James Foster
The founder and author of Manifesto 1.0 — an independent proposal for a new economic and social settlement for Britain.
Why I wrote Manifesto 1.0
I wrote Manifesto 1.0 because I believe Britain needs a bigger conversation about the kind of country it wants to become over the next decade.
Our political debate can become trapped between familiar choices: more state or less state, higher taxes or lower taxes, greater security or greater individual responsibility. I wanted to explore whether those objectives could be brought together into a different settlement.
The result is Manifesto 1.0: a deliberately ambitious programme covering income security, work, taxation, housing, health, energy, defence, infrastructure, welfare and long-term economic growth.
An open proposal
Some of the proposals are deliberately provocative. The Universal Standard Income, the 16-hour participation principle, abolition of employee National Insurance, cannabis regulation, major nuclear expansion and the wider programme are intended to start a serious argument about Britain's future.
Manifesto 1.0 is called 1.0 for a reason. It is a starting point, not a claim to have every answer.
What I am asking
Challenge the numbers
If you believe the economic model does not work, show me where the assumptions fail.
Challenge the ideas
If you think a policy is wrong, explain what you would do instead and why it would work better.
Read Manifesto 1.0Challenge the proposal
Contact
If you would like to discuss Manifesto 1.0, offer a serious criticism, or suggest an improvement, I would be pleased to hear from you.
James Foster
foster1986@mail.com