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Andrew Harrop

@andrewharrop.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1K following 324 posts

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

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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
Chris Rivers @chrisrivers50.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
“We looked at retail and hospitality, and found jobs in care for working-age adults were significantly better on 15 of 40 measures; worse on none. We also looked at healthcare, often seen as preferable to social care. Jobs in social care were not significantly worse than health on any measures”
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
The research was commissioned by Care Matters whose focus is working-age adults, so that’s the focus of the report. We collected data for workers caring for older people and the results are very similar.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Smashing the myth that social care is ‘bad work’ We asked 4,000 people to rate their jobs on 40 measures of employment quality. Jobs in care were at or above average for every indicator My new research for PF Global and Care Matters cradle2grave.substack.com/p/smashing-t...
cradle2grave.substack.com
Smashing the myth that social care is ‘bad work’
My new research shows that people who provide social care to working-age adults have better quality jobs than other workers on low and middle pay
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Thanks Aveek, I felt bad dumping on retail and hospitality so much in this report. But on indicator after indicator these are the low/middle paid jobs that workers rate badly
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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
Aveek Bhattacharya @aveek18.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Really interesting research by @andrewharrop.bsky.social - counterintuitive, but not surprising if you think about it, that working in social care isn't anywhere near as bad a job as made out: it has a strong sense of purpose and relative security cradle2grave.substack.com/p/smashing-t...
cradle2grave.substack.com
Smashing the myth that social care is ‘bad work’
My new research shows that people who provide social care to working-age adults have better quality jobs than other workers on low and middle pay
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
A great canter through 20 years of serial failures at social care reform (including a recap of what I said in my report for Labour in opposition)
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Matt @mr3402.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Just a case in point. Person x owns a property worth 1m house which is 5 bedrooms. They can buy a 3 bed bungalow for 450K. That 550K is now released from the property and looking at the policy would be IHT liable. So many older folks would just not do that for IHT reasons
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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I've thought the Tories would go after IHT for a while - it's an obvious political choice given the voters they're targeting. But this is about the worse way to do it as it further gums up the housing market.
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Kemi Badenoch has just KILLED downsizing in retirement Welcome to millions of frail, single pensioners, in homes far too big for them, refusing to move for fear of the tax hit giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Tory conference live: Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap inheritance tax on family homes
Conservative leader pledges to slash levies while accusing Andy Burnham of ‘spending money we don’t have’
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Is Burnham a lucky general? @resolutionfoundation.org suggest the OBR might upgrade their medium-term growth assumptions just before next year’s hellish spending review
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Totally agree with all this - and with trying to do something similar on child benefit. The OBR would hopefully let Treasury score some revenue from the positive behavioural effects
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
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
The other really important point was what he said about social care workers. He celebrated their 'huge skill, humor and humanity', saying 'you are not invisible to me'. Watch out for more care workforce reforms as the Fair Pay Agreement approaches
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
But the biggest social care reform announced today is reform of care charges. People talk all the time about the means-testing of assets, but the PM has announced reform of the means-testing of incomes. This is a big deal for low income older people and working-age disabled [but watch the detail]
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
And with part of the funding from fair and sustainable reform to the triple lock next parliament 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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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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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
Totally agree Dan - the child and basic adult rates of UC should be double locked too
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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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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
So many overseas-origin proposals fail to engage with the huge volume of levers in the UK tax/benefit system that can achieve whatever your policy aim (hello UBI!)
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Andrew Harrop @andrewharrop.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Agreed! And just a lot simpler to do
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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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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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Reposted by Andrew Harrop
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
Interesting. That will be the soft left’s dilemma over the next few years. But if you <have> set some fairly tough fiscal rules (that stop you doing popular things) you should definitely tell people when you deliver on them
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