Bright Blue is developing new policies to help manage the challenges of the UK’s ageing society. The growing number of elderly people requires fresh, long-term thinking about sustainable funding arrangements for health and social care, as well as the state and workplace pension systems. Our work also explores how the increasing needs of older generations can be met while preserving fairness between the generations, particularly in relation to the availability and affordability of housing.
Publications
Framing the future: a new pensions commission
Ryan Shorthouse, Andrew Harrop and Sam Robinson
January 2020
Pensions policy in the UK has come a long way in the last decade, with bold and necessary reforms such as automatic enrolment being driven by the recommendations of the famous Turner Commission and the consensus it generated. But the work of the Turner Commission is incomplete. Auto-enrolment contribution rates remain too low to guarantee a secure retirement. The economy has undergone profound changes, such as the rise of self-employment and stagnating wages. Fifteen years after the Turner Commission reported, the cross-party consensus on pensions is at breaking point, with deep disagreements on the overall direction of reform. Now more than ever, pensions policy needs a long-term, strategic vision underpinned by cross-party buy-in. This report brings together leading thinkers and decision-makers from the left and right to develop a blueprint for a new pensions commission that can rebuild a shared vision for the UK’s pension system, and provide effective scrutiny and analysis of pensions policy in years to come.
Saving for the future: extending the consensus on workplace pensions
Sam Hall and Andrew Harrop
December 2017
For many years, pensions policy was characterised by a high degree of consensus, following the Pensions Commission in the mid-2000s. But with the successful introduction of automatic enrolment, there is now no clear cross-party vision for the next stages of workplace pension reform. This collections brings together leading decision makers and opinion formers from different political and professional backgrounds to help determine where the political left and right can establish common ground on future pension reform.
A sense of belonging
Laura Round, Kate Murray and Tobias Phibbs
December 2016
With the launch of the Casey Review this month sparking fresh debate about the state of integration in the UK, this new report brings together leading decision makers and opinion formers from different political and professional backgrounds to argue that integration should be a top priority that unites both Left and Right. Dame Louise Casey, Professor Ted Cantle, Lord O’Shaughnessy and MPs Chuka Umunna and Suella Fernandes are joined by a range of thinkers to map out a new path to achieve greater integration in the UK. They argue that social integration is about more than race and religion. It means bringing together people from all sorts of backgrounds: the old and young; straight and gay; rich and poor; disabled and non- disabled. This truly ‘One Nation’ agenda is crucial to reducing prejudice and discrimination, and improving opportunities and quality of life.
The generation game: spending priorities for an ageing society
Ryan Shorthouse, Andrew Harrop and Anthony Rowlands
September 2015
Published with the Fabian Society and CentreForum, this collection of essays explores spending priorities for an ageing population.
We need to find the fairest and most sustainable funding settlement as the country adapts to demographic change. This collection includes contributions from George Freeman MP, The Rt Hon Lord David Willetts, Dr John Pugh MP, Debbie Abrahams MP, Claudia Wood, Ryan Shorthouse and many more.
Magazines
The future of work
Richard Mabey
July 2015
In this edition of Centre Write, we look at four key aspects for the future of work: the new economy, the jobs of the future, a new welfare settlement and a more diverse workforce. Contributors include the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Professor David Blanchflower, Frances O’Grady, David Skelton and many more.
Clash of the generations
Ryan Shorthouse
March 2010
Many young people today are voiceless. They need to start talking. Shouting, even. Younger workers have been hit the worse during the recession. Over the past few decades, a more flexible labour market has made youth employment less stable and earnings have declined relative to older workers. Getting on the property ladder remains a distant dream. Assets and wealth have become increasingly concentrated higher up theage scale. The first edition of The Progressive Conscience explores the “Clash of the Generations”, with contributions from David Willetts MP, Rafael Behr, Matthew Taylor, Tim Montgomerie, Anushka Asthana and many others.
