Rebecca Montacute
@beckymontacute.bsky.social
Research Director @smfthinktank.bsky.social, prev @suttontrust.bsky.social. Policy expert on educational inequality/social mobility.
Trustee at @inquest-org.bsky.social. Mental health campaigner in memory of mum. Views own. linktr.ee/beckymontacute
Trustee at @inquest-org.bsky.social. Mental health campaigner in memory of mum. Views own. linktr.ee/beckymontacute
Pinned
People have lost faith that traditional politics can deliver. With the centre faltering, this is exactly when new ideas are needed most.
✍️Read @beckymontacute.bsky.social's first blog as our Research Director.👇
buff.ly/W6tREhK
✍️Read @beckymontacute.bsky.social's first blog as our Research Director.👇
buff.ly/W6tREhK
Populist politics on both sides of the political spectrum offer easy answers, but the issues facing Britain in 2025 do not have easy solutions - why we need new people and new ideas in the centre of British politics now more than ever ⤵️
📕What happened in today's Budget?📕
Today the Chancellor has largely, as expected, looked to raise funds through incremental changes rather than bolder reforms.
A few notable points....
Today the Chancellor has largely, as expected, looked to raise funds through incremental changes rather than bolder reforms.
A few notable points....
November 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
📕What happened in today's Budget?📕
Today the Chancellor has largely, as expected, looked to raise funds through incremental changes rather than bolder reforms.
A few notable points....
Today the Chancellor has largely, as expected, looked to raise funds through incremental changes rather than bolder reforms.
A few notable points....
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
#Budget2025 has seen the Chancellor focus on fairness as well as growth.
As @theobertram.bsky.social outlines, there seems to have been a shift away from the 'decade of renewal'.
As @theobertram.bsky.social outlines, there seems to have been a shift away from the 'decade of renewal'.
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
#Budget2025 has seen the Chancellor focus on fairness as well as growth.
As @theobertram.bsky.social outlines, there seems to have been a shift away from the 'decade of renewal'.
As @theobertram.bsky.social outlines, there seems to have been a shift away from the 'decade of renewal'.
Personally very happy about the two child cap being removed - the more children growing up in poverty, the fewer able to reach their potential - with long term impacts for social mobility - and with it the wider economy.
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Personally very happy about the two child cap being removed - the more children growing up in poverty, the fewer able to reach their potential - with long term impacts for social mobility - and with it the wider economy.
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
The SMF welcomes the overall increase in gambling tax and particularly the higher tax on the more harmful forms of gambling, such as online casinos.
We are pleased the government has listened to our case that the more harmful and addictive products should be taxed more highly.
We are pleased the government has listened to our case that the more harmful and addictive products should be taxed more highly.
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The SMF welcomes the overall increase in gambling tax and particularly the higher tax on the more harmful forms of gambling, such as online casinos.
We are pleased the government has listened to our case that the more harmful and addictive products should be taxed more highly.
We are pleased the government has listened to our case that the more harmful and addictive products should be taxed more highly.
There it is, Remote Gaming Duty up to 40% general betting duty up to 25% - very close to the Social Market Foundation's recommendations, very happy with this 🎉
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
There it is, Remote Gaming Duty up to 40% general betting duty up to 25% - very close to the Social Market Foundation's recommendations, very happy with this 🎉
Free apprenticeship training for under 25s for SMEs is brill (and hopefully will help encourage the creation of more opportunities)
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Free apprenticeship training for under 25s for SMEs is brill (and hopefully will help encourage the creation of more opportunities)
OBR leak has remote gaming duty (RGD) up from 21% to 40% (fantastic news - we called for 50%) and general betting duty (GBD) up to 25% (what we called for) - government has listened to our case to tax types of gambling with the most harm more highly 🎉
November 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
OBR leak has remote gaming duty (RGD) up from 21% to 40% (fantastic news - we called for 50%) and general betting duty (GBD) up to 25% (what we called for) - government has listened to our case to tax types of gambling with the most harm more highly 🎉
📕 It's (finally) Budget day 🧵
Some of what we'll be looking out for from the Chancellor later today:
🎰 GAMBLING: Maybe the only policy popular with the public, Labour MPs and the bond markets is to raise taxes on online gambling (as suggested by @smfthinktank.bsky.social)...
