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#Higher Prices

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The cost of living crisis: all in it together?

a thinkin series The cost ofliving crisis: all in it together? Join us and have your say. In partnership with UCL, Tortoise journalists and invited guests will be taking stock of existing policy around the cost of living crisis, identifying where the gaps are and how we can bridge them. what is a thinkin? The ThinkIn is not a typical panel discussion, but a forum for civilised disagreement and organised listening. It’s modelled on a newspaper editorial conference designed to reach a better informed opinion based on the experience and expertise of everyone in the room. About Sessions UK inflation hit a 40-year high last October, with the rising cost of energy and food hurting households in particular. The UK government was left with little choice but to step in: the Energy Price Guarantee and Warm Home Discount scheme became key economic policies. But although the cost of living crisis has affected nearly everyone in the UK, it has not done so equally. Based on November ONS data, the Resolution Foundation estimates that inflation for the richest households was 9.6 per cent – while for the poorest it was 12.5 per cent. The ONS note says that in December 2022, 61 per cent of those in deprived areas were buying less food; in the least deprived areas that figure stood at 41 per cent. Although some government policies aimed at mitigating the impact of price rises are means-tested, the evidence shows that financial aid for the most vulnerable is often not enough. Policy response has focused almost exclusively on economic measures. The UK’s social inequalities may have been accelerated by the pandemic, but were already well entrenched. Meanwhile, government departments often spend their time competing for resources and focusing on single-issue policies, rather than taking a holistic approach. How would an intersectional approach – thinking across different departments and across social groups – impact government policy when reacting to the cost-of-living crisis? Do any government departments consider the impact of rising costs for people across social groups – race, gender, class, disability – when building policy (aside from one-off Equality Impact Assessments)? Which communities that intersect social groups have faced the brunt of the cost of living crisis? And how can we prepare for future upheavals? For more information, please email hannah.slattery@tortoisemedia.com. about us Tortoise is building a different kind of newsroom. We’re opening up journalism and giving everyone a seat at the table. The ThinkIn is the heart of what we do. It’s a forum for civilised disagreement where our members take part in live, unscripted conversations that shape the way we report the world. Sessions Use the code UCLTHINKIN to book your place below. Session 1 of 3 Tuesday 25 April: 14:00 – 15:00 The cost of living crisis: all in it together? Before we can rethink policy approaches and their impact on society, we need to understand the state of play. How did the government react to the warning signs ahead of the cost-of-living crisis and what evidence did they draw upon to form policy response? How were different social groups impacted by the same policy? Where did existing assessments fall short? We will assess Whitehall’s response and any specific policy gaps that can be traced to a lack of intersectional thinking. Did devolved administrations approach the issue more effectively and if so, how? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 2 of 3 Tuesday 30 May: 14:00 – 15:00 First principles: how do we build effective policy?  What would it mean to take policy back to first principles – the betterment of everyone? More importantly, what would it mean in practice to create policy without siloed government departments? How is data on the experiences of people affected by the current crisis being collated and is this being utilised to measure effectiveness of government policy or targeted interventions? Are there examples of policy making, in the UK or abroad, that keep intersectionality in mind? What difference has that made? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 3 of 3 Tuesday 20 June: 14:00-15:00 Bridging the gaps: where do we go from here?  What were the barriers to formulating policy in reaction to the cost-of-living crisis that meant certain social groups fell through the cracks? What practical steps, in the current fiscal environment, can be done to remove them? How can we ensure adoption of intersectional thinking and a cross-department approach is implemented when required? And, how can we make sure policymakers see the benefits to society as a whole of taking an intersectional approach? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Editors Jess Winch News editor, Tortoise Speakers

thinkin

The cost of living crisis: all in it together?

