We're delighted to announce that @gideonsalutin.bsky.social is our new Chief Economist.
Gideon will lead our economic research, including ways to secure growth that uplifts households across the country.
Read more about Gideon: buff.ly/8oNCWLM
Great to chat to Martha Gill for this recent piece on apprenticeship policy for the @smfthinktank.bsky.social ⬇
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
A few snaps from a really interesting roundtable event on NEETs at the end of last week (hosted by Etio) - particularly enjoyed getting to actually visit a college site (and what a view from the Ada, National College for Digital Skills London campus)
The paper sets out comprehensive proposals for a new regulatory structure, covering trustee professionalisation, default decumulation, and how local government pension schemes can act as an investment vehicle.
Read the paper: www.smf.co.uk/publications...
🚨 OUT TODAY: UK pensions governance and regulatory frameworks will be “unfit for purpose” within a decade, warns leading policy expert Michael Johnson.
The Pension Schemes Bill 2025 could leave as few as ten dominant “megatrust” providers by the mid-2030s.
A recent @smfthinktank.bsky.social briefing looked at the health and care system in prisons, finding multiple failings across the system.
Come join for a discussion of the issues later this month ⬇️
In the coming weeks, we'll be releasing analysis about how pensions will become more politically salient over the next decade, as pension pots become more of an issue for voters.
🚨NEW EVENT🚨
Join us for a discussion on the looming ‘pension shock’ that those in their 40s and 50s are likely to face upon discovering the inadequacy of their pension pots.
www.smf.co.uk/events/pensi...
Kindly supported by @standardlifeuk.bsky.social
The realities of prisoner ill health are shocking. You're much more likely to die young in prison: the average age of death in custody is 56, but in the general population it's 81
It may not win votes, but a safer prison estate benefits us all, writes the @smfthinktank.bsky.social's Jake Shepherd
It is in all of our interests to improve prisoner health
For @politicshome.bsky.social, Jake Shepherd writes about the realities of ill health in the prison estate.
buff.ly/qRkIlJW
We're pleased to contribute to this effort by publishing a briefing that sets out the case for a national screening programme.
It can provide timely intervention to reduce blood lead levels, raise a child’s lifetime earnings, and save lives.
Briefing: www.smf.co.uk/publications...
Encouragingly, MPs, peers and academics have signed an open letter calling for a national screening programme - an effort led by @aveek18.bsky.social, @leecrawfurd.bsky.social and Lauren Gilbert.
Credit, too, to @laurahughesft.bsky.social and @financialtimes.com for bringing the issue to the fore.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and France take a more proactive approach, with screening protocols that identify problems before they damage a child’s health or life chances.
The UK should do the same.
Much of the UK’s building stock and infrastructure still contains lead, yet we have adopted a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to the risk.
The result? An estimated 168,000 British children have unsafe levels of lead in their blood.
That figure is just guesswork.
We cannot wait for another tragedy before the Government takes meaningful action on lead exposure and poisoning.
Many might think of lead poisoning as a problem of the past. But that simply isn’t true.🧵
In the Schools White Paper, Government emphasised the importance of a 'broad' education system, with a renewed focus on wellbeing alongside attainment.
@danihpayne.bsky.social outlines why this is welcome, having been called for by the SMF
Myself and @danihpayne.bsky.social's assessment of today's SEND reforms and the potential political battle ahead to pass them -
www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...
SEND reforms are finally here – but will they deliver?
Read analysis from @beckymontacute.bksy.social @danihpayne.bsky.social on the Schools White Paper
buff.ly/iOttD8i
🗣️Our Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social quoted in @theipaper.com today on SEND reform.
SMF broadly welcomed the SEND reforms, but noted political challenges to come for the Government on this sensitive policy area.
Brilliant to see the White Paper today highlight what our previous research found: that there is no inherent trade off between wellbeing and attainment and, in fact, they are often mutually reinforcing. www.smf.co.uk/publications... @smfthinktank.bsky.social
On some of the wider stuff in the schools white paper - an ambition to half the attainment gap is incredibly ambitious (and welcome!) but I'm not currently convinced government are doing enough to meet that - there's lots of positive stuff, but the scale just isn't enough vs the challenge
🚨EVENT TOMORROW🚨
Britain desperately needs growth – at our event, we’ll discuss how households can be the driving force:
@theobertram.bsky.social
@callumandersonmp.bsky.social
Jonquil Lowe
@simonharrington.bsky.social
@gideonsalutin.bsky.social
Sign up: buff.ly/DJi6Lhk
Sponsored by PIMFA
Happy Schools White Paper day for all those who celebrate 📃
This morning starts with more detail on the government's SEND plans, with schools getting more funding for specialised support - and a tightening of EHCPs.
Our recent briefing called for that approach, including limiting EHCPs..
While under-18 custody rates have fallen, 43% in Young Offenders’ Institutions and Secure Training Centres report feeling unsafe.
Read our latest briefing on prisoner health:
buff.ly/W6K4TDJ
Kindly sponsored by Policy@Manchester
As we await the Government's SEND White Paper, our latest briefing showed a majority of teachers support reducing EHCPs and redistributing funding.
Read the briefing: buff.ly/IGd3SJI
30% of older prisoners suffer from depression.
Prisons are ill-equipped for the growing over-50 population – harming health outcomes and increasing reoffending.
Read our latest briefing on prisoner health:
buff.ly/W6K4TDJ
Kindly sponsored by Policy@Manchester
🚨PANEL NEXT WEEK🚨
Could retail investment help British households boost their savings and drive growth?
Join us on Tuesday 24 February as we discuss what Labour can do to boost Britain’s economy.
Sign up: buff.ly/DJi6Lhk
As we await the Government's SEND White Paper, it's important to remember why reform is needed.
Our briefing showed fewer than half of SENCOs report they are able to provide all or almost all of those with EHCPs in their school with the full support set out in their plan.
Breast screening uptake in prisons is just 20% – compared to 70% in the general population.
Women prisoners often lack sex-specific care, leading to poorer health outcomes.
Read our latest briefing on prisoner health:
buff.ly/W6K4TDJ
Kindly sponsored by Policy@Manchester
