Happy Friday and welcome to the Onward Newsletter.
With plans for the King’s Coronation announced this week, communities in the UK and beyond are coming together to mark the occasion. Such moments offer a real sense of national pride, but they are too infrequent and unfamiliar — as argued by Onward’s Adam Hawksbee and Gavin Rice in a recent piece for ConservativeHome.
The Coronation is an opportunity to renew our sense of patriotism and collective identity – a key strand in our Future of Conservatism project. We think that a strong national community is central to the Conservative party’s future. With invites in the post, it’s all feeling very real.
✍️ Research
Following our report First Steps into childcare, our Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee will appear before the Education Select Committee next week to give evidence to their inquiry on support for the early years.
First Steps provides a playbook of recommendations to fix Britain’s broken childcare system. Endorsed by childcare reform champion Siobhan Baille MP, our recommendations included a new system of Childcare Credits for children aged 1-4, boosting childminder agencies numbers by giving them £1,000 for each childminder they register, and incentivising graduates into the early years workforce by extending the Early Career Framework.
At the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a package of measures that echoed our calls, including expanding the 30 hours of free childcare from 9 months until 4 years old. A great ‘first step’ in the right direction.
Senior Researcher Jenevieve Treadwell joined Peter Cardwell on Talk Radio to discuss the findings of Burnt Out Britain.
Onward Director, Sebastian Payne, appeared on BBC’s The Context to discuss the week’s news, Talk TVs First Edition and Sky News’ Paper Reviews.
🌐 Onward Online
Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee shares an article about our report, Burnt Out Britain by the Financial Times.
"The real tension here is one that many of us face in our own working lives. How do you balance material comfort and personal ambition with peace of mind and civic duty?"
Senior Researcher Anna Dickinson shares our advert for our Getting to Zero Senior Researcher position. Find out more details about the role and how to apply here.
🚨JOB ALERT🚨@ukonward is advertising for a Senior Researcher to join our Getting to Zero team led by @jackrdsn! 🌍
Interested in how the UK meets its #netzero ambitions? Have relevant experience? Follow link below for info 👇
Future of Conservatism Debate: Crushed by China and America? Britain’s response to the global subsidy race
On Monday 17th April, Onward will be hosting the first of its debates on the Future of Conservatism. This event will be hosted by Nick Timothy, who will be joined by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and The Times’ Juliet Samuel, along with other special guests to discuss how Britain should respond to the global subsidy race.
We are entering an era of global economic fragmentation. While British industry struggles with record energy prices and soaring inflation, the great economies of the US and China are pursuing ever more aggressive strategies to shore up national capacity and protect industrial output. President Biden’s IRA heralds a new era of American protectionism while China pours subsidies into tech, electric vehicles and microchips. In an era where free-market ideology is increasingly challenged by neo-mercantilism and the strategic state, how should Britain best protect its interests and kick-start growth? Sign up for what will be a fascinating discussion, here.
Onward After Hours with Dehenna Davison MP
On Tuesday 18th April 2023, we will host a private drinks reception with Levelling Up Minister, Dehenna Davison MP.
Onward After Hours is our event series for under 35s, connecting the next generation of centre-right political thinkers. These events bring together journalists, special advisors, parliamentary staffers and more, to inspire fresh thinking and build connections.
