The Big Issue’s Future Generations Pledge goes from “strength to strength”

The Big Issue’s Future Generations Pledge has already attracted cross-party support, now Lord John Bird is looking beyond politicians to help spread his future-thinking message.

We launched the pledge last week to ask politicians on the campaign trail to consider the impact that decisions made in the present have on the future.

It is part of Big Issue founder Lord Bird’s campaign to enshrine a Future Generations Act in UK law. This campaign will continue post-election when he reintroduces his private member’s bill to Parliament.

Good afternoon discussing #FutureGenerationsBill with @johnbirdswords and many others. Why would any party manifesto not include such a promise? pic.twitter.com/WMyVhRyqIe

— Brendan Martin (@BrendanFMartin) November 13, 2019

But in the meantime, Lord Bird has been spreading his message to more than 40 organisations in his “Shaping the Campaign for a Future Generations Act” event.

The University of Westminster gathering, hosted by the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development, allowed Lord Bird to lay out his vision and the reasons behind it to organisations including UK Student Climate Network, WWF-UK, Carnegie Trust UK, IPPR, Intergenerational Foundation.

A fantastic day spent shaping the campaign for a UK Future Generations Act! Thank you to everyone who shared their time, ideas and expertise – onwards and upwards! #todayfortomorrow 👍 pic.twitter.com/NcuQfWQKev

— John Bird (@johnbirdswords) November 13, 2019

The Big Issue’s head of advocacy Oliver Sidorczuk said: “Our campaign for a UK Future Generations Act is moving from strength to strength. Following the launch of our Future Generations Pledge last week – now supported by candidates from across the spectrum – the campaign workshop shows that we’re well on our way to growing the effective, cross-sector alliance we need to change mind-sets – and change the law.”

The Big Issue’s Future Generations Pledge has already been backed by high-profile politicians including Labour’s Jess Phillips, Luciana Berger of the Lib Dems and Greens’ Caroline Lucas.

But as candidates hit the campaign trail and the election heats up, we need your help to ensure more and more politicians are taking the pledge.

Thanks. This is an issue I have campaigned on for the past two years as an MP. I work with homeless groups & volunteer on the soup run. Rough sleeping is on the rise but as a city we are trying new things: the alliance contract is a big step forward. Need to end austerity also

— Luke Pollard (@LukePollard) November 12, 2019

Reader Cliffe Tribe has led the way – two of the candidates that he has asked, Labour’s Plymouth representative Luke Pollard and Greens’ Chris Rigby, have given the pledge their approval.

To see how you can get involved by asking your local candidates whether they will be backing the pledge, head here.