Hosted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance
Tuesday, 7th October | 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Debt is soaring, waste is rampant and taxpayers keep picking up the bill. If the Conservatives want to be trusted with the nation’s finances again, they must prove they’ll get a grip on spending. Join the TaxPayers’ Alliance to debate how to cut waste and balance the books.
Speakers:
Darwin Friend, head of research, Taxpayers’ Alliance (Chair)
Darwin returned to the TaxPayers’ Alliance in November 2023 and is responsible for leading the research team. He was previously a researcher and policy analyst before working in propositions for a fintech firm. Before joining the TPA, Darwin spent a period working as a researcher for an MP. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of East Anglia.
Lord David Frost
Lord Frost was Chief Negotiator and Europe adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and then Minister responsible for EU relations, until the end of 2021. He led the negotiations which broke the political deadlock over Brexit, finally took the UK out of the EU, and put in place the UK / EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the world’s broadest free trade agreement. He was subsequently responsible for the post-exit negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol, and for leading aspects of post-Brexit domestic reform.
Richard Fuller MP, shadow chief secretary to the treasury
Richard was born in Bedford and raised and educated locally before attending Oxford University, where he earned his BA and later completed an MBA at Harvard Business School. Before entering Parliament, he was a partner at the strategy consulting firm LEK Consulting and a founding partner at Investcorp’s venture capital group. His business career includes helping start numerous small businesses and working in Australia, the United States, the Philippines, and South Korea. Richard served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury from July to October 2022 and from July to October 2024 as the Interim Chairman of the Conservative Party. He is currently the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Andrew Griffith MP, shadow secretary of state for business and trade
Andrew is member of parliament for Arundel and South Downs and shadow secretary of state for business and trade. Before entering parliament, Andrew worked in business for 27 years, primarily at Sky where he was the youngest FTSE 100 Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. He was also Chairman of Just Eat where he was awarded Non-Executive Director of the Year by The Sunday Times.
Shimeon Lee, policy analyst, TaxPayers’ Alliance
Shimeon joined the Taxpayers’ Alliance as a Researcher in March 2024, after graduating with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford. He is originally from Singapore, where he previously served in the Armed Forces.
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