The Social Market Foundation is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank, standing proudly in the centre-ground of politics since 1989.  We bring together people of all parties and none to develop evidence-based policies that support a fair society and a strong economy.

Commentary

Time for a national food plan

Food is essential for all of our lives, but the cost of living crisis and supply chain shocks since the war in Ukraine have shown the need to take food seriously as a political issue. Andrew Parkes, the Labour & Co-operative Parliamentary Candidate for Peterborough, makes the case that it’s time for a new food plan to ensure food security and help drive growth.

Published: 21 March 2024
Author: Andrew Pakes
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Commentary

Making London a home and safe haven for everyone

Based on her own experience of navigating through a complex web of inequalities, London Mayoral candidate Natalie Campbell wants to ensure that the capital can now deliver a safe foundation for the next generation - as she sets out her plan to end youth homelessness and improve temporary accommodation in London.

Published: 14 March 2024
Author: Natalie Campbell MBE
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Commentary

How the next government can reform pensions to ensure a better deal for the economy and British savers

The UK’s pensions system is an international outlier, investing too little in illiquid assets. But there's great opportunity here - with DC schemes being able to take on greater risk as they are less constrained by regulation. In this blog, SMF Trustee Melville Rodrigues sets out how the next government should seek to unlock these savings to boost the economy and generate better returns for savers.

Published: 08 March 2024
Author: Melville Rodrigues
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Media Release

Food security is as vital as energy security, says Labour rising star Andrew Pakes in call for new national food plan

The next government should develop an ambitious national food plan to drive economic growth and ensure that UK supply chains are more resilient to future shocks, says Labour and Co-op parliamentary candidate.

Published: 20 March 2024
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Media Release

GDPR reforms leave people vulnerable to exploitation and privacy invasion unless Lords make urgent changes, top lawyers warn

Leading data rights lawyers, including one who led the case against notorious political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, have urged Members of the House of Lords to take more to time to scrutinise the Government’s controversial Data Bill.

Published: 19 March 2024
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Media Release

UK should consider ‘housing sin taxes’, inspired by Australia and Canada

‘Housing sin taxes’ – levied on vacant homes, ‘house flipping’ and foreign buyers – could be a useful source of revenue, a think tank argues today.

Published: 19 March 2024
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