read the UCL Policy Lab's review of the party conference season go to: UCL Policy Lab