Onward (think tank): Difference between revisions

{{Shortshort description|Think tank established in 2018, based in the United Kingdom}}

In October 2020, Onward stated that its advisory board also included [[Catherine Fall, Baroness Fall|Kate Fall]], [[Tom Tugendhat]], [[Kate Rock, Baroness Rock|Kate Rock]], [[John Lamont]], [[James Kanagasooriam]], [[Craig Elder]], [[Martyn Rose]], [[Siobhan Baillie]], [[James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy|James O'Shaughnessy]], [[Rupert Harrison]], [[Richard Harrington (politician)|Richard Harrington]], [[Anthony Browne (politician)|Anthony Browne]] and [[Claire Coutinho]].<ref name=onward-advisory/> In 2022, journalist [[Sebastian Payne]] became its director.<ref>{{Citecite news |last=Tobitt |first=Charlotte |title=Times Radio's Lucy Fisher appointed FT Whitehall editor web|url=https://wwwpressgazette.ukonwardco.comuk/peoplethe-wire/advisorymedia-boardjobs-uk-news/lucy-fisher-times-radio-financial-times-whitehall-editor/ |titlework=OnwardPress AdvisoryGazette Board|website=UKOnward.com|language=en|access-date=1424 OctoberMarch 20202023}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Financial Times]]'', Onward was launched in May 2018 at an event inwhere whichthe then [[Scottish Conservative]] leader [[Ruth Davidson]] and the then environment secretary [[Michael Gove]] gave speeches, and Onward’sOnward's stated mission is to generate a "new wave of modernising ideas" and "a fresh kind of politics that reaches out to new groups of people".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d88781b6-5dca-11e8-ad91-e01af256df68|title=UK Conservatives start to turn minds beyond Brexit trauma|newspaper=The Financial Times |location=London |first=Laura |last=Hughes|date=22 May 2018|accessdateaccess-date=14 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/21/michael-gove-and-ruth-davidson-team-up-to-back-new-tory-thinktank|title=Michael Gove and Ruth Davidson team up to back new Tory thinktank|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Anne |last=Perkins|date=21 May 2018|accessdateaccess-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>

A 2019 report by Onward entitled "The Politics of Belonging" looked at the changing electoral landscape of the UK. ''[[The Times]]'' reported that "The general election will be won in the "rugby league towns" of the north of England, according to new analysis. Conservative success in attracting older white men without degrees living in such towns will determine whether the party gets a majority, the think tank Onward argues. "[[Workington man]]" will be the vital swing voter, taking the place of demographics such as "[[Worcester woman]]" and "[[Mondeo man]]" both targeted by [[Tony Blair]]'s [[New Labour]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/general-election-converting-rugby-league-towns-is-key-for-tories-xnqhgbvvw|title=General election: Converting rugby league towns is key for Tories|newspaper=The Times |location=London |first=Chris |last=Smyth|date=30 October 2019|accessdate=14 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukonward.com/media-coverage-for-politics-of-belonging/|title=Media for the Politics of Belonging|website=UKOnward.com|language=en|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>

Onward has published a number of papers on regional disparities in economic performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukonward.com/category/levelling-up/|title=Levelling Up|website=UKOnward.com|language=en|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> A March 2020 paper "Levelling up" argued that spending on infrastructure, culture and science was excessively skewed towards wealthier regions. ''The Guardian'' reported that, "The Treasury should stop directing so much money towards rich and productive London if it is serious about the "[[Levelling up policy of the Boris Johnson government|levelling up agenda]]" that Boris Johnson hopes will help him retain red wall seats, according to a report by centre-right thinktank Onward."<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/06/tory-governments-spend-more-on-london-than-rest-of-england-thinktank |title=Tory governments spend more on London than rest of England – thinktank |location=London |first=Rowena |last=Mason|date=6 March 2020|newspaper=The Guardian|accessdate=14 October 2020}}</ref> In September 2020 the BBC reported on an Onward study which found that the UK was "one of the most geographically unbalanced developed economies" and that "in Germany 12% of people live in areas where the average income is 10% below the national average, while in the UK 35% do."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54049920?mc_cid=aa95d6abaf&mc_eid=0e9682f4be |title=Conservative MPs launch 'levelling up' taskforce |location=London |website=BBC|date=7 September 2020|accessdate=14 October 2020}}</ref> The ''Financial Times'' said the study showed that "People living in seats won by the UK Conservative party in last year's general election earn on average 5 per cent less than those in areas held by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] opposition."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/48495b7f-b749-407b-9cfe-c1a34f6a9cf5?mc_cid=aa95d6abaf&mc_eid=0e9682f4be|title=Earnings in new Tory seats 5% lower than in Labour constituencies|newspaper=The Financial Times|location=London|first=Sebastian|last=Payne|date=7 September 2020|accessdate=14 October 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Another programme of research at the think tank has looked at social capital and community life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukonward.com/category/repairing-our-social-fabric/|title=Repairing our social fabric|website=UKOnward.com|language=en|access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref> A March 2020 report "Repairing our social fabric", was launched with a joint article by Conservative MP [[Danny Kruger]] and Labour MP [[Jon Cruddas]] which argued that "The share of people joining local organisations, volunteering, or exchanging news or favours with those living around them is in precipitous decline. Of course, there are substitutes in new online forms of community, but the loss of face-to-face connection cannot be replaced by screen-time."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/04/left-right-must-unite-repair-broken-communities/|last1=Kruger|first1=Danny|last2=Cruddas|first2=Jon|title=Left and Right must unite to repair our broken communities|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=4 March 2020|accessdate=14 October 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>