Happy Friday and welcome to the Onward Newsletter.
Happy Friday and welcome to the Onward Newsletter.
Although Parliament wound down for Easter recess, this week has still been packed with policy.
Monday saw the launch of the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, influenced by Onward’s research. The new strategy includes plans to introduce tougher punishments for criminals, hotspot policing in areas with the most crime, a commitment to improve safety on public transport and in parks, and more programmes to divert young people away from anti-social behaviour.
Then on Thursday the Government also launched their renewed strategy for net zero, Powering Up Britain. Nicknamed ‘Green Day’, for us energy experts it was ‘The Best Thing In Town’.
Described by the energy secretary Grant Shapps as “the blueprint for the future of energy in this country”, Powering Up Britain sets out how the Government will enhance the UK’s energy security, seize the economic opportunities of the transition, and deliver on the Government’s net zero commitments. Commitments included reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels, phasing out natural gas boilers by 2035, and a Net Zero and Nature Workforce Action Plan to support the green industrial sector.
Many of the recommendations are based on work from Onward’s Getting to Zero programme, such as Green Jobs Red Wall which called for the Government to secure jobs in the green industrial sector and a carbon border tax.
✍️ Research
Levelling Up Locally, based on five research visits to Oldham, Clacton, Barry, South Tyneside and Walsall, was cited in the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan.
Our conversations across the country identified anti-social behaviour as one of the most common challenges faced by local leaders and raised by residents. The report provided a playbook of recommendations, including introducing hotspot policing in key areas of ASB, improved safety on public transport, and support programmes to divert young people away from ASB.
Echoing the recommendations made in our research, the ASB action plan announced plans to scale up hot spot policing in key areas of ASB. An expansion to Transport Safety Officers with £2.5 million additional funding that will see more specially-trained staff to deal with low-level nuisance and disorder, and additional funding to tackle youth anti-social behaviour.
📰 Media Mentions
Adam Hawksbee, our Deputy Director,was quoted in The Times on the Government’s plans for hotspot policing.
Ahead of the launch of the ASB Action Plan, Adam was interviewed on Times Radio, Sky News, and LBC, and Onward Director Sebastian Payne was interviewed on Sky News.
In addition, our reports Levelling Up Locally and Levelling Up In Practice were referenced in a piece for The Times on anti-social behaviour.
Sebastian joined the BBC’s Politics Live this week to discuss the new anti-social behaviour action plan, SNP leadership and climate migration.
On ‘Green Day’, Head of Energy and Climate Jack Richardson appeared on Talk TV to discuss the Government’s net-zero plan, Powering Up Britain.
Jack also wrote for Politics Home, reacting to the new net-zero action plan.
And finally, Forced to Move has continued to receive coverage, with mentions in articles for Conservative Home, The Northern Echo, Business Green and The National.
🌐 Onward Online
Levelling Up Researcher, Shivani Menon explored the Anti-Social Behaviour Plan 👇🏻
Great to see the Govt’s ASB Plan cite @ukonward’s work on hotspot policing, crime on public transport and parks, and more programmes for youth engagement. Low-level crime has seen a massive uptick since 2015, and this plan comes at a vital moment.
— Shivani H Menon (@shivanihmenon) March 27, 2023
1/ pic.twitter.com/74ThWWiswt
Following the Government’s launch of their Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, we held an online webinar titled: Safer Streets: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour to Level Up.
We were delighted to have Michael Gove, Lord Herbert, Professor Larry Sherman, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, Cllr James Jamieson, and Jon Yates join us on the panel. You can listen to the Secretary of State’s opening remarks here 👇🏻
Listen as @michaelgove delivers his opening remarks on how Onward’s work helped shape the Government’s Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, launched yesterday.
— Onward (@ukonward) March 28, 2023
You can catch up on Safer Streets: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour to Level Up here👉🏻 https://t.co/1QGLRKgOuO pic.twitter.com/wOeE8QYhiL
Head of Energy and Climate, Jack Richardson appeared on a panel for The Council on Geostrategy’s discussion: ‘The climate and migration: Implications for Britain’ 👇🏻
Great to be on a @ConGeostrategy panel today talking about climate change and migration with Environmental Audit Committee chair @Dunne4Ludlow, Onward's @jackrdsn and @wr_young pic.twitter.com/1vl3kSqC67
— Steph Spyro (@StephSpyro) March 28, 2023
🗓️Upcoming Events
Onward After Hours with Dehenna Davison MP
On Tuesday 18th April 2023, we will host a private drinks reception with 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
Sign up here.

🐥Tweet of the week
🍰 This week’s @ukonward cake trolley: chocolate celebration cake from Waitrose.
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) March 29, 2023
What appeared at first to be a refreshing new twist turns out to be retread of something slightly tired and uninspiring. But the topping still offered some surprises.
Team Onward rating: 6.8/10. pic.twitter.com/abA0KJRoo3
Copyright © 2022 Onward All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is
4 Millbank, Westminster, London, SW1P 3JA, United Kingdom