Some of what we'll be looking out for from the Chancellor later today:
🎰 GAMBLING: Maybe the only policy popular with the public, Labour MPs and the bond markets is to raise taxes on online gambling (as suggested by @smfthinktank.bsky.social)...
November 26, 2025 at 11:34 AM
📕 It's (finally) Budget day 🧵
Some of what we'll be looking out for from the Chancellor later today:
🎰 GAMBLING: Maybe the only policy popular with the public, Labour MPs and the bond markets is to raise taxes on online gambling (as suggested by @smfthinktank.bsky.social)...
Some of what we'll be looking out for from the Chancellor later today:
🎰 GAMBLING: Maybe the only policy popular with the public, Labour MPs and the bond markets is to raise taxes on online gambling (as suggested by @smfthinktank.bsky.social)...
Beautiful day for a Budget
November 26, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Beautiful day for a Budget
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
In #Budget2025, the Chancellor could end the freeze on fuel duty - providing investment into improving our roads and air quality.
Read our thoughts on how the Gov't could end the freeze and make sure EV takeup is incentivised: buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Read our thoughts on how the Gov't could end the freeze and make sure EV takeup is incentivised: buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Will pay-per-mile raise Reeves money or drive people away from electric vehicles?
Need for new road taxes is clear – but there are concerns that pricing plan could stall transition away from petrol
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
In #Budget2025, the Chancellor could end the freeze on fuel duty - providing investment into improving our roads and air quality.
Read our thoughts on how the Gov't could end the freeze and make sure EV takeup is incentivised: buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Read our thoughts on how the Gov't could end the freeze and make sure EV takeup is incentivised: buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
Tomorrow's Budget presents an opportunity for the Government to raise much needed revenue, whilst taking action to tackle gambling harms.
That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to raise Remote Gambling Duty.
Read our latest report: buff.ly/OgxV7DJ
buff.ly/yJFDqJv
That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to raise Remote Gambling Duty.
Read our latest report: buff.ly/OgxV7DJ
buff.ly/yJFDqJv
MPs urge Reeves to raise gambling taxes despite ‘scaremongering’ from firms
Treasury select committee calls for higher duties on most addictive forms, such as high-street slots and online games
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Tomorrow's Budget presents an opportunity for the Government to raise much needed revenue, whilst taking action to tackle gambling harms.
That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to raise Remote Gambling Duty.
Read our latest report: buff.ly/OgxV7DJ
buff.ly/yJFDqJv
That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to raise Remote Gambling Duty.
Read our latest report: buff.ly/OgxV7DJ
buff.ly/yJFDqJv
"The Social Market Foundation (@smfthinktank.bsky.social) finds the UK retail landscape’s notices about risk amplify fears in the minds of people already predisposed to a methodical line over the zip up, zip down of the stock market"
www.ft.com/content/18d1...
www.ft.com/content/18d1...
Lessons from Japan’s investing drive for fellow cash-loving Britons
A national message about ‘asset building’ — and investing’s upside — has helped drive behaviour
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
"The Social Market Foundation (@smfthinktank.bsky.social) finds the UK retail landscape’s notices about risk amplify fears in the minds of people already predisposed to a methodical line over the zip up, zip down of the stock market"
www.ft.com/content/18d1...
www.ft.com/content/18d1...
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
A sector is haunting Europe.
Questions persist in Whitehall around fuel duty, how to make sure EV takeup continues and making sure Gov't has the revenue to improve public transport and air quality.
@gideonsalutin.bsky.social investigates in his latest blog:
buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Questions persist in Whitehall around fuel duty, how to make sure EV takeup continues and making sure Gov't has the revenue to improve public transport and air quality.
