Welsh Labour Conference Agenda – Fringes
11-12 March 2023, Venue Cymru Llandudno

Land of our Future: Welsh polling on Government action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies
WWF Cymru

Join WWF Cymru for breakfast at this fringe event where we will discuss findings from recent polling from mid, west, and north Wales on the role of food and farming in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. We’ll also share exclusives from the forthcoming BBC nature series ‘Wild Isles’, which will be presenter Sir David Attenborough’s first ever documentary on UK nature. The series is co-produced with WWF, RSPB and Silverback. In addition, we’ll also be showing footage from WWF Cymru ‘Land of Our Future Stories’ featuring farms across Wales that demonstrate the benefits of farming for nature and climate.

Building Co-operative local economies in Wales
Cwmpas and the Co-operative Party

Building a more co-operative economy that prioritises well-being and sustainability is at the heart of our shared vision for Wales’ future. Across the country co-operatives, social businesses and community-led enterprises are already delivering essential services, managing key assets and making lives better, and we need to support them to play an even greater role in our economy. In this meeting, we will discuss how elected Labour members across Wales are supporting the social economy, what more we can do to build community wealth and how to unlock the full potential of co-operatives and social enterprise.

Cymdeithas Cledwyn

Jeremy Miles MS addresses our annual meeting and takes part in a Q&A, discussing the Welsh Government’s priorities in Education and the Welsh Language.

How innovation can support bold and impactful policy
Nesta

Nesta’s the UK’s innovation agency and Nesta Cymru exists to significantly improve the lives of people in Wales by tackling some of our most significant societal challenges. Learn how methods including behavioural science, design and data analytics can create scalable, real-life solutions and inform policy recommendations. The session will be of interest to anyone working in innovation, policy, health, decarbonistaion or tackling inequalities in the early years. It will feature a case study from Nesta’s work on tackling the barrier of affordability of low-carbon heating and other green home measures.

Getting Wales' house in order
Back The Bill

Do you believe everyone in Wales has the right to a home that is safe, suitable for their needs and that they can afford? For too many people in Wales, this isn’t the case. The Back the Bill campaign, led by Tai Pawb, Shelter Cymru and CIH Cymru wants to ensure everyone in Wales has the right to an adequate home. Green and White Paper consultations this year mean the time for change is now. Join us to explore how a rights-based approach to housing can work; and how implementing it can help end homelessness and improve lives while saving public money.

Community responses to the cost-of-living crisis
Building Communities Trust

Join Building Communities Trust to hear how community groups have responded to the cost-of-living crisis as well as considering how community resilience can be enhanced to deal with future challenges.

Chaired by Buffy Williams MS
Speakers from We Are Plas Madoc and Y Dref Werdd.

The constitutional future of Wales
Cardiff University

In this session, organised jointly between Cardiff University and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, Dr Rowan Williams and Albert Owen will outline the Commission’s deliberations to date and the options the Commission is exploring. Questions and comments from the audience are very welcome.

Putting Welsh food, farming and the environment on a sound footing
NFU Cymru/FUW

What should the Sustainable Farming Scheme deliver, and how do we ensure it puts Welsh food and farming and the environment on a sound footing? Join NFU Cymru and the FUW as we consider these issues and how we work together with Welsh Government to ensure the Agriculture Bill achieves against our shared aspirations.

A National Care Service for Wales
Unison Cymru/Wales Labour Link

Needed now more than ever.

Speakers:
Andy Mudd – Author of “A National Care Service for Wales” A report commissioned by UNISON Cymru/Wales
Siân Stockham – UNISON NEC & Social Care Worker
Mark Turner – UNISON Cymru/Wales Lead for Social Care

Chaired by:
Jan Tomlinson – UNISON Cymru/Wales Regional Convenor

On strike: a Trade Union revival?
Wales TUC/GMB

Despite some of the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe, more and more workers have been voting to go on strike over the last year. Join us to discuss this new wave of strike action and whether it represents a revival in trade unionism.

The future of Criminal Justice in Wales
Fabians Cymru

Panelists:
Jane Hutt MS (Minister for Social Justice), Shavanah Taj, (General Secretary of Wales TUC), Dr Robert Jones (Wales Governance Centre and Author: The Welsh Criminal Justice System: On the jagged edge) and Eluned Anderson (Young Fabians)

Chair:
Catherine Fookes, Vice Chair of Fabians Cymru

Gordon Brown’s recent Report of the Commission on the UK’s Future, has sparked conversations about the devolution of Criminal Justice in Wales. The report recommended that Westminster devolves further powers to Wales such as youth justice and the probation service. We aim to explore that and more.

