NEF in the news, January 2020

Brexit Day 
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh talks about how we got to Brexit day and what happens next on BBC 2 Politics Live the day we formally leave the European Union.

Defending our unions
Aidan Harper wrote for Tribune about responding to attacks on our unions by building a mass movement to fight for workers’ rights.

Protests over PM’s Brexit plan could become ​‘more serious’ in Northern Ireland, loyalist warns
Griffin Carpenter told Sky News that compromise on fishing in the EU negotiations will be very hard in the time available. 

HS2 is a solution in search of a problem
Director, Policy & Advocacy Andrew Pendleton wrote for CityMetric in response to independent review forecasting that the cost of HS2 might now cost up to £106bn

How could the money spent on HS2 be better invested in the rest of the rail network? 
Director of Policy & Advocacy Andrew Pendleton spoke to Darren Adam on LBC about how HS2 will deliver more benefits to London than the North and where the money would be better spent on the rest of the rail network to address the regional divide.

We must fight the next recession by investing in a green future
Frank van Lerven and Alfie Stirling write for openDemocracy about NEF’s recent report calling for the government to respond to the next recession with green investment.

How does our obsession with GDP incentivise activity like that of the Betfred Tycoons?
Head of Economics Alfie Stirling explains to Matthew Wright how our measure of economic success enables companies to profit from problems they contribute to.

Should the government have saved Flybe by deferring the flight tax bill?
Head of Economics Alfie Stirling spoke to Nick Ferrari on LBC about the government’s decision to save Flybe by deferring the flight tax bill.

Avoid UK recession by kickstarting green economy, says thinktank
NEF’s new report ​‘Recession Ready: a green plan to beat tomorrow’s downturn’ was covered in the Guardian.

The royal family, Iran-US crisis, Labour Leadership and Dominic Cummings
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh appeared on BBC Question Time to talk about reform to the monarchy, Qasem Soleimani’s assassination, the future of the Labour party and the role of special advisors.

What spending plans can we expect to see in the 2020 Budget?
Head of Economics Alfie Stirling spoke to Matthew Wright on talkRADIO about what spending announcements we might see in the upcoming budget.

What can the UK learn from Finland’s plans to move to a four-day week?
Aidan Harper was on the Matthew Wright show to discuss Finland’s plans to move to a four-day week and why the UK should follow suit.

Labour Leadership contest and the Brexit Budget
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh spoke on BBC News The Papers about the Labour leadership contest and the government’s upcoming Brexit Budget.

US-Iran crisis and the Labour leadership contest
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh talks through the day’s headlines on the fallout from the US airstrike in Iran and the Labour leadership contest for Sky News All Out Politics.

Australia fires, Boris Johnson’s new year message and Finnish PM’s calls for a four-day week
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh responded to news on the fires in Australia, Boris Johnson’s new year message and the Finnish prime minister’s calls for a four-day week on Good Morning Britain