NEF in the news, April 2020

‘Shorten Our Hours, Prolong Our Lives’
NEF’s analysis showing how the link between productivity, rising wages and shorter working hours was derailed post-1980 was mentioned in an article by Ronan Burtenshaw for Tribune. 

The case for a minimum income guarantee
Alfie spoke to Richard Spurr on LBC about NEF’s proposal for a minimum income guarantee as a way for the government to strengthen the social safety net and support families during the coronavirus crisis.

Love doesn’t pay the bills
Many nannies and housekeepers won’t receive anything from government coronavirus schemes, writes Miranda Hall for OpenDemocracy. 

Nurseries and parents are faced with problems on both sides of the fence
Lucie Stephens was quoted in an article by Hazel Sheffield in the Times about the challenges faced by the childcare sector in the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Coronavirus vaccine, the economic impacts and the UK government exit plan
Miatta appeared on BBC News’ The Papers to discuss the developments on a coronavirus vaccine, the economics impacts of the pandemic, how xenophobia and nationalism are being fuelled by the outbreak, the UK government’s exit plan and how the crisis is playing out across the world.

Government Covid-19 measures and funding public services
Miatta appeared on BBC Two Newsnight and made the case for further government intervention to protect workers during the coronavirus crisis and for more investment in critical services like the NHS and social care.

One in six Britons is at risk of losing their jobs because of coronavirus
New analysis showing that to 5.6 million UK workers are at risk of losing their jobs was covered in the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror.

‘Split: Class Divides Uncovered’ with Ben Tippet, Grace Blakeley and Emily Scurrah
Emily was on the Pluto Press podcast discussing how Covid-19 has thrown the idea of class, and class society, into sharp relief. 

UK workers hit by the economic pain of coronavirus need an income guarantee
NEF’s Minimum Income Guarantee was mentioned in an opinion piece by Rory Macqueen on strengthening the social safety net in the Guardian. 

Strengthening the UK’s social safety net
Alfie Stirling appeared on Eddie Nestor’s drivetime show on BBC Radio London to talk about the huge numbers of Universal Credit applications in the last two weeks and how we can strengthen our social security system to better support people during the coronavirus crisis.

Crisis in the UK social security system
Alfie Stirling spoke to Julia Hartley-Brewer on talkRADIO about the massive spike in Universal Credit claims in the last two weeks, and made the case for a Minimum Income Guarantee to strengthen the safety net during the coronavirus crisis.

Supporting SMEs during the coronavirus crisis
Frank van Lerven spoke to Nick Ferrari on LBC about whether the government was doing enough to help small businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

Ramping up coronavirus testing in the UK
Alfie appeared on Drivetime with Dan Wootton on talkRADIO to discuss why the UK is so behind on coronavirus testing.

Financial help for airlines ​‘should come with strict climate conditions’
A letter signed by NEF calling for rescue of airlines hit by coronavirus to come with strict conditions on their future climate impact was covered in the Guardian. 

The UK government needs to get coronavirus testing up to speed
NEF CEO Miatta Fahnbulleh asks why the government isn’t ramping up testing in its response to coronavirus on All Out Politics with Adam Boulton on Sky News.