The Tory conference begins in Birmingham with an eclectic range of fringe events. Here are our picks for Monday.
Scientist and TV presenter Dr Susan Greenfield will be chairing the 2020 Conservatives fringe in the ICC at 12.30pm. She will discuss mental health with MPs Damian Hinds, Andrea Leadsom and James Morris.
The Dods Renewable Energy Dialogue, also at 12.30pm in the ICC, will bring together representatives of DONG Energy, Renewables UK and Laura Sandys MP to discuss how to harvest wind power.
Nudge models for supporting customers at risk of unmanageable debt – and a Sunday carvery – are on the menu at the Money Advice Trust and UK Cards Association fringe at 12.30pm in the ICC. Justin Tomlinson MP is among the speakers.
At 12.45om Chris Grayling, David Davis and Tim Montgomerie will debate the best way to win in 2015 at the ConservativeHome fringe at the ICC. Journalist Stephan Shakespeare is also on the panel.
Teachers’ union NASUWT are hosting a 1pm fringe in the ICC on special educational needs. Union general secretary Chris Keates will be joined by a party education spokesperson.
ConservativeHome is back at 5pm, this time with four of the 2010 intake - Jesse Norman, Robert Halfon, Richard Harrington and Nicola Blackwood - discussing how they won their seats. Marquee 2 at the ICC.
The funding of universities is the topic for debate at the Dods PoliticsHome fringe in the ICC at 5.45pm. Paul Waugh will chair the event and David Willetts and the vice chancellors of Bournemouth, Hertfordshire and Northampton are on the panel.
The British Youth Council and O2 Think Big will host a reception and debate on youth issues at Austin Court (Cambridge St) at 5.30pm. Nick Hurd and Conservative Future chairman Ben Howlett are among those on the panel.
At the same time in the ICC Lord Young of Graffham, Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister, will be delivering the Conservative Policy Forum annual lecture, followed by drinks in the foyer.
Andy Sawford, Labour’s candidate in the Corby by-election, will be one of the speakers at the LGiU fringe at 5.30pm in the ICC. He is chief executive of LGiU. Social care is the event’s focus.
TV and radio star Clive Anderson will chair the Woodland Trust fringe at the Hyatt Regency, also at 5.30pm. Rory Stewart and representatives from the trust and the Confederation of Forest Industries will discuss the nation’s forests.
Stephen Hammond, the new Transport minister, will be the subject of the Transport Hub Big Interview at 7pm in the ICC. He will be joined by MPs Stuart Andrew and Iain Stewart.
The US elections will be dissected and discussed at 7.30pm at the Dods PoliticsHome event in the ICC. Paul Waugh, Editor in Chief of PoliticsHome and The House magazine, will be joined by polling expert Mark Gettleson, Dan Hannan MEP and Telegraph journalist Iain Martin.
The Tory party’s efforts to attract “strugglers and strivers” will be the focus of the Institute of Economic Affairs fringe at 7.30pm in the ICC. Mark Littlewood, Director General of the institute, will be joined by MPs Priti Patel, Robert Halfon and Sajid Javid MP.
Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling will be the guest of the Prison Reform Trust and National Grid fringe in the ICC at the same time. He will be discussing how to turn prisoners into taxpayers.
Fujitsu will be hosting a Business in the Community reception at 9.30pm at the ICC. Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, will attend.
Finally for Monday, Conservative Way Forward will be hosting their midnight reception in the Hyatt Regency. There is free entry to all CWF associate members and the event begins at 11.30pm.