@gideonsalutin.bsky.social investigates in his latest blog:
buff.ly/VW6WUbF
November 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
A sector is haunting Europe.
Questions persist in Whitehall around fuel duty, how to make sure EV takeup continues and making sure Gov't has the revenue to improve public transport and air quality.
@gideonsalutin.bsky.social investigates in his latest blog:
buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Questions persist in Whitehall around fuel duty, how to make sure EV takeup continues and making sure Gov't has the revenue to improve public transport and air quality.
@gideonsalutin.bsky.social investigates in his latest blog:
buff.ly/VW6WUbF
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
Last week, @beckymontacute.bsky.social & @danihpayne.bsky.social attended the Sutton Trust's Higher Education Summit, where they spoke about how we can expand opportunity to everyone, no matter their background.
November 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Last week, @beckymontacute.bsky.social & @danihpayne.bsky.social attended the Sutton Trust's Higher Education Summit, where they spoke about how we can expand opportunity to everyone, no matter their background.
"According to a report for the @smfthinktank.bsky.social thinktank, New Zealand provides a cautionary tale. EVs were made liable last year for its road-user charge... led to a sharp drop in new EV sales – now just 4% of the market, having peaked at 19%."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Will pay-per-mile raise Reeves money or drive people away from electric vehicles?
Need for new road taxes is clear – but there are concerns that pricing plan could stall transition away from petrol
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"According to a report for the @smfthinktank.bsky.social thinktank, New Zealand provides a cautionary tale. EVs were made liable last year for its road-user charge... led to a sharp drop in new EV sales – now just 4% of the market, having peaked at 19%."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
The Chancellor is in an unenviable position.
But can she raise revenue without increasing income tax?
Read the SMF's pre-Budget briefing:
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
But can she raise revenue without increasing income tax?
Read the SMF's pre-Budget briefing:
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
November 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The Chancellor is in an unenviable position.
But can she raise revenue without increasing income tax?
Read the SMF's pre-Budget briefing:
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
But can she raise revenue without increasing income tax?
Read the SMF's pre-Budget briefing:
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
📕Our pre-Budget briefing is out
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
The nation is waiting in anticipation of the Chancellor's Budget next Wednesday
But what should she do to balance the books, and also signal that Labour is ready to deliver change?
Read our proposals for next week's Budget👇
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
But what should she do to balance the books, and also signal that Labour is ready to deliver change?
Read our proposals for next week's Budget👇
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
📕Our pre-Budget briefing is out
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
📕Our pre-Budget briefing is out
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
The nation is waiting in anticipation of the Chancellor's Budget next Wednesday
But what should she do to balance the books, and also signal that Labour is ready to deliver change?
Read our proposals for next week's Budget👇
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
But what should she do to balance the books, and also signal that Labour is ready to deliver change?
Read our proposals for next week's Budget👇
buff.ly/wZb1S7a
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
📕Our pre-Budget briefing is out
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
Next week, the government faces unavoidable trade-offs between political demands and economic reality.
With it likely the Chancellor takes a 'smorgasbord' approach of smaller tax rises - we look at the risks, tax options, and other policies to feature next week -
Highly recommend actually reading through this - am only half way in and what a lesson in the limits to expert advice and how it translates to policymakers, the importance of clear communication between decision makers and actually testing assumptions/what you're basing your views on continuously.
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Highly recommend actually reading through this - am only half way in and what a lesson in the limits to expert advice and how it translates to policymakers, the importance of clear communication between decision makers and actually testing assumptions/what you're basing your views on continuously.
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
£430 billion is held in savings accounts above the recommended limit – meaning households are missing out on higher potential returns.
Our latest report sets out how we can boost personal finances:
buff.ly/wGQmbSF
Our latest report sets out how we can boost personal finances:
buff.ly/wGQmbSF
November 20, 2025 at 10:01 AM
£430 billion is held in savings accounts above the recommended limit – meaning households are missing out on higher potential returns.
Our latest report sets out how we can boost personal finances:
buff.ly/wGQmbSF
Our latest report sets out how we can boost personal finances:
buff.ly/wGQmbSF
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
Our new report highlights the challenges of the UK’s investment landscape. But what’does the data say?
Only 8% of household wealth is held directly in UK investments. But this means savers are missing out on growing their savings – with a 20 year old worker, for example, missing out on £30,000.
Only 8% of household wealth is held directly in UK investments. But this means savers are missing out on growing their savings – with a 20 year old worker, for example, missing out on £30,000.
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Our new report highlights the challenges of the UK’s investment landscape. But what’does the data say?
Only 8% of household wealth is held directly in UK investments. But this means savers are missing out on growing their savings – with a 20 year old worker, for example, missing out on £30,000.
Only 8% of household wealth is held directly in UK investments. But this means savers are missing out on growing their savings – with a 20 year old worker, for example, missing out on £30,000.
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
The Treasury will breathe a sigh of relief following the drop in inflation - but this does not change the fact that next week's Budget will present irreconsilable political and economic demands.
✍️Read @theobertram.bsky.social in @LBC.co.uk
buff.ly/85XIkL4
✍️Read @theobertram.bsky.social in @LBC.co.uk
buff.ly/85XIkL4
Today's inflation win can't hide the trouble ahead for Rachel Reeves | LBC
This good news does not change the fundamentals facing the Chancellor in her Budget, writes Theo Bertram
www.lbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The Treasury will breathe a sigh of relief following the drop in inflation - but this does not change the fact that next week's Budget will present irreconsilable political and economic demands.
✍️Read @theobertram.bsky.social in @LBC.co.uk
buff.ly/85XIkL4
✍️Read @theobertram.bsky.social in @LBC.co.uk
buff.ly/85XIkL4
Great to speak on this skills panel at the @suttontrust.bsky.social higher education summit today, lots of important issues covered including...
November 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Great to speak on this skills panel at the @suttontrust.bsky.social higher education summit today, lots of important issues covered including...
Reposted by Rebecca Montacute
We're pleased to see the Government's new Men's Mental Health Strategy recognises the health consequeces of gambling harm
Read the full reaction from @theobertram.bsky.social👇
buff.ly/1Y04VLu
Read the full reaction from @theobertram.bsky.social👇
buff.ly/1Y04VLu
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We're pleased to see the Government's new Men's Mental Health Strategy recognises the health consequeces of gambling harm
Read the full reaction from @theobertram.bsky.social👇
buff.ly/1Y04VLu
Read the full reaction from @theobertram.bsky.social👇
buff.ly/1Y04VLu
🔉NEW RESEARCH 🔉
New Social Market Foundation research, out today, finds £430 billion of Brits' savings (beyond that needed for emergencies) are stuck in cash - rather than being invested - where people could get much higher returns.
The report outlines how govt can help encourage investment 📈
New Social Market Foundation research, out today, finds £430 billion of Brits' savings (beyond that needed for emergencies) are stuck in cash - rather than being invested - where people could get much higher returns.
The report outlines how govt can help encourage investment 📈
Britain is a country of investors – they just don’t know it.
In our latest report, @gideonsalutin.bsky.social and John Asthana Gibson outline how we can strengthen the UK’s retail investment landscape – and deliver a much-needed boost to the wider economy.
In our latest report, @gideonsalutin.bsky.social and John Asthana Gibson outline how we can strengthen the UK’s retail investment landscape – and deliver a much-needed boost to the wider economy.
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 AM
🔉NEW RESEARCH 🔉
New Social Market Foundation research, out today, finds £430 billion of Brits' savings (beyond that needed for emergencies) are stuck in cash - rather than being invested - where people could get much higher returns.
The report outlines how govt can help encourage investment 📈
New Social Market Foundation research, out today, finds £430 billion of Brits' savings (beyond that needed for emergencies) are stuck in cash - rather than being invested - where people could get much higher returns.
The report outlines how govt can help encourage investment 📈