We run a programme of exciting and diverse events where our members can meet policy makers, discuss policy and network with other business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Past Events:

📅 16th December 2024 - Local Elections Briefing with Mike Dixon and Dave McCobb

We were joined by Lib Dem CEO, Mike Dixon and Director of Campaigns, Dave McCobb for an insider briefing on the May local elections. We heard confidential insight about our campaigns on the ground and expectations for these elections.

📅 9th December 2024 - The Future of UK Farming

The Labour Government’s changes to inheritance tax pose a serious threat to farmers across the UK. These plans, effectively a 'Family Farm Tax,' jeopardise the future of countless family-run farms. Tim Farron MP, Alistair Carmichael MP and Rob Ward examined the implications of this policy and discussed the Liberal Democrat position.

📅 26th November 2024 - US Elections - Reflecting on the Results

We were joined by Katherine Stewart, Edward Lucas, Rebecca Tinsley and Calum Miller MP as they reflected on the outcome of the US election and the impact the Trump administration will have, in the US and globally. The panel discussed what the future hold for the so-called 'special relationship' and what are the implications for relations in the Middle East, the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the dialogue with China, as well as global geopolitical discussions on climate action.

📅 12th November 2024 - Meet the Business and Economy Spokespeople

We were delighted to introduce our newly appointed Lib Dem Business and Economy Spokespeople to LDBN. We were joined by Daisy Cooper MP (Deputy Leader and Treasury Spokesperson), Sarah Gibson MP (Business Spokesperson),  Clive Jones MP (Trade Spokesperson), Steve Darling MP (Work and Pensions Spokesperson) and Chris Coghlan (Member, Treasury Select Committee) and members heard from Daisy Cooper before having the chance to engage with the Business Team directly.

📅 31st October 2024 - Autumn Budget Analysis

Daisy Cooper MP and Lord Fox shared their thoughts on the key announcements in the Autumn Budget, the implications for the economy, public services and society.

📅 16th September 2024 - Business Day at Autumn Conference

We hosted our annual Business Day at Autumn Conference where we welcomed over 200 industry professionals to hear the Lib Dem plan for Business. Kindly sponsored by Lloyds, Bloomberg, Natwest, Gleeds, BVCA, FSB and Phoenix.

📅 15th September 2024 - Leader’s Reception at Autumn Conference

📅 14th September 2024 - Business and Liberty Network drinks at Autumn Conference

We welcomed current network members and new supporters interested in joining to kick off the conference weekend in Brighton.

📅 10th September 2024 - Meet the MPs

We gathered with many of our MPs to celebrate the success of the General Election. There were speeches from Tilly McAuliffe, Party Treasurer and Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader, alongside a BBQ at the Institute for Government.

📅 24th July 2024 - General Election Thank You Party

We were delighted to gather with many network members and some of our most generous supporters during the election campaign to raise a glass to our 72 MPs!

📅 18th June 2024 - Lib Dem Summer Party

We were delighted to host our annual Lib Dem Summer Party in the garden of Charles Brand and Virginia Bonham-Carter. We were joined by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, MPs, Peers, and senior Lib Dem figures to hear about the campaign.

📅 13th June 2024 - The Impact of the Media on Politics

We were delighted to host Barney Jones, visiting Professor of Journalism at City University and former editor of The Andrew Marr show, Lord Jonny Oates, Chief Executive of United Against Malnutrition & Hunger and former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nina Wright, Chair of Harmsworth Media, owner of i newspaper, and Carolyn Quinn, former presenter of The Westminster Hour, PM & Today, proggs on BBC Radio 4. 

The discussion provided insights into election coverage, compared party approaches, and shared post-election expectations.

📅 21st May 2024 -Trajectory of China - Emergence of a superpower and its global impact

We were delighted to invite  Danny Alexander, George Magnus, Dr Christine Cheng and Richard Foord MP as they explored the trajectory of China, focusing on its emergence as a superpower and the consequential global impact. This event proved to be an insightful exploration of one of the most significant geopolitical shifts of our time.

📅 14th May 2024 - Business Breakfast with The CityUK Leadership Council (invite only)

📅 30th April 2024 Routes to reform: the future of UK tax for a fairer society

We held an open discussion with an exchange of ideas on the ways in which UK tax should be reformed to safeguard the future of our public services and ensure a fairer society for the benefit of future generations. On the panel we were joined by James Perry, co-founder of COOK, LDBN founder Andrew Dixon from Fairer Share and Sarah Olney MP.

📅 24th April 2024 Redistributing More Food to Struggling Communities with Fare Share

Our panel delved into the pressing issue of food waste, exploring ways to mitigate its detrimental effects on both the environment and those facing food insecurity. The evening was chaired by Caroline Kenyon, Founder of The Food Awards Company and on the panel she was joined by George Wright, CEO FareShare, Sarah Dyke MP and Ben Thomas, Senior Environment Manager at John Lewis Partnership.

📅 23rd April 2024 -Manifesto costings with Lord Dick Newby

As we approach the General Election, we recognise the importance of providing transparency and clarity regarding our manifesto commitments and how they align with our fiscal plans. We heard from Lord Dick Newby, Chair of the Manifesto writing committee, as he explains the methodology behind the manifesto.

📅 10th April 2024 - May Elections - Insider's Briefing with CEO Mike Dixon and Head of Campaigns, Dave McCobb

The May elections offer a big opportunity for the Party to demonstrate its strength and resurgence - the last opportunity before the next General Election. We heard confidential insight from Mike and Dave about our campaigns on the ground and expectations for these elections.

