Would you take a cash sum from government now (equivalent to the state pension, ~£12,500), in exchange for retiring a year later? We're looking at options for this 'Citizen's advance' - with a report out later this year 📝

What could the UK learn from Switzerland's asylum reforms? ⚡ Faster processing ⚖️ Fairer legal process 🛡️ Firmer appeals & returns Read more: buff.ly/hRApj2a Sponsored by Serco

Cutting the interest rate on all Plan 2 loans should not be the priority for government reforms - as higher earners would see the biggest benefits. @danihpayne.bsky.social and @beckymontacute.bsky.social look at other options for change - open.substack.com/pub/danihpay...

Everyone else has been obsessing about Denmark. But what lessons can the UK learn from how Switzerland reformed their asylum system? Not just from what they did, but also how they did it. My report - for @smfthinktank.bsky.social - is out today: www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Across western democracies, asylum systems are under strain. Switzerland's reforms offer lessons for the UK on making processes faster, fairer and more robust. Read the report: buff.ly/hRApj2a Sponsored by Serco

New research from @thekingsfund.bsky.social highlights the continuing low level of confidence in the social care system - with 49% of the population dissatisfied with social care. The government needs to show it can fix big problems like social care.

From the rollout of new drug services to a review of UK drugs legislation, it’s clear a full-spectrum approach is needed to address Scotland’s drugs crisis. Read our report to see how we got here – and what we can do: buff.ly/IUWC3Ft Kindly funded by @therobertsontrust.bsky.social

The SMF's Chief Economist @gideonsalutin.bsky.social in @labourlist.bsky.social today on the case against u-turning on the long awaited fuel duty rise planned later this year - labourlist.org/2026/03/forg...

And the crisis is having a considerable economic impact, the SMF's new modelling estimates the cost to be as much as £5.7 billion annually.

There are solutions to Scotland’s drug crisis that evidence shows work. Naloxone and needle & syringe programmes help form a full-spectrum response that reduces harm and rebuilds livelihoods. Read our report: buff.ly/IUWC3Ft Kindly funded by @therobertsontrust.bsky.social

📊 New research on Scotland's drug crisis 📊 Drug harm has a profound human toll in Scotland. The crisis also comes at a huge economic cost. Today's report (by Jake Shephard, @jamiegollings.bsky.social and Barney Dowling) sets out new economic analysis on the crisis ⬇️

Scotland’s drugs crisis is worsening and becoming more complex. Framing the debate as harm reduction vs abstinence is unhelpful. Our new report sets out a roadmap for the next Scottish Government: buff.ly/IUWC3Ft Kindly funded by @therobertsontrust.bsky.social

🚨NEW REPORT🚨 Scotland is losing as much as £5.7bn annually from the wider social and economic harms caused by drugs. Read more about why - and what can be done to stop it. buff.ly/IUWC3Ft Kindly sponsored by @therobertsontrust.bsky.social

A perfect bit of weekend reading for the education policy nerds out there, @danihpayne.bsky.social and I look at options for student loan reform, and the key issues policymakers need...

📝 NEW - How do you fix a problem like student loans? Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social and Research Director @beckymontacute.bsky.social on the ongoing Plan 2 student loan controversy, and what government should do about it ➡️ open.substack.com/pub/danihpay...

In his latest blog, Richard Hyde explores the Government's new fraud strategy, and whether measures like a new Online Crime Centre will make a difference. buff.ly/zrc6jLy

An emergency mindset is needed in government to prevent millions of Gen X from falling into pensions inadequacy, writes @smfthinktank.bsky.social's @gideonsalutin.bsky.social

Andrew is one of many people born between 1965 and 1980 who are now considering not retiring because their savings may not be enough. Our new report explores why this is happening — and what government can do to help. Read more: buff.ly/jTm50Xb

Like Hanna, much of Gen X have found pensions confusing — something to worry about later in life. But many are now approaching retirement with lower savings than expected. Read our report on the coming “pension shock”: buff.ly/jTm50Xb

Pension shock could trigger a new wave of economic insecurity across the UK, as many in Gen X grapple with lower-than-expected retirement incomes. Our new report explains how we got here — and what government can do to help. Read more: buff.ly/jTm50Xb

Millions in Gen X are projected to have inadequate pensions – and they don’t know it yet. ‘Pension Shock’ refers to this emerging trend, which is likely to have major social and economic consequences in the coming decades. Read our new report: buff.ly/jTm50Xb

🚨NEW REPORT🚨 Britain’s middle-aged workers stand on the cusp of a social crisis, as Gen X realise their retirement income will be considerably lower than expected. Our new research finds 54% of Gen X are projected to have inadequate retirement savings. Read the full report: buff.ly/jTm50Xb

We're delighted Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social, will be joining us tomorrow to discuss pension shock RSVP here: buff.ly/RsIwA31

On Tuesday, our expert panel will discuss the looming social and economic crisis facing Gen X – Pension Shock @theobertram.bsky.social @csfoot.bsky.social Zoe Alexander @gideonsalutin.bsky.social Baroness Kramer RSVP here: buff.ly/RsIwA31 Kindly sponsored by Standard Life

The UK’s defined contribution pension market is heading for a shake-up - and regulators are not ready. Read the FT Advisor's write-up of our report from pensions expert, Michael Johnson.

