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

by Common Sense Policy Group, Kate E. Pickett, Richard Wilkinson

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 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.

Genres: Nonfiction

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Roger Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. Published this year, in advance of the UK general election, it offers a comprehensive set of policies designed to fundamentally change our society, just as the Beveridge Report did 80 years ago. Written by a team of 17 academics and others, it provides common sense arguments, backed by costings, for a range of policies which I instinctively support but which I had assumed were radical pie-in-the-sky. What's amazing (to me) is that they have tested public support for all of the policies and found that they would in fact be popular electorally if a major political party had the courage to adopt them. For example, I've read about Universal Basic Income, and know that it is a Green Party policy, but had assumed it would be hugely unpopular and un-fundable; this book demonstrates that the contrary is true. It's also beautifully structured, each chapter beginning with 'this chapter in 30 seconds' and ending with a brief summary of the recommendations. I can't pretend to have understood it all - some of the economics in particular went over my head. Nor can I remember it all . But I'm certainly going to keep it to hand and use it as a reference book. Despite the frightening direction of politics in many countries, this book gives me a glimmer of hope.

[Denis Southall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed, thorough, costed 'manifesto' that many people disillusioned with current mainstream politics would do well to embrace and promote as I don't think we can rely on any of our main parties to deliver the better future and new social contract that we all need.