Party conference season descends (except for the unfortunate Lib Dems, who were forced to cancel following the death of HMQ). For the best part of a week, the lucky host cities are invaded not just by politicos and the media but by businesses and lobbyists paying yer actual money for the chance to bend influential ears. Including, this year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

At Labour’s conference in Liverpool last week the SRA sponsored a fringe event organised by the Institute for Government thinktank entitled ‘Levelling up or left behind: what role should regulators play?’ On the panel, SRA director of communications Benedict Fisher enthused about the regulator’s role in enabling access to justice through technology and innovation.

Not everyone in the audience was impressed. During the Q&A session, a self-declared member of the Society of Labour Lawyers asked: ‘What business is it for the SRA to be getting involved in Conservative party policy of levelling up? All of this is paid for with my practising certificate fee and that’s high enough already, thank you very much.’

Delivering on regulatory objectives is very much the SRA’s business, Fisher retorted. And sitting on a panel to discuss ‘levelling up’ does not mean the SRA is committed to any political party’s agenda. No doubt he’ll have the chance to expand further at what will likely be a febrile Tory bash in Brum this week.

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