Join us on Tuesday 17th March for a discussion on the looming ‘pension shock’ that those in their 40s and 50s are likely to face upon discovering the inadequacy of their pension pots. RSVP here: buff.ly/RsIwA31 Kindly sponsored by Standard Life

🚨NEW SPEAKERS🚨 We’re delighted an expert panel will be joining us to talk about the pension shock facing Gen X @theobertram.bsky.social @csfoot.bsky.social Zoe Alexander @gideonsalutin.bsky.social Baroness Kramer RSVP here: buff.ly/RsIwA31 Kindly sponsored by Standard Life

For years, Britain has been dangerously complacent about a suprising issue - lead. @aveek18.bsky.social writes on how Britain is lagging globally on lead screening. Read the full report: buff.ly/XDTbETA

V Levels have the potential to give students more time to explore different pathways. But for V Levels to succeed, universities and employers will need to value them as credible routes. Read @danihpayne.bsky.social's reaction to the Government announcement on new V-Level subjects buff.ly/wW0aolt

Was Adam Smith an advocate for a social market economy? 250 years after the Wealth of Nations was published, Richard Hyde notes the importance of 'social trust' in Smith's desire for a 'commercial society'. buff.ly/u1U9Z3h

Join us for a discussion on the looming ‘pension shock’ that those in their 40s and 50s are likely to face upon discovering the inadequacy of their pension pots. buff.ly/RsIwA31 Kindly supported by the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement

Both the current and previous Government have lauded apprenticeships - but we still haven't quite figured out their place in modern British life. @beckymontacute.bsky.social noted that Labour's latest reforms need to resolve a key issue - low pay. Read the full article buff.ly/K69a3br

We're delighted to announce that @gideonsalutin.bsky.social is our new Chief Economist. Gideon will lead our economic research, including ways to secure growth that uplifts households across the country. Read more about Gideon: buff.ly/8oNCWLM

Great to chat to Martha Gill for this recent piece on apprenticeship policy for the @smfthinktank.bsky.social ⬇ observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

A few snaps from a really interesting roundtable event on NEETs at the end of last week (hosted by Etio) - particularly enjoyed getting to actually visit a college site (and what a view from the Ada, National College for Digital Skills London campus)

🚨 OUT TODAY: UK pensions governance and regulatory frameworks will be “unfit for purpose” within a decade, warns leading policy expert Michael Johnson. The Pension Schemes Bill 2025 could leave as few as ten dominant “megatrust” providers by the mid-2030s.

A recent @smfthinktank.bsky.social briefing looked at the health and care system in prisons, finding multiple failings across the system. Come join for a discussion of the issues later this month ⬇️

🚨NEW EVENT🚨 Join us for a discussion on the looming ‘pension shock’ that those in their 40s and 50s are likely to face upon discovering the inadequacy of their pension pots. www.smf.co.uk/events/pensi... Kindly supported by @standardlifeuk.bsky.social

The realities of prisoner ill health are shocking. You're much more likely to die young in prison: the average age of death in custody is 56, but in the general population it's 81 It may not win votes, but a safer prison estate benefits us all, writes the @smfthinktank.bsky.social's Jake Shepherd

It is in all of our interests to improve prisoner health For @politicshome.bsky.social, Jake Shepherd writes about the realities of ill health in the prison estate. buff.ly/qRkIlJW

We cannot wait for another tragedy before the Government takes meaningful action on lead exposure and poisoning. Many might think of lead poisoning as a problem of the past. But that simply isn’t true.🧵

In the Schools White Paper, Government emphasised the importance of a 'broad' education system, with a renewed focus on wellbeing alongside attainment. @danihpayne.bsky.social outlines why this is welcome, having been called for by the SMF

Myself and @danihpayne.bsky.social's assessment of today's SEND reforms and the potential political battle ahead to pass them - www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

SEND reforms are finally here – but will they deliver? Read analysis from @beckymontacute.bksy.social @danihpayne.bsky.social on the Schools White Paper buff.ly/iOttD8i

🗣️Our Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social quoted in @theipaper.com today on SEND reform. SMF broadly welcomed the SEND reforms, but noted political challenges to come for the Government on this sensitive policy area.

Brilliant to see the White Paper today highlight what our previous research found: that there is no inherent trade off between wellbeing and attainment and, in fact, they are often mutually reinforcing. www.smf.co.uk/publications... @smfthinktank.bsky.social

On some of the wider stuff in the schools white paper - an ambition to half the attainment gap is incredibly ambitious (and welcome!) but I'm not currently convinced government are doing enough to meet that - there's lots of positive stuff, but the scale just isn't enough vs the challenge

🚨EVENT TOMORROW🚨 Britain desperately needs growth – at our event, we’ll discuss how households can be the driving force: @theobertram.bsky.social @callumandersonmp.bsky.social Jonquil Lowe @simonharrington.bsky.social @gideonsalutin.bsky.social Sign up: buff.ly/DJi6Lhk Sponsored by PIMFA

Happy Schools White Paper day for all those who celebrate 📃 This morning starts with more detail on the government's SEND plans, with schools getting more funding for specialised support - and a tightening of EHCPs. Our recent briefing called for that approach, including limiting EHCPs..

While under-18 custody rates have fallen, 43% in Young Offenders’ Institutions and Secure Training Centres report feeling unsafe. Read our latest briefing on prisoner health: buff.ly/W6K4TDJ Kindly sponsored by Policy@Manchester