Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
Politics

More than 70 politicians backing our Future Generations Pledge were elected

Our Future Generations campaign does not end at the election – we’ll be keeping an eye on the new MPs as well as relaunching Lord John Bird’s Future Generations Bill

Future Generations pledge hero

Around 70 of the politicians who were elected in last night’s general election have taken our Future Generations Pledge.

Of the 561 signees, 72 ended up in power – meaning The Big Issue will be scrutinising the decisions that they make in the next five years to ensure that they consider the impact on generations to come.

Our campaign will continue once Parliament formally reopens, with Lord John Bird reintroducing his Future Generations Bill to the House of Lords after the election forced the draft legislation to start its journey into law from the beginning.

We decided to keep the spirit of the bill – which aims to create a UK Future Generations Commissioner to scrutinise decisions made by public bodies – alive with the Future Generations Pledge.

We asked politicians to:

“ACT TODAY FOR TOMORROW

Advertisement
Advertisement

Working to prevent problems, including the climate crisis and poverty, from happening instead of dealing in short-term, political emergencies.

RESPECT THE NEEDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS

Taking their needs into account in new policies, budgets and laws, giving them a seat at the table.

BACK THE FUTURE GENERATIONS BILL

Delivering a new, sustainable vision for the nation that prioritises the environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing of current and future generations.”

The pledge proved a smash hit. It was the only idea that all the major parties agreed on, attracting cross-party support as well as unanimous backing from all of the main political leaders, including Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon as well as Green figurehead Carolina Lucas and Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price. Outgoing or already former leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson also supported the pledge.

Now we’re past the election, The Big Issue will continue campaigning for the forward-thinking that is vital to stop us repeating the mistakes of the past in the future.

As Lord Bird puts it: “The Future Generations Bill, building on the Welsh example, is what grown-up thinking needs to ensure that it doesn’t just satisfy our immediate needs, but casts a happy shadow forward.”

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
North East mayor Kim McGuinness on ambition, austerity and why she's the 'ultimate pragmatist'
North East mayor Kim McGuinness
Exclusive

North East mayor Kim McGuinness on ambition, austerity and why she's the 'ultimate pragmatist'

Nadhim Zahawi: 'The line between being on the street and being chancellor is very, very slim'
Nadim Zahawi
Letter to my Younger Self

Nadhim Zahawi: 'The line between being on the street and being chancellor is very, very slim'

A Kamala Harris win could make her the first TikTok president
Kamala Harris
Politics

A Kamala Harris win could make her the first TikTok president

Nadhim Zahawi: 'We're supposed to be the party of government, not some mafiosi'
Former politician Nadhim Zahawi
Politics

Nadhim Zahawi: 'We're supposed to be the party of government, not some mafiosi'

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

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

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