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Andrew Harrop

@andrewharrop.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1K following 317 posts

Director at PF Global. Former Fabian Society General Secretary. Public policy of money, work & care. cradle2grave.substack.com

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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 22h
On voting reform and the EU, talk of national conversations is code – the conversation that matters is within the Labour Party and trade union movement. New post cradle2grave.substack.com/p/this-week-...
cradle2grave.substack.com
This week Burnham tried to reshape Britain for a century
The Prime Minister’s conference speech broadened Labour’s appeal and started a process that could fundamentally change the UK constitution
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The Conservatives seem to be unaware that young adults under 25 already get lower rates of universal credit www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
theguardian.com
‘Thank you Andy Burnham’: prisoners react as they begin to leave under early release scheme – UK politics live
Hundreds of prisoners are being released early today across England and Wales in attempt to ease overcrowding
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Buzzing to see the National Care Service at the heart of Andy Burnham's vision fabians.org.uk/publication/...
fabians.org.uk
Support guaranteed | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
From last week… labourlist.org/2026/09/end-...
labourlist.org
'End the triple lock – just not yet' - LabourList
By pre-announcing an end to the triple lock in the 2030s, John Healey can make a Labour case as to what it was for and why it should end.
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Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
so Labour can free themselves from their manifesto commitments before inevitably getting panicked/badgered into making the exact same manifesto commitments once again
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Dan Paskins @danpaskins.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is very good. Should also double lock child benefits so that in the long term we have the same system for children and for pensioners
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Threading the needle on the Triple Lock. My new thing for @labourlist.bsky.social calls on John Healey to pre-announce an end to the Triple Lock in the 2030s Both to sort the politics, and because it’s the right policy for fighting poverty labourlist.org/2026/09/end-...
labourlist.org
'End the triple lock – just not yet' - LabourList
By pre-announcing an end to the triple lock in the 2030s, John Healey can make a Labour case as to what it was for and why it should end.
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Richard Carr @richardcarr.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Woke suffered a hammerblow when the Fabian Society moved away from this house style
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I love how the second and third sentences directly contradict each other Also - defence, health, pensions, care - how?
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
She's having a laff. I'm old enough to remember when Laffer was a serious economist.
Kemi Badenoch

Dr Arthur Laffer is right. Britain is taxing itself to death under Labour.

He's warned for years that taxes can become so punitive they reduce revenues.