📅 16th March 2024 - President’s Reception at Spring Conference

📅 7th March 2024 - Spring Statement Analysis

Sarah Olney MP, Treasury & Business Spokesperson, Lord Fox, Business and Industry Spokesperson and Juergen Maier, former CEO of Siemens UK gave us a hot-off-the-press report on the Spring Statement. 
Our speakers shared their thoughts on the likely impact of the statement for business and the country, and considered what it tells us about the Conservatives' electoral prospects.

📅 6th March 2024 - Business Breakfast - Technology, with Ed Davey MP and Sarah Olney MP (invite only)

📅 5th March 2024 - Business Breakfast with WPI - Regulated Industries, with Ed Davey MP (invite only)

📅 28th February 2024 - Can manufacturing and trade ever meet the challenges of a truly ‘Global Britain’ without an industrial strategy?

As the nation embraces a more interconnected and competitive global economy, we joined to discuss whether a well-defined industrial strategy is essential to address challenges and unlock opportunities in manufacturing and trade.

The panel examined the role of an industrial strategy in enabling the manufacturing and trade sectors to thrive, and (re)creating a truly 'Global Britain' before opening to questions from the audience. 

📅 7th February 2024 - Business Breakfast - Green Energy, with Ed Davey MP and Sarah Olney MP

📅 6th February 2024 - In conversation with Tim Bale - This is an event hosted by the Liberty Network but an invitation was extended to LDBN.

We were delighted to welcome Professor Tim Bale, from Queen Mary University London and Mark Pack, Lib Dem Party President, where they explored the fascinating paradox at the heart of modern European politics: the populist right has been doing well in elections but wider social attitudes continue to become more liberal.

📅 23rd January 2024 - Business Breakfast - Financial Services, with Ed Davey MP and Sarah Olney MP

📅 12th December 2023 - Liberal Democrat Donor Christmas Party

Parliamentarians, donors and Lib Dem HQ team joined together to raise a festive glass to the successes of 2023 and looked forward to the challenges and excitement 2024 will bring.

📅 9th November 2023 - LDBN & Liberty Network Edinburgh Reception

We heard from Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Christine Jardine MP as we celebrated some of the successes in Scotland and to looked to plans for next year and beyond.

📅 7th November 2023 - Meet the Candidates - LDBN & Liberty Appeal

We were joined by Tim Farron MP, Mike Dixon (CEO), Ruth Younger (Head of Campaigns) and a number of our target seat candidates for our Annual Appeal. At the event, launched our Target Seat Support Fund with a focus on the importance of candidate magazines – a vital part of a candidate’s campaign - in raising the profile of candidates in their constituencies.

📅 25th October 2023 - Liberty Network: How are conservative narratives and policies eroding human rights in the UK?

Our sister organisation, the Liberty Network, held this seminal discussion with Enver Solomon, Managing Director of the Refugee Council, Kartik Raj from Human Rights Watch, Jennifer Nadel, Director of Compassion in Politics, Sara Nathan from Refugees at Home and Alistair Carmichael MP.

The panel explored how human rights are being affected by Conservative narratives and policies and how the discussion around refugees' rights may precipitate the Conservatives taking us out of the ECHR.

📅 12th October 2023 - Senior Members: party strategy briefing from party CEO, Mike Dixon

Mike Dixon, CEO of the Lib Dems, held a confidential, insider briefing about party strategy in the run up to the next General Election. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Senior Member of the Liberal Democrat Business Network, please get in touch.

📅 25th September 2023 - Business Day at Autumn Conference

At Autumn Conference we held our Business Day made up of a business lunch, roundtable discussions and drinks reception. The day offered the opportunity to network with other businesses and parliamentarians whilst the the results of the discussions have been fed into the business section of our pre-manifesto.

📅 7th September 2023 - LDBN Summer BBQ

We held our annual BBQ at the National Liberal Club which was a huge success with over 100 Network members, supporters and new friends coming together to hear from Ed Davey, Sarah Olney and our Chair, Stephen Gosling.

📅 11th July 2023 - A.I. - golden opportunity or looming crisis?

The rate at which artificial intelligence is impacting our daily lives is changing rapidly. The purpose of this conversation was to explore both the opportunities created by A.I. and the risks, exploring in particular: regulation, effects on the jobs market and opportunities created by this burgeoning industry.

Our speakers included; Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Lord Clement-Jones, and Tim Gordon.

📅 29th June 2023 - Liberal Democrat Summer Party

We hosted our annual Summer Party with Ed Davey at the beautiful home of Charles Brand and Virginia Bonham-Carter. We raised a glass to some of our recent successes and looked ahead to the upcoming by-election in Somerton and Frome.

📅 25th April 2023 - Transitioning to a lower carbon energy world; the current situation, on-going challenges and what the future could look like

Our panel explored the opportunities and challenges posed by the UK’s journey to net-zero and explored possible routes to reducing the UK's carbon consumption.

Our speakers included; Sir Ed Davey, Paul Greenwood, Andrew Leonard and Ufi Ibrahim.

📅 28th February 2023 - Can business and trade stop the climate emergency?

We were joined by journalist and commentator, Hugo Dixon and Liberal Democrat Lords Environment Spokesperson, Robin Teverson for a thought-provoking evening of lively debate and discussion.

Hugo explored the positive role trade can play in saving the planet - with a particular focus on taxing trade in carbon-intensive goods, subsidising green technologies and stopping aid to dirty ones.

Robin, former Chair of the Lords EU Select Committee on External Affairs, provided insight into Liberal Democrat policy and his thoughts on the role trade and business can play.

📅 21st February 2023 - Preparing for the May Elections: your insider briefing

Mike Dixon, CEO of the Lib Dems, held a confidential, insider briefing to the May Local Elections.