Restoring One Nation: Growth, Fairness and the Future of Conservatism
Conservative Party Conference 2026 | Birmingham | 5 October 2026
At Conservative Party Conference 2026, the TRG brought together Lord David Willetts and Thomas Turrell AM to explore economic renewal, intergenerational fairness and the importance of community and belonging. Chaired by TRG National Chair Siobhan Aarons, the discussion considered not only the challenges facing the Conservative Party, but what a renewed One Nation agenda could offer the country.
The case for renewal
Opening the discussion, TRG National Chair Siobhan Aarons argued that One Nation Conservatives must demonstrate the tradition’s relevance to Britain as it exists today. Invoking the achievements or language of the past is not enough. That is the central proposition behind TRG’s Restoring One Nation programme.
Economic insecurity, declining trust and growing political fragmentation have created a challenge that extends beyond any single political party. Too many people no longer believe the economy works for them, that politics speaks for them or that the next generation will enjoy better opportunities than the last. When people’s confidence in the institutions and opportunities around them weakens, anger can replace argument and cynicism can replace trust.
Aarons set out a clear starting point: government must serve the whole country, placing country before party, combining responsibility with freedom and fairness with enterprise. Those principles must offer practical answers to the economic and social challenges people experience.
What would that mean in practice? The audience was invited to consider the single biggest barrier to restoring One Nation Britain, opening a discussion about growth, intergenerational fairness and strong communities.
The question for the panel, and for the wider Conservative Party, was therefore not whether One Nation Conservatism has a distinguished history, but what it can offer Britain today.
Growth, opportunity and a stake in the economy
Thomas Turrell AM argued that the fragmentation of British politics reflects a deeper dissatisfaction with the economic settlement. In an increasingly competitive, five-party political environment, voters are turning towards parties promising radical change because too many feel that the status quo has little to offer them.
The Conservative Party, he suggested, must be prepared to advance an ambitious economic vision of its own, rather than appearing simply to defend existing arrangements.
That means looking beyond headline measures of growth to consider how people experience economic success in their working lives and communities.
The discussion explored employee ownership and share schemes, but also the wider importance of workplace relationships, opportunities for progression and ensuring that people feel valued and able to benefit from the success of the organisations for which they work.
An economy that creates wealth but leaves too many people feeling excluded from its rewards will struggle to sustain confidence in either markets or politics.
Turrell also emphasised the importance of offering a positive political vision. Economic opportunity, he argued, has consequences beyond material prosperity, helping to strengthen social confidence and reduce tensions within communities.
A dynamic economy and a strong national community
Lord David Willetts approached the question through the intellectual foundations of One Nation Conservatism.
He identified two complementary traditions: one rooted in belonging, institutions and the bonds of national community, and another committed to economic dynamism, entrepreneurship and competitive markets.
The distinctive strength of One Nation Conservatism lies in bringing these together.
Markets, enterprise and growth are essential to prosperity. But economic performance alone cannot provide everything a successful society needs. Families, civic institutions, local communities and a sense of mutual obligation also shape the conditions in which individuals can flourish.
This is not an argument for choosing between economic freedom and social responsibility. It is a recognition that a strong economy and a cohesive society depend upon one another.
The discussion also considered the Conservative relationship with institutions. Conservatism should recognise the value of institutions that sustain national life while remaining willing to reform them where necessary. Respect for institutions need not mean defending every aspect of their current operation, just as reform should not become an exercise in undermining the institutions themselves.
Restoring the promise between generations
Intergenerational fairness emerged as one of the most substantial themes of the session.
For Willetts, a central question is whether younger generations can still expect to enjoy the opportunities and security that previous generations were able to build.
He highlighted the growing importance of accumulated wealth relative to earnings, and the consequences for those seeking to acquire assets, particularly a home.
The traditional Conservative ambition of a property-owning democracy becomes increasingly difficult to sustain when access to ownership depends heavily on inherited wealth or parental assistance.
Housing is therefore more than a question of supply or affordability. It is bound up with independence, family formation, financial security and the ability to establish a lasting stake in society.
The discussion explored a range of possible responses, including assistance with housing deposits, changes to property taxation, stronger pensions and savings arrangements, and ways of helping younger people accumulate capital.
Turrell challenged assumptions about the traditional housing ladder, noting that many first-time buyers are now older and may already be looking for a family home rather than a small starter property. Housing policy must respond to these changing circumstances, while also recognising the needs of those who rent.
These questions go to the heart of intergenerational fairness. A society in which opportunity increasingly depends on what people inherit, rather than what they can earn, save or build for themselves, presents a fundamental challenge to Conservative ideas of aspiration and responsibility.
What does One Nation offer Britain today?
Questions from the audience pushed the discussion beyond the broad principles and into some of the more difficult political and policy choices.
What makes a One Nation economic offer distinctive? How can Conservatives reconnect with younger voters who feel the Party does not understand their circumstances? What should the Conservative offer be to renters, public-sector workers and those whose opportunities do not fit traditional assumptions about employment or home ownership?
Contributions also addressed skilled and industrial employment, the relationship between taxation of earnings and wealth, electoral reform, environmental responsibilities and the future of national institutions.
Underlying these exchanges was a broader challenge: how can Conservatives rebuild trust among people who no longer feel represented by the Party or confident that politics can improve their lives?
The discussion reflected differing perspectives on particular policies. There was no suggestion that the answers would be straightforward or that every proposal commanded agreement.
But there was a clear recognition that renewing One Nation Conservatism requires more than restating familiar values. It requires translating those values into a credible political offer that responds to the circumstances people face.
That includes listening to those who do not ordinarily participate in Conservative discussions, recognising the breadth of contribution made by people across the economy and public services, and demonstrating that economic opportunity and national belonging are not reserved for particular groups or generations.
From principles to practical renewal
In closing the discussion, Siobhan Aarons returned to the importance of listening beyond established political audiences, particularly to those who no longer feel that politics speaks to them or that they have a meaningful stake in the country’s future.
The discussion had highlighted some of the difficult questions that a renewed One Nation agenda must confront. How can economic growth translate into greater opportunity and security? How can the promise of a property-owning democracy be made meaningful for younger generations? How can Conservatives strengthen the institutions and communities that sustain national life while remaining open to necessary reform?
These are not separate challenges. They are connected by a fundamental question: how do we build a country in which more people have the opportunity, confidence and means to shape their own futures, while recognising their responsibilities to one another?
For the TRG, the Conference fringe was an important part of a wider programme moving from the principles of One Nation Conservatism towards their practical application. The contributions from the panel and audience will inform the forthcoming Restoring One Nation publication and provide a foundation for further discussion at One Nation Day.
One Nation Conservatism cannot simply describe where we sit within the Conservative Party. It must offer a meaningful answer to the challenges facing Britain and a compelling vision of the country we want to build.
That is the task of renewal.
The Tory Reform Group thanks Lord David Willetts, Thomas Turrell AM and everyone who joined the discussion and contributed their questions and perspectives at Conservative Party Conference 2026.