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This year, our team has been on the ground at all the major conferences, attending key events and engaging for our members in the new political landscape. The conferences were busy with delegates but in the early stages of the new Government, relatively light on policy.
The season in numbers:
Labour Party Conference
The creative industries had a positive presence and recognition by the new Government at the Labour conference, where the Prime Minister praised the role of culture in British society, and new DCMS Secretary Lisa Nandy recognised the creative industries, including advertising, are some of the fastest growing areas of the economy.
The AA supported two receptions which put advertising at the heart of economic growth – a Business Reception with the CBI and a joint event with Total Politics, which in all saw speeches from Liam Byrne MP, Chair of Business and Trade Committee; James Murray MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Dame Meg Hillier, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee.
We also supported the Creative UK pavilion, where our Policy & Government Affairs Director Lisa Hayley-Jones chaired a panel with DCMS minister Sir Chris Bryant MP about creativity and soft power.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference
Our Policy & Government Affairs Director, Lisa Hayley-Jones was at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton, where of the record 72 LibDem MPs, 61 are new to Parliament. Read the full write-up here.
SNP Party Conference
Our Head of Policy & Government Affairs, Chris Walker, attended the SNP Party Conference in Edinburgh, engaging with the party’s priorities ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections.
Conservative Party Conference
The Conservative conference in Birmingham rounded off the 2024 conference season and was dominated by the Conservative leadership contest, with all four candidates outlining their credentials to lead the party. On 2 November the new leader will be announced, and a new Shadow Cabinet appointed shortly after. We look forward to engaging with the new leader and Opposition team on the economic contribution of the UK ad industry and the potential for growth and jobs.
Our final 2024 conference event, a Business Reception with the CBI, saw Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Kevin Hollinrake MP speak alongside CBI Director General Rain Newton-Smith on the value of business working together in partnership to drive economic growth. Lisa and Will attended the conference and engaged with many MPs and with AA members who also attended.
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