Fabian Society

Only a few days to go until Labour Party Conference! 🌹

Here's your handy day-by-day guide of all of our 30+ events 👇

Find out more:

https://fabians.org.uk/event/fabian-society-at-labour-party-conference-2024-the-future-for-britain/

How can the new Labour government grow the economy and improve living standards in all corners of the country?

In our new report 'Going up a gear', deputy general secretary Luke Raikes shows how private sector productivity growth is essential to improve living standards and tax revenue.

Governments can’t guarantee productivity growth, but they need to make consistently good, evidence-based decisions. And since 2010, governments have often ignored the evidence.

As a result, the UK’s productivity performance is the worst in the G7 and living standards have suffered significantly.

The new government’s three first steps toward productivity growth should be:

1. Invest more effectively in productivity enablers, like transport, skills and innovation

2. Improve employment rights and enforcement

3. Set out stable strategies, governance and institutions

Read the report:

Going up a gear - Fabian Society The UK needs productivity growth to improve living standards. Without productivity growth, we will be economically vulnerable to recessions or stagnation, and we will likely see widening inequality, lower incomes, a smaller tax base, and, as a result, poorer health, lower educational attainment, and...

"This is a set of policies that match what people want with what Labour can deliver. It offers significant but believable change, putting improving lives above pleasing crowds. It was, you might say, very Fabian."

Read what our Deputy General Secretary Luke Raikes has to say about Labour's manifesto in Labour List.

‘Labour’s 2024 manifesto is a substantial core offer, not the limit of its ambition’ – LabourList Labour’s campaign slogan is a hard one to forget - change. But change to what? That was the question asked and now answered in today’s…

Good luck to all Fabians who are standing for election today!

Make sure to get out and vote before polls close at 10pm - and remember to bring photographic ID.

Fabian Society general secretary Andrew Harrop responds to today's Budget:

"There are things to welcome in this budget. It is right to invest in prevention and technology for our public services, and it is right to move towards taxing earned and unearned incomes at a similar rate.

But the numbers in this Budget just don’t add up. Once the election is over, there is no way that any government will be able to stick to the chancellor’s stated spending plans. More money will be needed to stop cuts in vital services which are already on the brink, and more will be needed for national security, investment and our ageing population. The Conservatives just cannot be trusted on tax cuts and borrowing.

The chancellor thinks he has set a trap for the Labour party by stealing tax rises Rachel Reeves has linked to spending plans. But Labour will have little difficulty in finding other ways to raise taxes on wealthy people who don’t pay a fair share. Their spending commitments can all be funded without raising taxes on families feeling the squeeze.

This Budget also widens the gap between rich and poor. High earning households will be up to £1,500 a year better off after two rounds of National Insurance cuts and the wealthy will see sizeable tax cuts on profits from property sales and ISA investments. Meanwhile low earners gain little or nothing from the tax changes, and many of the poorest will actually see their incomes drop with the scrapping of cost of living payments."

The FEPS-Fabian New Year Conference is only a few weeks away!

Book your place to join us at the Guildhall, or online 👇

https://fabians.org.uk/event/fabian-society-new-year-conference-2024-plans-for-power/

or join the Fabian Society and get a free ticket 👇

https://fabians.org.uk/membership/join/

Local government pension fund reform may not be exciting – but the consequences of failure could be significant, argues Simon Radford

A little dry | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"My life was gravely endangered because I fought for my people’s freedom."

Human rights abuses in West Papua receive little coverage in the UK. But Britain is complicit in the oppression of Papuans, writes Benny Wenda.

Paradise lost | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Progressive regulatory reform will benefit us all, argues Matt Bevington

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 edition of the Fabian Review. Join the Fabians today for your free copy 🗞

Culture change | Fabian Society Fabian Society

A commitment to animal welfare is one of the strongest signs politicians can give that they are on the public’s side, argues Jonathan Birch

Silent majority | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"It is obvious that the Met needs fundamental and total reform."

A new royal commission could get to the heart of the UK’s policing problems, writes Unmesh Desai.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 edition of the Fabian Review. Join the Fabians today for your free copy 🗞

Back to basics | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"As Labour looks towards government, it must prepare serious solutions to poverty for under-fives and their families."

The 25th anniversary of Sure Start reminds us that good public services change lives, writes Ben Cooper.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 edition of the Fabian Review. For your free copy, join the Fabians today 🗞

Closing the gap | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"We are the party of public service, and those who serve in our armed forces – that’s the ultimate public service."

Keeping the country safe and standing up for our armed forces reflect core Labour values, John Healey MP tells Iggy Wood

Shoring up the defence | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"Children’s social care is a cautionary tale of what happens when our messy system of local government gets stuck."

Accidental localism is letting our communities down, argues Tommy Gale.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 edition of the Fabian Review. Join the Fabian Society today for your free copy 🗞

A cautionary tale | Fabian Society Fabian Society

"Three-year-olds are likely to be held back throughout their schooling because they missed out during Covid lockdowns."

The pandemic had a profound impact on children in their early years, writes Sylvia McNamara.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 edition of the Fabian Review. Become a member today for your free copy 🗞

A national scandal | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Loneliness and disconnection are pushing our politics and our public health to breaking point, argues Sam Dalton

Crisis of connection | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Reforms to school and university admissions could transform the life chances of disadvantaged children and young people, write Lindsey Macmillan and Jake Anders

This article originally appeared in the Fabian Review - join the Fabians today for your free copy🗞️

Equal access | Fabian Society Fabian Society

🚨 MAJOR NEW REPORT 🚨

Support Guaranteed: The roadmap to a National Care Service, supported by UNISON

https://lnkd.in/e8iTuqQi

This is a comprehensive plan for how to deliver on Labour's ambition to create a National Care Service in England.

