The TPA and the IEA are hosting a programme of thought-provoking panel discussions and interviews at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this year.
An essential stop for politicians, journalists, policy makers, and activists interested in free market ideas, Think Tent promises to be one of the go-to places during the conference.
This year's line up is below.
We hope you can join us in Birmingham.
Please note Think Tent is inside the secure zone and therefore requires formal accreditation to attend.
Sunday, 30th September
14.30-15.45
A future without HS2: The Great British Transport Competition
hosted by the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: Harry Fone, Grassroots Manager, TaxPayers’ Alliance
Speaker: Craig Tracey MP, North Warwickshire
16.15-17.30
After Brexit: How to create a prosperous and global Britain
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Mark Littlewood, Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Steve Baker MP, Wycombe
Julian Jessop, Head, IEA Brexit Unit
Allie Renison, Head of Europe and Trade Policy, Institute of Directors
Shanker Singham, Director, International Trade and Competition Unit, Institute of Economic Affairs
Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor, Daily Telegraph
18.00-19.15
An Ideal US-UK Free Trade Agreement
hosted by The Heritage Foundation & Initiative for Free Trade
Speakers:
Ted Bromund, Senior Research Fellow, Anglo-American Relations, The Heritage Foundation
Daniel Hannan MEP, President, Initiative for Free Trade
Daniel Ikenson, Director, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute
Shanker Singham, Director, International Trade and Competition Unit, Institute of Economic Affairs
Monday, 1st October
8.00-9.00
Private breakfast - Northern Ireland and Brexit: What are the solutions?
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Mark Littlewood, Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Arlene Foster MLA, Leader, DUP
Rt Hon Nigel Dodds MP, Belfast North
9.15-10.30
What does business want after Brexit?
hosted by the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: John O'Connell, Chief Executive, TaxPayers' Alliance
Speakers:
Helen Dickinson, CEO, British Retail Consortium
Lance Forman, Owner, H. Forman & Son Smoked Salmon
Adam Marshall, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce
Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Witham
Chloe Westley, Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
11.00-12.15
Energy security: is shale gas better for Britain?
hosted by UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG)
Chair: John O’Connell, Chief Executive, TaxPayers’ Alliance
Speakers:
Mike Bradshaw, Professor of Global Energy, Warwick University
Ken Cronin, Chief Executive, UKOOG
Natascha Engel, Director, PYC and former Labour MP for NE Derbyshire
Stuart Fegan, GMB Union
Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth
12.45-14.00
Housing policies to promote inter-generational fairness
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Kate Andrews, Associate Director, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Sam Collins, Age Endeavour
Eddie Hughes MP, Walsall North
Siobhain McDonagh MP
John Myers, YIMBY
14.30-15.45
Automating the public sector
hosted by the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: Andrew Allum, Chairman, TaxPayers' Alliance
Speakers:
George Freeman MP, Chair, Conservative Policy Forum
Ben Ramanauskas, Policy Analyst, TaxPayers' Alliance
Alok Sharma MP, Minister for Employment
Cllr Edward Smith, Deputy Leader, Conservative Group, Enfield Council
16.15-17.30
In conversation with... the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs and the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: Iain Dale, LBC presenter
With introductory remarks from John O'Connell, Chief Executive, TaxPayers' Alliance and closing remarks from Mark Littlewood, Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs.
18.00-19.15
Next-generation capitalism: attitudes to freedom and progress
hosted by Freer & Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Rebecca Lowe, Director, FREER
Speakers:
Ben Bradley MP, Mansfield
Luke Graham MP, Ochil and South Perthshire
Rachel Maclean MP, Redditch
Lee Rowley MP, North East Derbyshire
Tuesday, 2nd October
8.00-9.00
Cutting council tax with tighter budgets
hosted by the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: Harry Fone, Grassroots Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
Speakers:
Cllr Sean Anstee, Leader of the Opposition, Trafford Council
Andrew Bridgen MP, North West Leicestershire
Cllr Ferris Cowper, East Hampshire District Council
Cllr Kevin Davis, Leader of the Opposition, Kingston Council
9.15-10.30
Global trade: Producers vs Consumers. Where does the balance lie?
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Mark Littlewood, Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Steve Baker MP, Wycombe
Liam Halligan, Economist, Journalist & Broadcaster
Victoria Hewson, Senior Counsel, Institute of Economic Affairs
Gerald Mason, Senior Vice President, Tate and Lyle
11.00-12.15
The Flexible Economy: Is the Conservative Party still standing up for the self-employed?
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Kate Andrews, Associate Director, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Michelle Dewbery, Businesswoman and broadcaster
Simon McVicker, IPSE
Lee Rowley MP, North East Derbyshire
Alok Sharma MP, Minister for Employment
12.45-14.00
Should we keep the European Arrest Warrant as we leave the EU?
hosted by the Federalist Society
Chair: Alex Deane, Head of Public Affairs UK, FTI Consulting
Speakers:
David Campbell Bannerman MEP, Former Co-chair, Conservatives for Britain
Martin Howe QC, Chairman, Lawyers for Britain
Joe Owen, Associate Director, Institute for Government
14.30-15.45
In conversation with ... the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
hosted by FREER & Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Rebecca Lowe, Director, FREER
16.15-17.30
High time to legalise cannabis?
hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs
Chair: Nerissa Chesterfield, Head of Comms, Institute of Economic Affairs
Speakers:
Crispin Blunt MP, Reigate
Luke Graham MP, Ochil and South Perthshire
Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, Institute of Economic Affairs
Tim Stanley, Leader Writer, Daily Telegraph
18.00-19.15
How do we get value from the aid budget?
hosted by the TaxPayers' Alliance
Chair: Andy Silvester, Head of PR and Leader Writer, The Sun
Speakers:
Ian Birrell, Columnist and Foreign Correspondent
Theo Clarke, Founder & CEO, Coalition for Global Prosperity
Pauline Latham MP, International Development Committee
Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Former Secretary of State for International Development
James Price, Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance