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BRIGHT BLUE CAMPAIGN
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
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DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2023
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 28 February 2023.
The principal activity of the Company in the year under review was that of defending and improving liberal society. Our primary role is to vet, explain, change and create government policy.
Bright Blue is an independent think tank for liberal conservatism. Our main outputs are research, events and communications. Our work is guided by seven new research themes: bountiful economy; clean environment; good lives; rewarding work; empowering government; just institutions; and connected communities.
Our detailed analysis and innovative policymaking has led to 15 significant changes in national government policy in this financial year. This includes:
∙Raising the salary threshold for employees and self-employed paying National Insurance
∙Expanding R&D Tax Credit to include cloud computing and data
∙Maintaining the telemedicine abortion service after the pandemic
∙Introducing a flexible lifelong loan entitlement
∙Removing the ability of local authorities to charge for the disposal of DIY waste from households at waste disposal sites
∙Appointing Ofgem as the new regulator for heat networks
∙Relaxing planning constraints on onshore wind
∙Cancelling the rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions, and the employer’s element of the Health and Social Care Levy
∙Increasing the generosity and availability of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
∙Extending the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT)
∙Maintaining the Green Levy on energy, but paid for via taxpayers
∙Cutting Stamp Duty for nearly all first-time buyers
∙Banning plastic in wet wipes
∙Increasing the value of state benefits in line with inflation
∙Increasing the value of the National Living Wage in accordance with recommendations by the Low Pay Commission
We published several publications in 2022-23, including:
∙'Energising enterprise: reforming business taxes', A research report, March 2022
∙'Greening UK Export Finance', A research report, April 2022
∙'Stepping up: public attitudes to addressing the cost of living crisis', Analysis, April 2022
∙'A vision for tax reform in the 2020s', A research report, May 2022
∙'A carbonless crucible? Forging a UK steel industry', A research report, July 2022
∙'State shifting?', Centre Write magazine, August 2022
∙'An agenda for action: Reducing racial inequality in modern Britain', An essay collection, August 2022
∙'Picking up the pieces: tackling littering and fly-tipping in England', Analysis, October 2022
∙'Work in progress? Supporting the self-employed after the pandemic', A research report, November 2022
∙'Building up: The future of social security', A research report, January 2023
∙'Greater and greener homes: more homes, ready for net zero', A research report, February 2023
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