Hosted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance
Tuesday, 7th October | 09.00am – 10.00am
From bin collections to social care, councils are drowning in red tape from Whitehall. Could freeing local authorities from central micromanagement unleash innovation, cut waste, improve services, and lower council tax?
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.
Cllr Abi Brown, deputy leader, LGA Conservative Group
Abi was first elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010 and has served in both opposition and administration. Between 2015 and 2023 Abi was deputy leader and then leader of the council. Abi has had extensive involvement at a senior level within the LGA, sitting initially on the City Regions Board from 2017 rising to become Vice Chair, and then chairing the Improvement and Innovation Board from 2022 to 2025. In addition, since 2023 Abi has been the elected deputy leader of the LGA Conservative Group and a Deputy Chairman of the LGA. Abi received an OBE in the 2024 King’s New Year Honours for services to local government. She is a Non-Executive Director at Homes England, a trustee of local government thinktank Localis and local children’s mental health charity, Bearforce, and an honorary doctor of the University of Staffordshire.
Cllr Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, Hatch End ward, London Borough of Harrow
Matthew was elected Councillor for Hatch End ward in the May 2022 elections. Having first got involved in local politics through the Harrow Youth Parliament, Matthew has become a local Mental Health Champion, a Youth Ambassador for Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), a Youth Delegate for the Change the World Model United Nations Conference taking place in New York 2022 and supports many local charities and community groups. Having graduated from the University of Nottingham with a BA in Politics & International Relations, Matthew currently works for Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman and is a rising political commentator, appearing on shows like GB News and TalkTV.
Henry Hill, deputy editor, Conservative Home
Henry is Deputy Editor of ConservativeHome. He joined the team in 2013 with the Red, White, and Blue column covering the Home Nations before serving as Assistant Editor and News Editor from 2015. He specialises in the Union and constitutional issues as well as leading on education and housing stories.
Callum McGoldrick, researcher, TaxPayers’ Alliance
Callum first joined the TPA in March 2023 as an intern and became a Researcher in September 2023. He has a BA in Politics and International Relations and is currently doing a Masters in US History and Politics at University College London alongside working with the TPA.
Jason Perry, executive mayor, Croydon Council
Jason is the first directly elected Executive Mayor of Croydon, elected in 2022 after serving as a councillor since 1994. He is one of only four directly elected Conservative Mayors in the country. This follows the well-documented bankruptcy of the Council by the previous Labour Administration. As the Executive Mayor, he has set out a clear plan to improve financial resilience, support growth, and put residents first – delivering visible change on the ground whilst tackling the borough’s historic challenges. He serves as London Councils’ Executive Member for Business, Economy and Culture. Jason has also been appointed to the Local Government Association Executive Board, helping shape the national voice for local government. A married father of two, Jason runs his own family business. He is a lifelong Crystal Palace fan and a regular in the stands at Selhurst Park
ThinkTent 2025 