Whatever happens in the by-election next week, we will have a new Prime Minister. This week has already been rife with speculation about what happens if Andy Burnham wins on the 18th, but the drama continues.

Compass - the left-wing think tank closely aligned with Andy Burnham - used its annual Mobilising the Progressive Majority conference to announce a "Council for the Progressive Majority": a formal convening of two senior figures from each of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. 

We’re proud to share that we’ve been shortlisted for Communications Agency of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards 2026. This recognition means a great deal to our team and stands as a testament to the impactful work we've been privileged to shape with our clients.

As King Charles returns from delivering a widely lauded speech to US legislators, soon he will again make headlines as he delivers the King’s Speech in Parliament on May 13th. This will be a defining and potentially make or break political moment for Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership, setting out the Government’s policy agenda for the next 12-24 months. 

The Iran war has once again put the UK’s vulnerability to fossil fuel price shocks at front of mind. 80% of UK households remain reliant on oil and gas heating and while they have been shielded by the price cap or government support in the short-term, this isn’t guaranteed for the months ahead.

Water Pressure: Here's what you need to know, and do, before the Water Reform Bill is written. The Water Reform Bill represents the biggest reset of the water industry in a generation - and the window to help shape it is closing.

The Energy Independence Bill is a highly anticipated bill of the King’s Speech – currently planned for 13^th May 2026. The Bill was the brainchild of Alan Whitehead who (now a Lord) is Minister of State in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

The Seahorse team were on the ground in Manchester ahead of last night’s bombshell result in Gorton and Denton. 

For those engaged in public affairs, it is always wise to exercise caution when interpreting a by-election result.  

The Conservatives’ Uxbridge by-election win in July 2023 is a case in point. Essentially a ULEZ referendum, the result was interpreted as proof that net zero was electorally toxic, prompting Rishi Sunak to dilute key net zero ambitions. What followed speaks for itself.  

However, despite these caveats, there is no doubt that Gorton and Denton will be felt as a watershed moment.  

While Westminster is on the precipice of more uncertainty, how can backbench MPs ensure that the issues they care about remain on the Government’s radar? 

Backbench MPs are the key to raising the political salience of what matters to constituents and can be a key vehicle for translating public pressure into parliamentary leverage, even in turbulent times. 

2026 brings real openings to influence the food and farming agenda - but only if you can turn big principles into practical, deliverable asks that align with Defra’s reset and farmers’ day-to-day realities. Further to this, smart positioning in this context is about being clear on your role, backing practical solutions, and showing where you can help deliver.  

The most significant recent development was Minette Batters’ farming profitability review, which landed at the end of a bruising year for government–farmer relations, and will now form the foundation for Defra’s next moves as the 25-year Farming Roadmap comes into view.   

With MPs returning last week from their Christmas recess, the latest opinion polls paint a stark picture of a frustrated and divided nation, with environmental issues fighting for attention.  

With the Labour Government still holding a huge majority, and a General Election not expected until 2029, to influence policy organisations will need a clear appreciation of the forces shaping ministers’ room for manoeuvre. 

The publication of the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) is a significant moment for the Labour Government. Ministers now have ownership of a plan which covers almost every aspect of policy relating to the natural environment; a plan which promises to be a “roadmap for restoring England’s environment over the coming years.”

For those working to influence policy, it offers a veritable cloakroom of hooks on which to hang campaign asks and hold the Government to account.

Almost four years ago to the day, the Conservative Government published its Heat and Buildings Strategy - the first comprehensive attempt to make real progress on decarbonising heat in homes and buildings. Yet, four years on, domestic heating and hot water still account for over 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions.

The consensus on cheap renewable power has cracked - to fight back we must re-focus on stability, fairness and cost, and not lose sight of clean power. 

From infrastructure challenges to marine opportunities, Labour Party Conference was rife with competition for energy and environment events this year as businesses and NGOs looked to draw crucial insights from Ministers and MPs on Labour’s plans for delivering on its climate and nature promises.  

As we reflect on our time in Liverpool, our own events and those we attended, Seahorse has pulled together questions for organisations to ask themselves that help execute an event to remember during Conference season.

In the third and final Seahorse guide to party conference season, we’ve selected a line-up of green events at the Conservative Party Conference, taking place in Manchester between Sunday 5th October and Wednesday 8th October.

The Conservative Party Conference is usually the final get-together of the three major parties, however Reform UK’s performance in the polls has put a fourth conference on the map this year.

The scene is set for this year’s Labour Party conference, taking place from Sunday 28th September – Wednesday 1st October in Liverpool.  

The Seahorse team have curated the top environmental events that attendees can’t afford to miss. From overfishing to clean heat, this year’s programme is brimming with the most pressing environmental topics of the day.

With conference season in full swing, Seahorse is continuing the annual tradition of mapping out the must-see environmental events across the three biggest parties’ conferences. The Liberal Democrats gather in Bournemouth 20-23 September, and, unlike Labour or Conservative conference, Liberal Democrat members have the unique opportunity to debate and vote on motions that can become official party policy. 

As Parliament’s summer recess begins, this breather from the usual pace of Westminster gives those of us working on national policy some space to take stock, assess what has been achieved in Labour’s first year in office on the environment, and plan next steps ahead of Parliament’s return. 

Site visits have the potential to be useful implements in the toolkits of those looking to build support for a net-zero and nature-positive world. In this piece, we explore why they’re important when engaging with political and media stakeholders and how they should be coordinated to maximise impact. But first: what are they?