TAG reflects on Party Conference Season 2025

Over the past month, Trust Alliance Group has attended the Liberal Democrat, Labour, Conservative and SNP Party Conferences. These annual gatherings are a key moment in the political calendar, offering an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to share data and insight and help them understand consumer experiences across multiple essential markets.

At the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth, our Energy Ombudsman team hosted a fringe panel event, “A Trusted Transition: Protecting Consumers in a Changing Market”. David Pilling, our Senior Leader – Policy & Public Affairs, was joined by Sir Vince Cable, Claire Young MP, Ryan Shorthouse and Luke Tryl, to discuss how consumer choice and protection can be safeguarded throughout the UK’s energy transition.

At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, our Online Responsibility Network held its first ever fringe event: “Beyond Compliance: Towards a More Responsible Online World, Together.” Regulatory, Relationship & Online Harms Director, Andrea Evans-Bilham joined a panel alongside Helene Guillaume Pabis, Hannah Mirza, Michael Birtwistle and Gill German MP. The conversation focused on the impact of growing digital harms and the role of collaboration in shaping a more trustworthy and responsible digital future.

At the Conservative Party Conference, Chief Ombudsman, Ed Dodman joined Amanda Solloway, Rachel Brisley, Juliet Davenport OBE, Kiran Stacey and Ryan Shorthouse for a panel exploring how to protect consumers and instil trust in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. This marked our final fringe event of the conference season, rounding off a series of insightful discussions across the major parties.

Our party conference season activity concluded at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen, where we engaged with SNP politicians from both Westminster and Holyrood about the important role our schemes play in supporting consumers and improving the function of essential markets.

Across all conferences, TAG strengthened relationships with political stakeholders and contributed to meaningful discussions on issues shaping both current and future consumer experiences. By engaging directly with policymakers and industry voices, TAG continues to play an active role in ensuring consumers remain at the heart of the conversation, driving balanced and informed perspectives. This work is central to our purpose to build, maintain and restore trust between consumers and businesses.