Portillo to speak on finance

The former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo is to speak at the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) finance conference later this month, where he will outline the likely impact of a new government on the social housing sector.

Portillo served as chief secretary to the Treasury and local government secretary during a glittering political career which was abruptly brought to an end when he lost his Commons seat at the 1997 general election. Since then, he has reinvented himself as a successful broadcaster and political commentator.

He has been confirmed as a speaker at the NHF’s three-day conference at Warwick University, Coventry, which gets underway on March 24, where he will also address what a hung Parliament could mean for effective government, and how housing will fare under both a Conservative and Labour government.

Michelle Mone, the entrepreneur behind the Ultimo underwear brand, will also be speaking at this year's conference.

Clare Miller, executive director, at the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), and Richard Hill, corporate director at the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), will meanwhile explain the steps that were taken to set up and establish their agencies during an extraordinarily turbulent period, and what the future now holds for both organisations.

The event, which attracts a wide variety of delegates including chief executives, finance directors and board members, is the leading finance conference in the sector.