Petition launched asking next Prime Minister to put our children’s future first
- 19th June 2024 -
Leading baby and kids’ food brand Ella’s Kitchen has launched a petition calling for the next Prime Minister to commit to a Future Generations Act within the first 100 days of parliament.
A Future Generations Act aims to improve the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of the UK by requiring public bodies to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, rather than relying on short-term fixes.
If adopted, the Act would mean that every law passed by Parliament would have to consider how that law would affect people now, our children tomorrow, and future generations to come – placing the wellbeing of our children, and the future of our country, at the heart of decision making. A similar Act was introduced in Wales in 2015 and is considered world-leading.
The petition, which is backed by the world’s first Future Generations Commissioner, Sophie Howe, asks our next Prime Minister to follow the Welsh Parliament’s lead by urgently introducing the Act to combat some of the biggest challenges facing people today – from record levels of child poverty to the climate crisis.
“We have 4.3 million children living in poverty, their health and wellbeing compromised, and the climate and nature crisis threatening our planet and food supply. Like all parents, I worry about how these issues will impact not just my children's future, but the future of every child growing up today, and those for generations to come. If we're going to change this, we need to radically rethink how our political leaders make decisions - ensuring they prioritise the long-term benefit to all, including future generations. That's why we're asking people to join us in calling on whoever becomes our next Prime Minister to prioritise our children's future and ensure their voices are heard by backing a UK-wide Future Generations Act."
Chris Jenkins
Director of Impact at Ella’s Kitchen UK
The world’s first Future Generations Act was introduced by the Welsh Parliament in 2015. Since then, the concept has gained international support, with the United Nations having recently committed to ratifying a Declaration on Future Generations.
In Wales, the Act has seen the Government held to account over how their decisions affect people now and in the future, with the most notable result being the reversal of a decision to spend the entirety of Wales’s borrowing capacity to build a motorway that would run through environmentally sensitive wetlands, with funds instead being diverted to investment in public transport and active travel – benefiting the long-term health and wellbeing of people, as well as the natural environment
“The decision to introduce a Future Generations Act should be an easy one. It’s about what we as a society want to leave behind - for our children, grandchildren and the generations that follow. In Wales, the Act helped to lay a blueprint for a new, bolder, healthier, prosperous, and more resilient society.
“We now need political parties in Westminster to show the same ambition, and roll-out a UK-wide Future Generations Act. For too long, politicians have relied upon quick win, sticking plaster, politics that have failed to address the big issues facing people now, and fail to set us up for success in the future. The time for change is now”.
Sophie Howe
former Future Generations Commissioner and campaigner
Sign the petition
Once signed, the petition will be delivered to the next Prime Minister following the re-opening of Parliament. You can sign the petition here: https://showyoursupport.ellask...
