As his predecessor toured radio and television studios this week defending her calamitous mini-budget, Rishi Sunak marked yet another fall in UK inflation as American efforts stalled and his Chancellor publicly mused about more tax cuts.
The public expects sound economic management from the Conservatives. But the party is only at its best when it marries opportunity and security, so people feel better off and safer. The Government shouldn’t only put money back in taxpayers’ pockets, but make sure they walk on safer streets, live in warmer homes and wait less time for a GP appointment.
✍️ Research
Onward’s team is growing again with three new policy fellows. Ed Winfield, former chief of staff to ex-Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, will be leading new research on improving people’s access to nature. Milltown Partners’ Ben Greenstone is working on the emerging technologies needed to achieve the UK’s science superpower ambitions. And online estate agency Yoda’s Founder, Andrew Barclay, is leading our new work on entrepreneurship in Britain.
Soon, we’ll be unveiling a major research project looking at how Britain can gain a strategic advantage in frontier technologies the Government is targeting: artificial intelligence, quantum, semiconductors, engineering biology, and future telecoms. For the first time, we’ll be serialising our research before its publication in an Onward Substack dedicated to science and technology. Subscribe now to receive it.
📰 Media Mentions
Onward’s Director Sebastian Payne wrote in the i about the two mayoral elections to watch.
Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee joined the Centre for Cities’ City Talk podcast to talk about why there doesn’t need to be a rivalry with towns.
Onward is mentioned in Politics Home’s report on how Tory MPs want security at the heart of their party’s election pitch.
🌐 Onward Online
Is having a baby the worst thing you can do for the environment? No. Onward’s Phoebe Arslanagić-Little dismantles the argument.
Is having a baby the *worst* thing you can do to the environment? That's the bold claim of a popular paper that's been downloaded a stunning 948,000 times.
The UK needs a resilient digital economy to boost productivity, but faltering connectivity is holding us back. When vital networks break down, businesses can lose millions in minutes, and productivity crashes.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez MP joins us to explore how to expand reliable connectivity across the country to support businesses and boost productivity.
