Onward’s Weekly Round Up – 31/03/2023

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 👇🏻

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 👇🏻

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’ 👇🏻

🗓️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.

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