Support Guaranteed is a report for UNISON and Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting.

It sets out in detail how a care service would work. The report is independent advice, not a statement of Labour policy

We make 48 recommendations - here are some highlights:

1️⃣ FOR EVERYONE:
Support will be available to everyone regardless of their means, and at an earlier stage as their care and support needs develop

Disabled people and unpaid carers will be automatically referred to the service

Everyone will have peace of mind about help there for them in the future

2️⃣ STRONGER RIGHTS:
Citizens rights will be spelled out in a co-produced national care service constitution and people will have control and choice over the support they get

Disabled and older people will have a new right to choose where they live and to take part in society

Unpaid carers will be asked how much they wish to care and will have new rights to short breaks

3️⃣ A NEW PUBLIC SERVICE
The national care service will offer end-to-end support under a new shared brand delivered together by national government, local councils and licensed care providers

Independent providers will be fairly funded but expected to operate as part of a public service with new standards on care quality, workforce and financial conduct

4️⃣ A FAIR WORKFORCE SETTLEMENT
A sector-wide fair pay agreement will be negotiated including a sector minImum wage and minimum employment conditions

People employed by the contracted national care service providers will have national pay-bands and employment terms designed to achieve parity over time with similar roles in the NHS

5️⃣ MORE AFFORDABLE CHARGES
Reforms to care funding should run in parallel to other changes so that support becomes more affordable over time, as services start to improve

Incoming ministers should match any government funding reforms announced before the next election and as they develop the new service they should also consider other options like making support free for people with lifelong disabilities

➡ Reform is needed because adult social care in England is in crisis

The core purpose of adult social care should be to give people the support to live the life they want, in the home they want, doing the things they want, with the people they want.

🎧 Learn more about the proposals and how we came up with them on our brand new podcast 'Fabian Thinking':

https://lnkd.in/eJKEYgAV

READ FULL REPORT HERE:
https://lnkd.in/e8iTuqQi

Support guaranteed | Fabian Society Fabian Society

The poorest in our society are not just at the bottom of the pile financially. They are also short of another valuable commodity - time ⌛️

The Fabian Society's Sasjkia Otto explains

A precious resource | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Does opinion polling have too big a role in shaping Labour policy? Chris Curtis argues that it is right to listen to the public

This article originally appeared in the spring edition of the Fabian Review - join the Fabians today for your free copy 🗞

The voice of the people | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Labour should put the global minimum corporation tax front and centre of its fiscal plan, writes Frederick Michell

Taxing times | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Social care has been increasingly relegated to the role of freeing up hospital beds. But it can be lifechanging in its own right - especially if we draw on 'relational' approaches, argues Jenny Kartupelis

Caring better, together | Fabian Society Fabian Society

The NHS model is under greater threat than at any time in its history. But the truth is, any healthcare system would need more money. Iggy Wood talks to Dr Nicholas Barr

A simple diagnosis | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Increasing support for science and technology can help us solve problems from climate change to regional inequality, argues Will Lord

New White Heat | Fabian Society Fabian Society

🚨 Fabian Society calls for ‘British employment insurance’ 🚨

Read the major new report, supported by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust here:

https://fabians.org.uk/publication/in-time-of-need/

There is strong public support for our plan to stop incomes plummeting during sickness, maternity and unemployment

The report calls for the next government to introduce a comprehensive new system of ‘British employment insurance’.

See our recommendations below 👇

1⃣ A major overhaul of maternity and paternity leave

Parents on maternity or parental leave would receive half their usual earnings for up to 12 months.

Six months would be reserved for mothers, and each parent could then receive up to 6 months parental leave.

For the first time self-employed fathers would be able to claim paid paternity leave and parental leave.

2⃣ Sick leave paid at 80% of earnings from day one to week 28 of absence

Workers would be paid from day one of all sickness absences (to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases like Covid) and would receive four-fifths of their pay.

This proposal is affordable for business because most large employers already provide sick pay above the minimum level set out in law.

Small businesses would receive new money to help meet this cost and free occupational health services.

3⃣ New support when people leave work

People who stop working would receive half their previous earnings (up to a capped amount) for six months in the case of unemployment, and 12 months in the case of sickness.

The new payments would provide a cushion to help people find suitable work or focus on their health without immediate financial pressure.

Minimum redundancy payments would also be increased in the first significant reform of the statutory redundancy scheme since 1965.

4⃣ A new deal for working carers

Carers of disabled and older people would receive one week of paid leave each year that could be taken flexibly to balance work and care.

They would also have a right to a further 3 weeks a year of unpaid leave. Alternatively, if carers need to stop work, they would be able to claim half their earnings for up to 12 months through a new carer’s insurance benefit.

People in this situation would also be able to ask large employers to hold open their jobs for a year.

5⃣ A new deal for the self-employed

Self-employed workers would be able to claim unemployment benefit for the first time, as well as having new rights to paid paternity leave and parental leave.

A new sickness insurance payment would provide them with an equivalent to sick pay.

The report also calls for paid time-off for training for the self-employed

📊 79 per cent of people expressing a view support the introduction of the overall proposal for employment insurance.