Where are we headed? Is a Reform government inevitable?

With the 2029 election approaching ever faster, the far right remains a serious threat. While the current government has made progress, deeper action is clearly needed. This new Forum 2029 series brings together leading voices to develop a credible progressive alternative – focusing on inequality and the local vs national divide as key frames of debate. The series will run across a pivotal year, including May’s local elections.

'The challenge ahead: Britain from 2026 to 2029'

For the first event of our 2026 series, we’ll be focusing on how progressive forces should tackle the three years until the next general election. As it stands, things look precarious, with Reform leading the national polls, a struggling Labour government and ever-growing international instability. With local and devolved elections on the horizon in the coming months, how should the Labour government respond? What ought progressives to focus on at the local level? What policy levers can be pulled to make a real difference to living standards? How can we push back on the radical right?

Speakers:

Chris Hinchcliff MP (Labour) | Dora Meade (NEON) | Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth) | Hannah Peaker (NEF) | Will Stronge, Chair (The Autonomy Institute)