1 Kensington Gore
Kensington, London SW7 2AR
UK
In June 2016, the UK voted to ‘Leave’ the European Union (EU) by a narrow margin (52 per cent to leave and 48 per cent to remain). Whilst said to reflect a long-standing ‘Eurosceptic’ culture amongst a substantial proportion of the population, analysis has revealed significant differences in voting behaviour between geographical areas, and within different groups of society.
According to Lord Ashcroft’s post-referendum poll, demographic differences such as age, level of educational attainment and socio-economic groupings are amongst the key factors in explaining the referendum results. The majority of those voting to leave the EU reported that life in Britain today was worse than 30 years’ ago and people perceived more threats than opportunities to their standard of living. Meanwhile, in response to a concern that people and places were being ‘left behind’ by social and economic change, the Casey Review into opportunity and integration concluded that social and economic progress and the opportunities this presents for people should be seen as a key indicator for a more integrated nation.
In January 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a seminal speech on her 12 objectives for the ‘Brexit’ negotiations, which called for a UK that was ‘more united’, and aspired to ‘build a stronger economy and a fairer society by embracing genuine economic and social reform’. This was supported by the more recent publication of a White Paper, which sets out the Government’s strategy for leaving the EU in more detail.
Within this context, this Policy Forum considers how the UK can become ‘more united’ and seeks to address the following questions:
How can policy better support social and economic inclusion, to tackle inequalities and divisions in places and communities across the UK?
To what extent do responses need to be tailored to specific communities?
Policy Forum events are aimed at those with a relevant professional interest in the topic; the purpose is the exchange of knowledge and perspectives between those from policy, practice, business and the third sector