Politics

The Future Generations Bill has been introduced to the House of Lords

Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones presents Lord John Bird’s Private Member’s Bill into the House of Lords as it takes its first step towards becoming law

Future Generations Bill

Lord John Bird’s Future Generations Bill has begun its journey towards becoming law after it was introduced to the House of Lords today.

While the Brexit turmoil continues over Brexit in the Commons, Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones gave the bill its first reading in the Lords today on behalf of The Big Issue founder.

Last week the draft legislation was drawn ninth in the Private Member’s Bill ballot which put it among the top 20 bills that will receive priority treatment in the chamber.

That meant that it received its first reading today. This is the first of several stages of scrutiny that the bill will receive in the House of Lords and then the Commons in order to come into force.

Introducing the bill, Baroness Jones said: “I would like to introduce a bill on behalf of the noble lord Lord Bird to make provision for requiring public bodies to act in pursuit of the environmental, social, economic and cultural well-being of the United Kingdom in a way that accords with the Future Generations principle.”

The draft legislation aims to enshrine in law the creation of an independent UK Commissioner for Future Generations and a requirement on (non-devolved) public bodies, including the UK government, to balance the needs of the present with the needs of the future.

The Future Generations Bill – which is set to be introduced into the House of Commons by Green MP Caroline Lucas – is inspired by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which came into force in Wales in 2016 to act as a bulwark against short-termism.

Lord Bird’s UK bill aims to add extra teeth to the Welsh act by adding an explicit legal right for individuals to hold those bodies to account where their duties are not being met.

As Lord Bird puts it: “I hope the bill will pass through Parliament and help us make the world of tomorrow not simply an accumulation of the half-arsed hopes and the short-term governmental thinking of days gone by.”

And since it was launched earlier this month, it has already received plenty of support, including from Lord Andrew Adonis, think tank IPPR, the Intergenerational Foundation and Wales’ Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe.

“Young people are rightly calling out current leaders who are failing to act on issues which will affect their futures such as climate change,” said Howe, who invited Lord Bird to deliver the annual Future Generations lecture in Cardiff last year.

“Our internationally groundbreaking legislation in Wales, the Well-being of Future Generations Act provides this framework alongside an independent mechanism to hold government to account.

“There’s never been a greater need for something similar covering UK government.”

The Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development’s chair of trustees Graham Smith added: “It’s high time that parliament recognised that new ways of working are needed to avoid the short-termism endemic in our politics.

“So many of today’s big issues require a long-term perspective. It is time for change.”

Young people are rightly calling out current leaders who are failing to act on issues which will affect their futures such as climate change

Labour peer Lord Adonis said: “I’m a huge fan of John Bird. He makes a good contribution to the Lords and he’s always thinking about the better future and I completely agree with him.

“I think that him founding The Big Issue is one of the best things that’s happened, not just in publishing but putting homelessness and deprivation on the political agenda. And I think his bill will do the same as well, so I will be thoroughly behind him.”

The Future Generations Bill is part of a wider campaign by The Big Issue to dismantle poverty by laying the groundwork now for a more equal society for the generations who follow. We’re calling it Today for Tomorrow and you can find out more in the magazine over the coming months.

And visit TodayForTomorrow.org.uk to find out what you can do.

#TodayForTomorrow

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
'Out of touch': Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slammed after claiming £100,000 a year 'isn't a huge salary'
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on inflation
Politics

'Out of touch': Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slammed after claiming £100,000 a year 'isn't a huge salary'

Tory minister Mel Stride sparks backlash after claiming mental health culture has 'gone too far'
Mel Stride/ work capability assessments
Mental health

Tory minister Mel Stride sparks backlash after claiming mental health culture has 'gone too far'

'Food security should be part of our DNA': Would a national food plan help combat poverty?
Food poverty

'Food security should be part of our DNA': Would a national food plan help combat poverty?

UK inflation falls to lowest level in more than two years. But what does it mean for your wallet?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will be tasked with stopping the UK economy slipping into a technical recession
Inflation

UK inflation falls to lowest level in more than two years. But what does it mean for your wallet?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know