My Party has a plan to cut spending so we can lower taxes and get Britain working.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Accelerating Casey to Summer 2027 is vital for two reasons: 1. It means change can start this parliament. Early views can inform the next spending review - care will need more ££ for reform 2. Legislation and required tax rises can be implemented prior to next GE (if the government really hurries)
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This is an obviously good idea - win-win for exchequer and low income households. Can be achieved now by putting VAT on <everything> while ensuring lower ~1/2 left no worse off by increases to personal allowance, state pension, UC, child benefit etc giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
A truly progressive VAT would solve a lot of UK tax problems
Ending exemptions while excluding low-income households would be fairer and bring in far more revenue
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
🎻🎻🎻 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
More than 600,000 UK high earners could be dragged into pension trap by 2032
If thresholds are not changed, 114,000 more taxpayers face being caught by the tapered annual allowance
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The language of re-industrialisation is my only real worry with what has otherwise been a v strong start from the new government @chrisgiles.ft.com giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
There's gonna be a new PM. What he needs is an op-ed telling him what to do, of which there's no doubt a lamentable absence. Here's the time-hallowed method for creating one: 1. Set out the problem cleanly, as if the PM had literally no idea that growth, the cost of living and deficit matter. 1/
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Brilliant to hear BBC reports that Andy Burnham wants to prioritise a National Care Service. Here’s one I made earlier… fabians.org.uk/publication/...
fabians.org.uk
Support guaranteed | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Bringing services in house frequently makes sense - I really want to see more homecare in-house to run alongside neighbourhood healthcare. But there is a cost… outsourcers are cheaper because they don’t pay decent pensions. Services run by the state = paying more for better pensions
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Independent Age @independentage.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
We spent today in Parliament sharing important conversations around ending poverty in later life. A special thanks to our speakers @annadixonmp.bsky.social @joanna-elson.bsky.social @andrewharrop.bsky.social @torstenbell.bsky.social Paula & Chair of Trustees Richard Anderson www.independentage.org
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Fabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
How do we raise living standards? 💸 Today, the energy price cap goes up, adding further pressure to the cost of living. Improving living standards will be the central priority for the next Prime Minister, and ultimately, the issue that decides the next election.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
I wrote the chapter on funding for @thefabians.bsky.social new pamphlet Care To Share: Building the National Care Service. A pleasure to be part of a great collection of ideas.
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Fabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Plus contributions from @bencooper1995.bsky.social, @abbyabhaya.bsky.social, @louisewoodruff.bsky.social, @andrewharrop.bsky.social, Samantha Clark, Gavin Edwards, @drsarahyde.bsky.social and @daniellmonaghan.bsky.social
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Fabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Three years ago, the Fabian Society set out what a National Care Service should look like in a research report, Support Guaranteed. A year later, in its manifesto, Labour drew on the ideas in Support Guaranteed and committed to a new service “delivering consistency of care across the country.”
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I’ve always supported PR but before the next GE Labour should consider the AV system (where a candidate needs 50% to win). It would stop extreme parties opposed by the local majority from winning with c30% in each seat. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Will the UK embrace electoral reform?
Pressure to ditch first-past-the-post gains momentum as the political landscape becomes more fragmented
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Unfreezing LHA should be the first thing on the list for Labour’s next budget
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Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
It’s okay for the Tories/Times/Telegraph to pretend that taxes are up “because of welfare”. That’s politics. But if you care about policy you need to understand that is a long way from the truth - and wrestle with the consequences
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Toby Nangle @tobyn.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Had lost touch with quite how large balances in UK cash ISAs have grown.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
A chunky part of the productivity puzzle brought to life here - both supply and demand for business lending have been falling for years - the huge emergency lending during the pandemic now just looks like a bump in the road to ever lower lending giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Bank lending to UK businesses falls to lowest level in nearly 30 years
Weak economic growth and tighter regulation hit credit for small and medium-sized companies
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Two fantastic former @thefabians.bsky.social staff members appointed to the EHRC board @sundersays.bsky.social @jemimaolchawski.bsky.social
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Salary sacrifice pensions: who will the reforms affect? Really looking forward to speaking at this online @theifs.bsky.social event on Wednesday. I'll be reacting to great new IFS research and sharing @publicfirst.bsky.social poll results on the government's plan. ifs.org.uk/events/salar...
ifs.org.uk
Salary sacrifice pensions: who will the reforms affect? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
This online event will present findings from a new report on how the reform will likely affect different groups of employees and employers.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Another example of Labour - promising to do something - doing it - not telling people they’ve done it
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Fabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
“Local authorities are looking to use low-use golf courses as a way of building great places to live” On @listentotimesradio.bsky.social, @bencooper1995.bsky.social explains that making it easier to build on golf courses could open up accessible green spaces for thousands of people.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
ONS shows Labour cut the deficit by 0.9% of GDP in 25/26 But almost no ministerial comms, to celebrate and claim credit When this government makes hard choices and delivers, it never tells anyone!!! www.ons.gov.uk/economy/gove...
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Looming white collar job cull… in three headlines?
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Ready or not? The state pension age starts to rise today Here’s what it means for today’s 60-somethings cradle2grave.substack.com/p/ready-or-not
open.substack
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Will new policies create joined-up neighbourhood health and care services in England? Maybe. But we’re still running health and care in silos My substack post (reacting to the DHSC plan for neighbourhood health) cradle2grave.substack.com/p/good-neigh...
cradle2grave.substack.com
Good neighbours?
Will new policies enable the NHS and local authorities to build integrated neighbourhood health and care services?
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
New stats: - Overall poverty up - Child poverty up - Working-age adult poverty up - Pensioner poverty up Quite small rises (not statistically significant) but this is what Labour inherited and must now address (relative, AHC) www.gov.uk/government/c...
gov.uk
Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics
Statistics on the number and percentage of people living in low-income households in the UK.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
NEW POST 3 sobering facts about pension saving today: - ONE THIRD of people in work aren’t saving into a pension at all - HALF of 25-54s are not on track for an adequate retirement income - Typical pension savings for workers at 50 are just £27,000 cradle2grave.substack.com/p/pension-pain
cradle2grave.substack.com
Pension pain
I've just completed research showing who isn't saving for a pension - and who isn't saving enough
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
1. ONE THIRD of people in work aren't saving into a pension 2. HALF of workers aged 25 to 54 are not on track for an adequate retirement income* 3. A worker around the age of 50 typically has just £27k in their pension* * excludes those with DB pensions 🧵 group.legalandgeneral.com/en/about-us/...
group.legalandgeneral.com
Decades Ahead
Bringing together research, policy engagement and practical solutions to identify where targeted and more structural interventions can make the most significant difference to the UK’s long-term financial wellbeing and security.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
What is the Blair inner dialogue that leads him to say these things? Does he really think it advances causes he cares for or his own personal standing? Or is it an itch he just can’t help scratch?
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 05/03/2026
From FT comments
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Antonia Bance MP @antoniabance.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
If I had worked in the Number 10 that had cut childcare bills in half or more for nearly all families, I might not add “the cost of childcare” onto the list of things hitting middle earners.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
This is so telling about Labour factionalism and the mindset of (some of) the ‘serious’ people in and around the party establishment
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Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Labour needs to be a catch-all party while the electorate is fracturing and be led by someone who can confidently articulate finesse. Mission impossible?
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
This defeat is a big deal and LAB needs to think hard about strategy and positioning. But there is a risk of over-simplifying. The next GE will be won in suburbs and small cities that are neither Red Wall nor inner city. LAB needs to retain pre-24 Tory voters AND win back its Green-tempted core
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Interesting trail from Ian Cheshire of the Pensions Commission at @standardlifeuk.bsky.social event The commission will publish modelling based on BOTH the state pension with a triple lock AND a less generous future state pension (even though triple lock not formally in scope)
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Does this change everything or nothing? - target voters? - policy? - party management? - government coordination? - story telling? - why Keir wants to be PM?
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Adam Drummond @adamdrummond.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Realistically the best case for Starmer (and I'm not saying this is likely) is "Theresa May after Hill and Timothy resigned": complete change in strategy that allows for better governance setting up better conditions for his successor in the next GE
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
A good example of how strangely unpolitical this government is at times. The Economist is fretting that trade union laws have been tilted (sharply!) back towards strengthening unions. But is the government making an argument around this to progressive voters? No. economist.com/britain/2026...
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
What is the role of Adult Social Care in building a Neighbourhood Health Service? I had the pleasure of working out the answer, working with the brilliant Sir David Pearson, and writing this statement published today by Skills for Care and partners www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew...
linkedin.com
Adult social care’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Health Service in England | Andrew Harrop
Public First is delighted to have supported Skills for Care and its partners to produce this new paper on Adult Social Care’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Health Service in England. The statemen...
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