Newington's Victoria McNish looks at the fortnight ahead - including Theresa May's Brexit speech, and Party Conferences.

According to the original timetable for negotiations set out by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, talks on trade and the future relationship between the UK and the EU should be on the table for October. However, these talks were only scheduled to start if the UK had demonstrated “sufficient progress” on the financial settlement, the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and Northern Ireland. Clearly we are not there yet. What we do know is that Theresa May’s Brexit Speech in Florence tomorrow is likely to outline her vision for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. She may even give us a little more detail on the cost of the “divorce bill”. Given that money is clearly the EU’s bottom line, whether this will break the deadlock in Brexit talks remains to be seen.

We are now officially in party conference season with Parliament in recess, Lib Dem Conference already behind us, Labour this weekend, and Conservative Conference fast approaching. At Labour Conference expect to hear more of how the party ‘won’ the election, the public sector pay cap, and Brexit – obviously. Though don’t expect a speech from the Mayor of London this weekend. Sadiq Khan – who has one of the largest mandates of any elected Labour politician – hasn’t been given a speaking slot. But don’t worry; you can catch Russell Brand speaking alongside the Shadow Heath Secretary at Momentum’s festival during the conference.

At Conservative Conference protests never come as a surprise. Yet this year’s conference comes just weeks after the Government announced that it was lifting the public sector pay cap. But only for police and prison workers. And lower than the rate of inflation. Unions representing workers from across the public sector have been speaking out in outrage, NHS staff have already held protests outside Parliament, and it’s unlikely to stop there. The concentration of politicians and the media at conference provides a tempting opportunity to make some noise and embarrass the Government. Other things to look out for at Conservative Conference include continued leadership speculation; how to reinvigorate the party for young people; and some more Brexit – obviously.