a thinkin series The cost ofliving crisis: all in it together? Join us and have your say. In partnership with UCL, Tortoise journalists and invited guests will be taking stock of existing policy around the cost of living crisis, identifying where the gaps are and how we can bridge them. what is a thinkin? The ThinkIn is not a typical panel discussion, but a forum for civilised disagreement and organised listening. It’s modelled on a newspaper editorial conference designed to reach a better informed opinion based on the experience and expertise of everyone in the room. About Sessions UK inflation hit a 40-year high last October, with the rising cost of energy and food hurting households in particular. The UK government was left with little choice but to step in: the Energy Price Guarantee and Warm Home Discount scheme became key economic policies. But although the cost of living crisis has affected nearly everyone in the UK, it has not done so equally. Based on November ONS data, the Resolution Foundation estimates that inflation for the richest households was 9.6 per cent – while for the poorest it was 12.5 per cent. The ONS note says that in December 2022, 61 per cent of those in deprived areas were buying less food; in the least deprived areas that figure stood at 41 per cent. Although some government policies aimed at mitigating the impact of price rises are means-tested, the evidence shows that financial aid for the most vulnerable is often not enough. Policy response has focused almost exclusively on economic measures. The UK’s social inequalities may have been accelerated by the pandemic, but were already well entrenched. Meanwhile, government departments often spend their time competing for resources and focusing on single-issue policies, rather than taking a holistic approach. How would an intersectional approach – thinking across different departments and across social groups – impact government policy when reacting to the cost-of-living crisis? Do any government departments consider the impact of rising costs for people across social groups – race, gender, class, disability – when building policy (aside from one-off Equality Impact Assessments)? Which communities that intersect social groups have faced the brunt of the cost of living crisis? And how can we prepare for future upheavals? For more information, please email hannah.slattery@tortoisemedia.com. about us Tortoise is building a different kind of newsroom. We’re opening up journalism and giving everyone a seat at the table. The ThinkIn is the heart of what we do. It’s a forum for civilised disagreement where our members take part in live, unscripted conversations that shape the way we report the world. Sessions Use the code UCLTHINKIN to book your place below. Session 1 of 3 Tuesday 25 April: 14:00 – 15:00 The cost of living crisis: all in it together? Before we can rethink policy approaches and their impact on society, we need to understand the state of play. How did the government react to the warning signs ahead of the cost-of-living crisis and what evidence did they draw upon to form policy response? How were different social groups impacted by the same policy? Where did existing assessments fall short? We will assess Whitehall’s response and any specific policy gaps that can be traced to a lack of intersectional thinking. Did devolved administrations approach the issue more effectively and if so, how? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 2 of 3 Tuesday 30 May: 14:00 – 15:00 First principles: how do we build effective policy?  What would it mean to take policy back to first principles – the betterment of everyone? More importantly, what would it mean in practice to create policy without siloed government departments? How is data on the experiences of people affected by the current crisis being collated and is this being utilised to measure effectiveness of government policy or targeted interventions? Are there examples of policy making, in the UK or abroad, that keep intersectionality in mind? What difference has that made? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 3 of 3 Tuesday 20 June: 14:00-15:00 Bridging the gaps: where do we go from here?  What were the barriers to formulating policy in reaction to the cost-of-living crisis that meant certain social groups fell through the cracks? What practical steps, in the current fiscal environment, can be done to remove them? How can we ensure adoption of intersectional thinking and a cross-department approach is implemented when required? And, how can we make sure policymakers see the benefits to society as a whole of taking an intersectional approach? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Editors Jess Winch News editor, Tortoise Speakers

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In conversation with Jack Monroe

Monroe rose to prominence writing about their struggles to feed their young son with a food budget of £10 a week on their blog ‘Cooking on a Bootstrap’. Since then, Monroe has published cookbooks filled with “austerity recipes” and has given evidence in Parliament highlighting the impact of the rising cost of basic food items on people living in poverty.In response to George Eustice’s suggestion that shoppers could “manage their household budget” by changing the brands they buy, they responded that “somebody who claims £196,000 in expenses in a single year is in no position to tell other people to get cheaper biscuits”.Join us for a very special ThinkIn with Jack, where we’ll be talking all about food poverty campaigning, the cost of living crisis, and the inflation of a bag of pasta with their trademark wit and cutting commentary. editor and invited experts David TaylorEditor Jack MonroeCampaigner, Author and Blogger — ‘Cooking on a Bootstrap’

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Inflation: what’s really going on?

This is a digital-only ThinkIn.With fragile consumer confidence and arguably even more fragile consumers, the last thing the Government needs right now is a persistently high inflation. Despite the bruises it picked up with multiple accusations of sleaze and cronyism, it’s very possible that soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis will be the undoing of Johnson’s government. The latest Consumer Price Index inflation figures have hit a decade high of 4.2% – and if that wasn’t bad enough, an interest rate hike is almost certainly lurking around the corner. The Chancellor’s messaging on this is to reframe it as a global problem of volatile energy prices and supply chain issues, but that doesn’t help families and individuals who, according to figures from Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, will be £1,111 worse off over next year. Inflation is going to stick around for a while, and if Rishi Sunak is right and we can’t do anything about energy prices and supply chains, what’s the political response we need right now? editor and invited experts James HardingCo-founder and Editor Jack LeslieSenior Economist, Resolution Foundation Liam Byrne MPFormer Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2009-10) Vicky PryceEconomist and Business Consultant, Former Joint Head of the United Kingdom’s Government Economic Service

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High taxes, high wages, high prices: what does the Budget mean?

This is a digital-only ThinkIn.The day after Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, announces what some people have called his “nightmare budget”, Tortoise members, editors and expert analysts will get together to figure out what it means for households, for business and the wider economy – and what clues it holds about strategic divisions between No 10 and No 11, and for government strategy overall. Please bring your questions and observations as we spend an hour making sense of it all together. editor and invited experts Ceri ThomasEditor and Partner Anne LongfieldChair, Commission on Young Lives Dr Gemma TetlowChief Economist at the Institute for Government James SmithResearch Director, Resolution Foundation Molly Scott CatoGreen politician, economist and activist. Previously a Professor of Economics at Roehampton University

