UK defence policy has ambitious aims but these are causing severe and currently unresolved budgetary problems. In addition Brexit uncertainty and a fluid international situation is increasing concerns about the risks of defence overstretch, the benefits of our deterrence policy, and the sustainability of our policies for the procurement of defence equipment. Even more fundamentally, the nature of the threats that must be countered is changing in an era of information warfare. Nia Griffith MP, Shadow Defence Minister, will lead a wide-ranging discussion of how such issues should be addressed.

Deadlines are looming to keep UK international trade and the UK economy stable during the Brexit process. It may be tricky to ensure that any losses of EU trade across many sectors are adequately and promptly balanced or, hopefully, exceeded by gains elsewhere. Angus MacNeil will discuss how things stand in May 2018 as talks on the new trade relationship between the EU and the UK continue. He will also listen to the views and concerns of particular business sectors.

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Artificial intelligence and multiple other computer science developments are transforming life in the 21st Century. Oxford University already ranks highly amongst the top universities teaching and researching computer science, and is now committed to a major expansion of this work. This offers significant potential benefits for the university and also for the whole economy of the UK. The effort is being spearheaded by Christ Church, who recently appointed Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, as a Professorial Research Fellow. Come and discuss with Oxford professors Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Roger Davies and Mike Wooldridge how developments in computer science will further transform many aspects of economic and social life, and how the university is meeting this challenge. They will also explain how commercial organisations can participate by sponsoring parts of this ambitious programme and the research collaboration and recruitment opportunities available for sponsors.

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Since the financial crisis, infrastructure investment has been squeezed in the interest of deficit reduction. It is now widely accepted that the UK needs an industrial strategy that provides significant investment in housing, transport, energy, and digital infrastructure to improve productivity, reduce regional imbalances and raise real wages. Jonathan Reynolds has a business background. In parliament he has focused on transport, energy and financial matters. He will discuss Labour’s approach to the key issue of significant and sustained investment in productive infrastructure.

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International trade is extremely complex. At present any company attempting to forecast future sales needs to factor in uncertainty affecting future business risks linked to EU membership and also potential opportunities linked to other international markets. These issues do not just affect companies involved in directly exporting but also subcontractors who may be affected by their customers switching suppliers. Bill Esterson has extensive business experience and has focused, in parliament, on financial, trade and small business policies. He will discuss how Labour would look after the vital SME sector in the critical years ahead.

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Recent economic policies, especially the focus on austerity, have not stimulated the investment in infrastructure and skills needed to increase productivity and real wages. Labour has identified the need to change course and has proposed an approach involving a new National Investment Bank and the clearer differentiation between investment spending and current expenditure. Anneliese Dodds is an ex-MEP who now represents a constituency where the BMW Mini is manufactured. Come and hear her discuss how Labour’s approach will address key financing and investment issues while navigating a future overhung with Brexit uncertainty.

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