Political party conferences 2007

The King’s Fund had a major presence at all three major political party conferences in 2007.

We teamed up with 35 health-related organisations as part of the Health Hotel to encourage debate about the top issues in health. The Health Hotel and King’s Fund debates were among the most significant discussions on the state of the health service at the party conferences this year.

We also hosted debates on the future of social care as part of Caring Choices – a nationwide initiative to help shape future policy on long-term care for older people and raise awareness of the challenges facing long-term care funding.

At the Liberal Democrat and Labour conferences we participated in the debate, Caring Choices: creating a social care system fit for the 21st Century. In addition, at the Labour conference our social care reception, Long-term care: the biggest challenge? presented further opportunity to discuss this crucial issue.

Fringe events - in association with the Health Hotel

Health Hotel and King’s Fund debate

Health was very much at the top of the party conference agenda as both the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative Leader David Cameron have pledged to make the NHS their priority.

This event, run in the format of Question Time, offered delegates a unique opportunity to discuss and debate the current issues affecting the health service. With all three main political parties committed to a tax-funded comprehensive health care system and ruling out further structural change, issues raised ranged from engaging professionals and reconfiguration to access and patient choice, from public health and patient involvement to social care and managing long-term conditions, and from the postcode lottery to the developing NHS market.

Liberal Democrats: Tuesday 18 September 2007
  • Norman Lamb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary
  • Sir Derek Wanless, former NatWest Group Chief Executive
  • Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK
  • John Carvel, Guardian Social Affairs Correspondent
  • Nigel Edwards, Director of Policy, NHS Confederation
  • Chair: Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund
Labour: Tuesday 25 September 2007
  • Ben Bradshaw MP, Health Minister 
  • Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman, BMA
  • Joanne Rule, Chief Executive, Cancerbackup
  • Janet Street-Porter, Journalist and television presenter
  • Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist and president of the Social Policy Association
  • Chair: Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund
Conservatives: Tuesday 2 October 2007
  • Andrew Lansley MP, Shadow Health Secretary
  • Iain Dale, political commentator, broadcaster and blogger
  • Barbara Pointon, Alzheimer's campaigner (featured in TV documentary Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell)
  • Anthony Browne, Director, Policy Exchange
  • Chair: Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund

Fringe events – in association with the Caring Choices partnership

Caring Choices: creating a social care system fit for the 21st century

One in five of the UK population will develop long-term care needs, yet the care system is still not fit for future generations of pensioners.

Caring Choices is a 15-strong partnership that has been conducting a nationwide initiative to generate debate on this issue and to help shape future policy on long-term care for older people. Building on this initiative, this Question Time format event will invite delegates to consider how to deliver a social care system fit for the 21st century.

Liberal Democrats: Tuesday 18 September 2007

  • Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor and Deputy Leader
  • Sir Derek Wanless, former NatWest Group Chief Executive
  • Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK
  • Gordon Lishman, Director General, Age Concern England
  • Chair: Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund
Labour: Tuesday 25 September 2007
  • Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK
  • Paul Cann, Director of Policy, Help the Aged
  • Dr Julien Forder, London School of Economics
  • Chair: Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund

Long-term care: the biggest challenge?

This reception presents an excellent opportunity to engage in in-depth discussion and debate about the future shape of the social care system, and to meet with people involved in delivering it.

Labour: Tuesday 25 September 2007

  • Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health (invited)
  • Ivan Lewis MP, Care Services Minister (invited)
  • Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King’s Fund
  • Sue Collins, Principal Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
  • Chair: Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK

See also


Health Hotel

The Health Hotel aims to put health at the top of the party conference agenda and stimulate debate and fresh-thinking on health issues.

Visit Health Hotel website