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A ThinkIn with Mark Carney on Value(s)

a thinkin series The cost ofliving crisis: all in it together? Join us and have your say. In partnership with UCL, Tortoise journalists and invited guests will be taking stock of existing policy around the cost of living crisis, identifying where the gaps are and how we can bridge them. what is a thinkin? The ThinkIn is not a typical panel discussion, but a forum for civilised disagreement and organised listening. It’s modelled on a newspaper editorial conference designed to reach a better informed opinion based on the experience and expertise of everyone in the room. About Sessions UK inflation hit a 40-year high last October, with the rising cost of energy and food hurting households in particular. The UK government was left with little choice but to step in: the Energy Price Guarantee and Warm Home Discount scheme became key economic policies. But although the cost of living crisis has affected nearly everyone in the UK, it has not done so equally. Based on November ONS data, the Resolution Foundation estimates that inflation for the richest households was 9.6 per cent – while for the poorest it was 12.5 per cent. The ONS note says that in December 2022, 61 per cent of those in deprived areas were buying less food; in the least deprived areas that figure stood at 41 per cent. Although some government policies aimed at mitigating the impact of price rises are means-tested, the evidence shows that financial aid for the most vulnerable is often not enough. Policy response has focused almost exclusively on economic measures. The UK’s social inequalities may have been accelerated by the pandemic, but were already well entrenched. Meanwhile, government departments often spend their time competing for resources and focusing on single-issue policies, rather than taking a holistic approach. How would an intersectional approach – thinking across different departments and across social groups – impact government policy when reacting to the cost-of-living crisis? Do any government departments consider the impact of rising costs for people across social groups – race, gender, class, disability – when building policy (aside from one-off Equality Impact Assessments)? Which communities that intersect social groups have faced the brunt of the cost of living crisis? And how can we prepare for future upheavals? For more information, please email hannah.slattery@tortoisemedia.com. about us Tortoise is building a different kind of newsroom. We’re opening up journalism and giving everyone a seat at the table. The ThinkIn is the heart of what we do. It’s a forum for civilised disagreement where our members take part in live, unscripted conversations that shape the way we report the world. Sessions Use the code UCLTHINKIN to book your place below. Session 1 of 3 Tuesday 25 April: 14:00 – 15:00 The cost of living crisis: all in it together? Before we can rethink policy approaches and their impact on society, we need to understand the state of play. How did the government react to the warning signs ahead of the cost-of-living crisis and what evidence did they draw upon to form policy response? How were different social groups impacted by the same policy? Where did existing assessments fall short? We will assess Whitehall’s response and any specific policy gaps that can be traced to a lack of intersectional thinking. Did devolved administrations approach the issue more effectively and if so, how? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 2 of 3 Tuesday 30 May: 14:00 – 15:00 First principles: how do we build effective policy?  What would it mean to take policy back to first principles – the betterment of everyone? More importantly, what would it mean in practice to create policy without siloed government departments? How is data on the experiences of people affected by the current crisis being collated and is this being utilised to measure effectiveness of government policy or targeted interventions? Are there examples of policy making, in the UK or abroad, that keep intersectionality in mind? What difference has that made? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Session 3 of 3 Tuesday 20 June: 14:00-15:00 Bridging the gaps: where do we go from here?  What were the barriers to formulating policy in reaction to the cost-of-living crisis that meant certain social groups fell through the cracks? What practical steps, in the current fiscal environment, can be done to remove them? How can we ensure adoption of intersectional thinking and a cross-department approach is implemented when required? And, how can we make sure policymakers see the benefits to society as a whole of taking an intersectional approach? Jess Winch, News Editor, Tortoise Book your place Editors Jess Winch News editor, Tortoise Speakers

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A Digital ThinkIn with Lord Mervyn King, former Bank of England governor

Former Bank of England governor talks about the economy, recessions and decision-making for an unknowable future. Our daily digital ThinkIns are exclusively for Tortoise members and their guests.Try Tortoise free for four weeks to unlock your complimentary tickets to all our digital ThinkIns.If you’re already a member and looking for your ThinkIn access code you can find it in the My Tortoise > My Membership section of the app next to ‘ThinkIn access code’.We’d love you to join us.Mervyn King served ten years as governor of the Bank of England, a decade that spanned the global financial crisis. The British economist joins us to talk about the economy, managing a recession and his recent book Radical Uncertainty – Decision Making for an Unknowable Future.Chair: James Harding, Editor and Co-founder, Tortoise How does a digital ThinkIn work?A digital ThinkIn is like a video conference, hosted by a Tortoise editor, that takes place at the advertised time of the event. Digital ThinkIns are new to Tortoise. Now that our newsroom has closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, we feel it’s more important than ever that we ‘get together’ to talk about the world and what’s going on.The link to join the conversation will be emailed to you after you have registered for your ticket to attend. When you click the link, you enter the digital ThinkIn and can join a live conversation from wherever you are in the world. Members can enter their unique members’ access code to book tickets. Find yours in My Tortoise > My Membership in the Tortoise app.If you have any questions or get stuck, please read our FAQs, or get in touch with us at memberhelp@tortoisemedia.comWhat is a Tortoise ThinkIn?A ThinkIn is not another panel discussion. It is a forum for civilised disagreement. It is a place where everyone has a seat at the (virtual) table. It’s where we get to hear what you think, drawn from your experience, energy and expertise. It is the heart of what we do at Tortoise.