March newsletter: Cliff edges, carbon, and cræft
Plus: Details of two job opportunities at the Centre for British Progress
Dear friends,
In his novel Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy writes of that moment in the year when one can go out in just a jacket, rather than a heavy coat, and the earth feels full of possibilities. “Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
So with the vernal equinox behind us, we are diving headlong into the activity of the season. And it feels especially appropriate today, since this date on the calendar marked the beginning of the new year in England for centuries.
If you too are looking for a new project to get stuck into, come and join us! We are hiring. Read on for more.
🧰 Our latest work
Dispatches from the research coalface
Rates and Wrongs: Fixing UK Tax Cliff Edges and Tapers – Cliff edges in the tax system currently punish people for pay rises, leaving carers and high-earning parents worse off if they earn an extra pound. Ezra and Matthew show how smoothing these traps into tapers, the Government can help carers in poverty, reward work and boost the economy – all at no extra cost to the taxpayers.
A contributory migration system for Britain – The debate around Britain’s migration system has been framed as a choice between ‘open’ and ‘closed’ for too long, missing what people actually care about: fairness. Julia and Pedro put together this proposal for a contributory migration system that provides an answer to the competing pressures our system faces. To help illustrate the idea, we built an interactive eligibility checker.
Making the most of Britain’s AI for Science Strategy – As the government considers additional AI for Science missions, three strong candidates stand out: pathogen detection, environmental forecasting and metascience. Sanjush Dalmia dived into the case for each one, and also proposed the establishment of a UKRI Dark Data Prize.
Post Haste: How we unleash Cræft Britannia – We are supporting a new prize that seeks ingenious applications of the fusion between heritage craft and innovative technology. Louis Elton, founder of the British Cræft Prize, wrote about the ethos behind its inception.
Post Haste: AI hardware startups need a shop window. Britain can provide it. – In a guest post, ARIA’s Suraj Bramhavar announced the Scaling Inference Lab and explained why this country is uniquely positioned to deliver the project.
Post Haste: Don’t subsidise housing demand! – Amid rumours that a rehash of the Help to Buy scheme was underway, Kane and Pedro argued that it was never a pro-homes policy.
Post Haste: How the UK’s food fortification fell behind – Ezra dug into why scientific findings are not being translated into policy, and how to fix it.
Post Haste: We need to talk about the carbon levy – To protect Britain from future energy shocks, Ed and Pedro argued, we need to make sure that electrification adds up for consumers. The Carbon Price Support (CPS) tax would be a good place to start.
Sovereign Albion: How to find Albion, with Zakia Sewell – Andrew interviews the author and broadcaster about exploring myth, folklore and the alternative spirit of Britain that could bring us together.
🧭 On our radar
Policy changes and projects of note
Nuclear Nation report – The Government has published its plans for how it will implement the Nuclear Taskforce Review’s recommendations. We have been maintaining the Nuclear Taskforce Tracker to keep an eye on this topic and are looking forward to seeing that green bar fill up with progress!
AI Economics Institute – The Chancellor announced the formation of a new AI Economics Institute during her Mais Lecture last week. This is set to build on the example of the AI Security Institute. We’ll be watching closely to see how this develops.
More progress on OxCam – Rachel Reeves also confirmed new investment for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor in her speech. This includes the creation of a development corporation for Greater Oxford, following the launch of a consultation on one for Greater Cambridge last month. We set out the case for bolstering the Oxford-Cambridge arc late last year.
🗞️ In the press (highlights)
Julia wrote about migration reforms in The Telegraph.
In The New Statesman, Kane wrote about why buying a flat has become a great unknown, and how to change that.
Ed appeared before the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee to talk about air conditioning. His comments were picked up by the BBC, and several other local titles.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Ezra warned of a “fundamental flaw” in the design of the triple lock. His comments were widely picked up by other outlets.
Kane headed to Tempsford to talk to Channel 4 News about why it’s the perfect location for a new town.
📮 Parish notices
Opportunities and happenings in the ecosystem. Let us know what else should appear here by emailing editor@britishprogress.org
We are hiring! Come and work with us. We are looking for a high-agency and conscientious Fundraising and Partnerships Associate to help the Centre for British Progress scale and grow. And we are also in need of a highly capable Data Analyst to join our policy research team. Both are hybrid roles, based in our central London office. Applications are considered on a rolling basis.
Elsewhere, the Cabinet Office is recruiting a Public Sector AI Lead to run a portfolio of flagship, citizen‑facing AI products.
Applications to become an ARIA programme director open in August. You can register interest ahead of time here.
The Digital Minds Fellowship aims to bring together individuals researching AI consciousness, AI welfare and the societal implications of digital minds for a five-day residential programme at Cambridge in August. Applications to be part of the cohort are open until 27th of March.
Applications for the Encode: AI for Science fellowship are closing on the 28th of March.
📚 Bookshelf
Julia is currently reading both Means of Ascent: The Years of Lyndon Johnson (Volume 2) by Robert Caro and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Andrew recommends the newly published Finding Albion by his most recent podcast guest, Zakia Sewell. He is working on There is No Antimimetics Division, but particularly recommends reading it before/after The Buried Giant, if you’d like to ruminate on the social value of collective memory (or lack thereof).
Alys just finished Dinner with Joseph Johnson: Books and Friendship in a Revolutionary Age by Daisy Hay, a group biography of the circle that surrounded the publisher Joseph Johnson in late 18th century London. She found it to be a testament to the ways new ideas are nurtured through networks of peers and friends, as well as a reminder of the need to defend a free press.
🎲 Off-topic
What else is on our minds and in our feeds: Nightjars are back | Sirat and the blooming of Spanish cinema | Welcome to the IYKYK Economy | Nixon in China: the opera | It’s time to mulch