Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract

Common Sense Policy Group; Matthew T Johnson; Danny Dorling; Jamie Driscoll; Irene Hardill; Cat Hobbs; Elliott Aidan Johnson; Neal Lawson; Jennifer Nadel; Daniel Nettle; Kate E. Pickett; Zack Polanski; Allyson Pollock; Howard Reed; Ian Robson; Graham Stark; David Taylor-Robinson; Richard Wilkinson

Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract

Common Sense Policy Group, Matthew T Johnson, Danny Dorling, Jamie Driscoll, Irene Hardill, Cat Hobbs, Elliott Aidan Johnson, Neal Lawson, Jennifer Nadel, Daniel Nettle, Kate E. Pickett, Zack Polanski, Allyson Pollock, Howard Reed, Ian Robson, Graham Stark, David Taylor-Robinson, Richard Wilkinson

Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

Abstract

An inspiring manifesto offering a radical vision for our political future.

We live in an age of crisis and decline. The right presents 'solutions' that only worsen the situation, driving a downward cycle in which desperation leads to despair. But the left is also to blame: progressive politicians have consistently failed to recognise both the urgency of people's need and their receptiveness to new solutions.

In Act now, a team of leading researchers presents a compelling and achievable vision for a progressive future. They outline clear policies for welfare, health and social care, education, housing and more. Arguing for a rolling forwards of the state, they call for a new era of active citizenship and economic democracy, grounded in robust and resilient institutions.

Only a comprehensive and integrated approach, based on clear evidence of feasibility and popularity, can provide a pathway to the secure, democratic and prosperous Britain of tomorrow. This book is the blueprint. It calls on politicians, pundits and the British people to act now.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Manchester
Publisher	Manchester University Press
Number of pages	350
ISBN (Print)	9781526180766, 9781526180759
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2024

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

Reduced Inequalities

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526180766/

Embargoed Document

Act Now Chapter 2_
Accepted author manuscript, 753 KB
Embargo ends: 1/01/26

17 Article
4 Commissioned report
1 Book
1 Editorial
More
- 1 Other contribution
- 1 Preprint

Anxiety, insecurity and redistribution in the UK ‘red wall’: have policy preferences changed since the COVID-19 pandemic?
Stark, G., Johnson, E. A., Ahmed, Z., Kamalakannan, S., Reed, H., Flinders, M., Nettle, D., Johnson, M. T. & Degerman, D., 31 Mar 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

File
Count the Costs: A Common Sense Update for the 2025 Spring Statement
Reed, H., Thew, A., Stark, G., Nettle, D., Johnson, M. T. & Johnson, E. A., 27 Mar 2025, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Common Sense Policy Group. 15 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

Open Access
File
Examining the relationship between income and both mental and physical health among adults in the UK: Analysis of 12 waves (2009-2022) of Understanding Society
Reed, H., Nettle, D., Parra Mujica, F., Stark, G., Wilkinson, R., Johnson, M. T. & Johnson, E. A., 6 Mar 2025, In: PLoS One. 20, 3, 29 p., e0316792.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File

5 Downloads (Pure)

2 Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
2 Other
2 Invited talk
1 Oral presentation

Basic Income and social security
Johnson, M. (Speaker)
26 Feb 2025
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Health and disability benefits reform roundtable hosted by Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
Johnson, E. (Participant)
30 Jan 2025
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
Health and disability benefits reform roundtable hosted by Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
Johnson, E. (Participant)
5 Dec 2024
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...

Act Now: A Vision for a Better Future and a New Social Contract
Johnson, M. (Participant), Nettle, D. (Participant), Johnson, E. (Participant), Stark, G. (Participant) & Reed, H. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy, law and services

Cite this

Common Sense Policy Group, Johnson, M. T., Dorling, D., Driscoll, J., Hardill, I., Hobbs, C., Johnson, E. A., Lawson, N., Nadel, J., Nettle, D., Pickett, K. E., Polanski, Z., Pollock, A., Reed, H., Robson, I., Stark, G., Taylor-Robinson, D., & Wilkinson, R. (2024). Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract. Manchester University Press. https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526180766/

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Common Sense Policy Group, Johnson, MT, Dorling, D, Driscoll, J, Hardill, I, Hobbs, C, Johnson, EA, Lawson, N, Nadel, J, Nettle, D, Pickett, KE, Polanski, Z, Pollock, A, Reed, H , Robson, I , Stark, G, Taylor-Robinson, D & Wilkinson, R 2024, Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract. Manchester University Press, Manchester. <https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526180766/>

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Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract

Abstract

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Embargoed Document

Research output

Anxiety, insecurity and redistribution in the UK ‘red wall’: have policy preferences changed since the COVID-19 pandemic?

Count the Costs: A Common Sense Update for the 2025 Spring Statement

Examining the relationship between income and both mental and physical health among adults in the UK: Analysis of 12 waves (2009-2022) of Understanding Society

Activities

Basic Income and social security

Health and disability benefits reform roundtable hosted by Minister of State for Social Security and Disability

Health and disability benefits reform roundtable hosted by Minister of State for Social Security and Disability

Impacts

Act Now: A Vision for a Better Future and a New Social Contract

Cite this