Unite for a worker's economy
Unite

Profits in Britain’s top companies are up by 47% but workers’ real wages could experience the biggest fall in 100 years. This situation needs persistent and permanent challenge. We must build popular working class power.

Wales Labour: Delivering on tackling the climate and nature emergencies
SERA

SERA- Labour’s Environment Campaign, in partnership with RWE – Wales’ largest power producer and generator of renewable energy – host a discussion exploring the work Welsh Labour has and is doing in Government to tackle the climate and nature emergencies, and the work Welsh unions and businesses are doing in partnership with the Welsh Labour Government.

Chair: Huw Irranca-Davies MS, SERA Executive Wales

Speakers: Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change
Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary
RWE representative

The cost-of-living crisis and the importance of local government.
WLGA

Join our panel of Welsh Labour Leaders from across Wales to hear how Welsh Government Ministers and Local Council Leaders are working closely together to deliver a stronger, fairer, greener Wales, and help our communities through the Cost of Living Crisis. Free food and drink served at this event.

Speakers to include: Cllr. Andrew Morgan OBE
Jane Hutt MS,
Jeremy Miles MS,
Cllr. Mary-Ann Brocklesby
Cllr. Anthony Hunt

There will be a food and drink buffet available at this event.

New era, new democracy: how can a UK Labour Government lead the way on reform.
ERS Cymru and Labour for a New Democracy

This ERS Cymru and Labour for a New Democracy fringe event will look at how a UK Labour government can reform the UK’s democracy and learn lessons from innovative changes to elections led by the Welsh Labour Government.

Speakers include:
Mick Antoniw, MS for Pontypridd, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Jess Blair, Director, ERS Cymru (Chair)
Caroline Osborne, Labour for a New Democracy
Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon
Beth Winter, MP for Cynon Valley

Further speakers to be announced.
Wine and soft drinks provided.

This is my truth: Aneurin Bevan in Tribune.
Wales Governance Centre

Join Nye Davies, a lecturer at Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, as we unveil the first edited collection of Aneurin Bevan’s writings in Tribune. Revered in Wales, and celebrated across the UK as one of our greatest reformers, Bevan was also a prolific writer on a vast range of political topics for the socialist magazine from its founding in 1937 until his death in 1960.

Nye Davies’ new book, published by University of Wales Press, collects these writings which chart the development of Aneurin Bevan’s thinking on class conflict, capitalism, democracy, and democratic socialism. The volume offers a new opportunity to reflect on the legacy of the NHS founder and the relevance of his political ideas to the labour movement in Wales and the UK today.

The Menopause Revolution.
Carolyn Harris MP

Join Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour and MP for Swansea East, Carolyn Harris, to talk all things menopause.

With an estimated 13 million perimenopausal and menopausal women across the UK, of which only 14% are receiving treatment, it is vital that barriers continue to be broken down.

Carolyn will give an update on UK Government commitments, HRT shortages, workplace support initiatives and what more is needed to improve levels of awareness across society.

Our Wales: For Her.
Fotball Association of Wales

Join Bethan Woolley and Helen Antoniazzi from the Football Association of Wales to hear about the growth and impact of the Women’s and Girls’ game, and learn more about ‘Ein Cymru | Our Wales’, our strategy to create a leading football nation, one where the game is inclusive, accessible and successful from park football to the world stage

Labour's New Deal for working people – learning from and building on Welsh Labour's record in Government.
Labour Unions UK

Justin Madders MP, Shadow Minister for Employment Rights & Protections
Hannah Blythyn MS, Deputy Minister for Social Partnership
Steve Belcher TULO, Wales Chair Wine Reception

What does the future of mental health look like?
Platfform

Following the launch of our manifesto for change, the Platfform team will be looking at the social determinants of mental health. We’ll cover how governments can understand trauma informed-approaches and pragmatically address mental health at a society-wide level.

Cut the chase
Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue and the RSPCA

Join Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue and the RSPCA as well as Members of the Senedd, to learn how we can work together to #CutTheChase, and see a phased end to greyhound racing in Wales.

Campaigning 101.
Welsh Labour

As this is an outdoor session, please dress appropriately for the weather. And if the elements get the better of us, we’ll make new arrangements indoors.

Mobilising members using organise.
Welsh Labour

Learn all the hints and tips of making the most of our Organise system on how to communicate with members and getting the most out of our volunteers

Young Labour breakfast and training.
Welsh Labour

If you’re under 27, find out how to make the most of your Labour Party membership, get involved in your local party and a chance to meet other young members from across Wales.

Catering kindly sponsored by TULO.