Bright Blue

Bright Blue is the independent think tank that seeks to defend and improve liberal society.

[Bright Blue @WeAreBrightBlue]

‼️Our latest essay collection on the future of British Liberalism‼️

18 essays in total from emerging and established liberals across party lines, including contributions from @liambyrnemp , @monicabeharding , @andy4wm , @PDJSwallow , @charles_hendry, @vincecable, @RobertBuckland , @TonyJuniper , @normanlamb , @ProfDavidNutt , @timleunig , Professor Paul Gregg CBE, and more.

👇Link 👇
https://t.co/MoQPjzbEAL

[Sky News @SkyNews]

'At some point the markets will stop borrowing to us.'

Institute for Fiscal Studies director @HelenMiller_IFS tells Sky's @cathynewman that 'if the govt wants to spend more, it is going to have to find cuts or raise taxes substantially.'

https://t.co/dIKJeN2uqF

📺 Sky 501

[Centre Write @CentreWriteMag]

💷"Taxing wealth more... is not just about raising revenue or redistributing wealth. Most fundamentally of all, it is about removing the distortions that disfigure our economy, society and democracy by rewarding extraction over enterprise and ownership over effort." writes Will Snell of the @fairnessfdn 🧑‍🏭

👇Link👇
https://t.co/3B9DwLV2Qg

[Henry Clifford @henry_clif9330]

As in physics, as in life

[Bartek Staniszewski @BGStaniszewski]

Happy that my recent @spectator article has attracted a lot of traffic on Facebook. Alas, it seems as though maybe 1% of the people commenting have actually read it.

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Very thoughftul piece on @CentreWriteMag from Will Snell, CEO of the @fairnessfdn, on why the right should not tax work more than wealth

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Valjean, not Javert…

Great to be on @GBNEWS last night.

People such as Louise Haigh MP who have committed a relatively minor crime, including of dishonesty, which is now spent should be allowed to succeed in professional life without stigma if they have shown good character since.

This should apply to everyone, regardless of their social or political background.

People should not have to endure being endlessly judged by the worst mistake they have made in their life. They should be allowed to move on. Indeed, those on the centre-right believe that people can improve their lot in life through their own efforts; an optimistic worldview which should also be extended to ex-criminals.

[Bright Blue @WeAreBrightBlue]

Our Chair @RyanShorthouse on @GBNEWS discusses why people who have committed relatively minor crimes that are now spent, including acts of dishonesty, should be able to eventually go on to succeed in professional life without stigma, if they’ve shown good character since.

People shouldn’t be judged endlessly on the worst mistake of their lives.

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Thank you to @PatrickChristys and @GBNEWS for letting me discuss why people who have committed a relatively minor crime, including of dishonesty, which is now spent should be allowed to succeed in professional life without stigma if they have shown good character since.

This should apply to everyone, regardless of their social or political background.

People should not have to endure being endlessly judged by the worst mistake they have made in their life. They should be allowed to move on.

[Bright Blue @WeAreBrightBlue]

RT @RyanShorthouse: I disagree with reducing VAT on energy bills from 5% to 0%. It would have been much more efficient and equitable to inc…

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

I think it’s wrong to keep describing Louise Haigh MP as a convicted fraudster.

She committed a crime 13 years ago. The crime she committed, for which she received one of the lowest possible sentences - a conditional discharge, does not preclude her from doing the job she has been appointed to. She made a mistake and she should be allowed to move on from it.

Those in public life should be showing that those who have committed relatively minor crimes eventually have a route to a successful life without stigma.

https://t.co/b2OwoTfRxG

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Very reassuring that @ShabanaMahmood remains Home Secretary. I think what she is trying to achieve with our legal immigration system and our asylum system is broadly right - morally, economically and politically. She has come up with sensible and creative policies, including adopting many @WeAreBrightBlue policies!

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

My article for @CentreWriteMag

“It’s time for honesty.”

https://t.co/abiHqO8mgF

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

There is some truth in this, although too much responsibility is put on Theresa May. This was the fashionable consenus - still is, hence Burnham's rhetoric.

https://t.co/IZvyt3oLYA

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

If you want the state to protect some
of your assets for private benefit then you can’t really complain if the state also tries to take some of your assets for public benefit.

[William Clouston SDP @WilliamClouston]

From my recent interview with @WeAreBrightBlue ⬇️

https://t.co/JrWTEfzFHE

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Politicians will keep failing if they think politics is mainly about positioning and personality, not policy.

[Centre Write @CentreWriteMag]

🇬🇧@WilliamClouston leader of the @SDPhq discusses the need for an industrial strategy, the need for the SDP in today's ever more crowded politics, and more!🔨

🟥"We’re more socially conservative than the Tories have been."🟦

🔋"Most of us in the party have actually built a few things."🏗️

👇Link to the interview👇
https://t.co/LF67Mc3mRD

[Bright Blue @WeAreBrightBlue]

RT @RyanShorthouse: Thank you to @thetimes for making me the lead letter today

I hope this can help to open up a conversation we desperat…

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

Thank you to @TalkTV for having me on to discuss why I think we should be raising both the State Pension Age and the Normal Minimum Pension Age for private pension drawdown

I hope the State Pension Age Review and the Pensions Commission established by the Pensions Minister @TorstenBell proposes this and the normalisation of retiring at the age of 70 as soon as possible.

[Ryan Shorthouse @RyanShorthouse]

This is a shame, Torsten. One of the best ways the government can help drive growth and reduce public expenditure is increasing the number of people aged 55 and over working, which - among other policies - would mean increasing the State Pension Age and the age in which you can start drawing down your private pension asap.