Onward’s Weekly Round Up

Onward Newsletter

Brexit finally means brexit, as this week MPs from across the house voted to approve the Windsor Framework. The legal agreement, which allows the UK to formally leave the European Union while preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland, passed through the commons on Wednesday with flying colours. Despite the small, but unsuccessful, Tory backbench rebellion. 

Manchester and Birmingham Mayors, Andy Burnham and Andy Street, were joined in their cities by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP to sign their trailblazing devolution deals. Following the announcement of the multi-year devolution funding plans at the Spring Budget, these deals see the transition of powers over housing, transport, employment and regeneration from Whitehall into the hands of the local leaders.  

And if that wasn’t enough, DUP MP Jim Shannon tabled an Early Day Motion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’. Without further ado, here is what has been ‘Onward’ this week!

✍️ Research

TODAY we published Forced To Move: Reducing the impact of climate change on migration. 

Mass climate migration could result from a perfect storm of environmental breakdown, conflict, and demographic growth in the decades to come. This may significantly increase the number of people wanting to come to the UK. So as the Government seeks to secure the UK’s borders, it must also be proactive in helping vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change and designing safe and legal routes to the UK for those in genuine need.

In this report, Onward set out how the Government should approach the issue of climate change and migration – recommending partnerships with international development organisations to increase climate adaptation-related infrastructure in vulnerable countries, a renewed focus for UK International Climate Finance on adaptation, and the creation of new safe and legal routes to build climate resilience.

Read the full report here.

📰 Media Mentions 

Our new report Forced to Move made headlines in The Guardian, City AM, The Independent, and Politico’s Playbook this morning. 

Onward Policy Fellow, Ted Christie-Miller, wrote for The Times’ Red Box on the importance of investing in climate mitigation schemes abroad and our new report. Read his op-ed here.

“Starmer is credible, but where’s the big idea?”, asks Onward Director Sebastian Payne, in his latest piece for The Times.

Adam Hawksbee joined Power to Change for their online webinar on Tuesday to discuss “Is levelling up delivering for communities?”

At a pivotal time for the UK’s science sector, our Science Superpower Programme was covered in an article by Politico.

UnHerd cited our report The Kids Aren’t Alright in an analysis piece on young people’s views of the monarchy. 

Sebastian is quoted in The Express for their piece on prolific re-offenders.

Adam spoke at the 2023 Urban Summit, hosted by the RSA, LGA, and Core Cities, to discuss the future of the UK’s cities.

Adam joined Matt Chorley and Polly Mackenzie for ‘Think Tank Thursdays’, discussing the Government’s plans to crack down on crime and antisocial behaviour.

🌐 Onward Online

Science Superpower Senior Researcher, Anna Dickinson wrote a thread reflecting on the announcement of the UK’s International Technology Strategy. 👇🏻

LISTEN as Adam joins Matt Chorley’s Think Tank Thursdays, discussing new plans to crackdown on antisocial behaviour, cashless societies and dogs in pubs.👇🏻

🗓️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