Find details of fringe and training place taking place at this year's autumn conference.
Please note that event details may be subject to change at short notice.
Fringe events
Dark Money in Local Elections (with Transparency International)
Saturday 20 September, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Shaftsbury Suite, Marriott
Hosted by Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) and LGA Lib Dems.
£1 in every £10 donated to UK political parties comes from an unknown or dubious source. How can we stop Dark Money influencing UK elections? With Lisa Smart MP, Duncan Hames (Transparency International), Cllr Shaun Roberts (Unlock Democracy) and more.
Celebrating Success – Stockport
Saturday 20 September, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Branksome suite, BIC
Hosted by LGA Lib Dems and Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).
A beacon of Liberal Democracy in a Sea of Red – How the Lib Dem Council works with local Lib Dem MPs.
Chair: Cllr Alan Connett
Speakers:
- Cllr Mark Roberts (Leader)
- Cllr Jilly Julian (Deputy)
- Tom Morrison MP (provisional).
ALDC AGM and Local Campaigner Awards 2025
Saturday 20 September, 7.45 to 9.00pm, Dorchester North, Marriott
Hosted by Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).
Join us for ALDC’s Annual General Meeting and our Local Campaigner Awards celebrating the best Lib Dem local government achievements of the past year. Hosted by Willie Rennie MSP and sponsored by Election Workshop, all ALDC members are welcome.
Lib Dem Disco
Saturday 20 September, 10.00pm to 1.00am, Dorchester Suite, Marriott.
Hosted by Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) and Cambridge Lib Dems.
Lib Dem Disco is back – so grab your dancing shoes! Join us for a night of dancing and fun sponsored by TikTok and UK Music. Get your tickets at aldc.org and help crown this year’s Disco DJ!
A Precarious Progressive Moment: Constructive opposition in the age of populism
Sunday 21 September, 11.30am to 12.30pm, Bryanstone Suite, Marriott.
Hosted by Future Governance Forum, LGA Lib Dems and ALDC.
Chair: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Chair of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group
Speakers:
- Josh Babarinde MP, Eastbourne
- Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, and former leader of the Liberal Democrats
- Nathan Yeowell, Director, The Future Governance Forum.
Protecting Local Services (with Unison)
Sunday 21 September, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Bryanstone Suite, Marriott.
Hosted by Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) and LGA Lib Dems.
This special fringe looks at how we can protect local government services from cuts with best practice examples from Liberal Democrat councillors.
Speakers: Rachel Slaughter (Deputy Head of Local Government, Unison) and special guests.
Party Body Forum at Autumn Conference
Sunday 21 September, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Blandford Syndicate 3, Marriott.
Hosted by Party Body Forum.
INVITE ONLY - Get together with other representatives of Party Bodies to find out what everyone has been working on and share ideas.
Migrant Voting Rights in Local Elections (with Migrant Democracy Project)
Sunday 21 September, 6.15pm to 7.15pm, Westbourne Suite BIC.
Hosted by Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) and LGA Lib Dems.
1.2 million UK residents do not have the right to vote in local elections. Residence-based voting rights would mean all citizens can participate in our democracy.
Speakers:
- Manuela Perteghella MP, Zaya Nasheed (Migrant Democracy Project)
- Cllr Michal Siewniak and more.
The Local Government Reception
Sunday 21 September, 7.45pm to 9pm, Main Function Room, Hermitage Hotel.
Hosted by LGA Lib Dems and Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).
All friends of Local Government welcome! The Hermitage is just opposite the main entrance to the Bournemouth International Centre.
Speakers:
- Cllr Joe Harris, Leader LGA Lib Dem Group
- Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Partnering for Jobs and Growth: How Whitehall and town hall can work better together
Monday 22 September, 1.00pm to 2.00pm, Blandford Room, Marriott.
Hosted by: Future Governance Forum, LGA Lib Dems and ALDC.
Chair: Cllr Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council and LGA Lib Dem Group Whip
Speakers:
- Vikki Slade MP, Local Government Spokesperson
- Cllr Gareth Roberts, Leader of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Julia Goldsworthy, former MP and Head of Social Impact Investment at Legal & General.
Training
Saturday 20 September
- Managing Casework – 9.30am to 10.45am, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
- Using Data to Win – 9.30am to 10.45am, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- Being an effective Town and Parish Councillor – 11.15am to 12.30pm, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
- Keeping your Council seat – 11.15am to 12.30pm, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- Fundraising to Win – 3.00pm to 4:00pm, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
- Pick a Ward and Win it – 3.00pm to 4.00pm, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- Taking on Reform – 4.15pm to 5.30pm, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- YOU can be a councillor! – 4.15pm to 5.30pm, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
Sunday 21 September
- Hi Vis Campaigning – 9.30am to 10.45am, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
- How to write a great FOCUS article – 9.30am to 10:45am, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- Lib Dems in Action: Winning in London 2026 – 9.30am to 10.45am, Westbourne Suite, BIC
- Lib Dems in Action: Success from the Counties – 2.30pm to 3.45pm, Avon Room, BIC
- Messaging to Win – 2.30pm to 3.45pm, Bryanston Suite, Marriott
- More diverse candidate pools – 2.30pm to 3.45pm, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
- Lib Dems in Action: By election fights against Reform – 4.15pm to 5:30pm, Branksome Suite, BIC
- Making an Impact with your Public Speaking – 4.15pm to 5:30pm, Shaftesbury Suite, Marriott
Monday 22 September
- Approval and Selection – 9.30am to 10.45am, Sandbanks Room, Marriott
- Lib Dems in Action: Greening our Communities – 2.30pm to 3.45pm, Westbourne Suite, BIC
- Lib Dems in Action: Tackling the Housing Crisis – 4.15pm to 5.30pm, Westbourne Suite, BIC
Tuesday 23 September
- Working successfully with your MP – 9.30am to 10.45am, Branksome Suite, BIC
- Keeping your Council seat – 11.00am to 12.15pm, Branksome Suite, BIC
- Winning the Environmental Vote with GLD – 11.00am to 12.15pm, Meyrick Room, BIC