Ben Cooper
@bencooper1995.bsky.social
Research Manager, the Fabians. Interested in education, housing, Sea Wall and rural. Union rep.
Great to be in Number 10 with @lukeraikes.bsky.social today.
We were talking about how to build more good quality homes in every part of the country - and the work of the Fabian Housing Centre.
Get in touch if you want to hear more about our work.
We were talking about how to build more good quality homes in every part of the country - and the work of the Fabian Housing Centre.
Get in touch if you want to hear more about our work.
November 13, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Great to be in Number 10 with @lukeraikes.bsky.social today.
We were talking about how to build more good quality homes in every part of the country - and the work of the Fabian Housing Centre.
Get in touch if you want to hear more about our work.
We were talking about how to build more good quality homes in every part of the country - and the work of the Fabian Housing Centre.
Get in touch if you want to hear more about our work.
Great to see the North East Mayor commit to trialling a Health in Pregnancy Grant and Baby Boxes.
First Steps, my report for @thefabians.bsky.social, recommended implementing both nationally.
Let's hope where the North East leads, the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy follows.
First Steps, my report for @thefabians.bsky.social, recommended implementing both nationally.
Let's hope where the North East leads, the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy follows.
July 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Great to see the North East Mayor commit to trialling a Health in Pregnancy Grant and Baby Boxes.
First Steps, my report for @thefabians.bsky.social, recommended implementing both nationally.
Let's hope where the North East leads, the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy follows.
First Steps, my report for @thefabians.bsky.social, recommended implementing both nationally.
Let's hope where the North East leads, the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy follows.
"When it comes to national renewal, there are few tasks more urgent and more necessary than tackling England’s housing crisis."
It was great to hear from @mtpennycook at @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Summit.
It was great to hear from @mtpennycook at @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Summit.
July 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
"When it comes to national renewal, there are few tasks more urgent and more necessary than tackling England’s housing crisis."
It was great to hear from @mtpennycook at @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Summit.
It was great to hear from @mtpennycook at @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Summit.
It was great to officially launch @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Centre
The Centre will be a major research + policy programme to help shape housing debates across UK
We are developing progressive policies to build 1.5m new homes, tackle the housing crisis + create great places to live
The Centre will be a major research + policy programme to help shape housing debates across UK
We are developing progressive policies to build 1.5m new homes, tackle the housing crisis + create great places to live
July 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
It was great to officially launch @thefabians.bsky.social Housing Centre
The Centre will be a major research + policy programme to help shape housing debates across UK
We are developing progressive policies to build 1.5m new homes, tackle the housing crisis + create great places to live
The Centre will be a major research + policy programme to help shape housing debates across UK
We are developing progressive policies to build 1.5m new homes, tackle the housing crisis + create great places to live
For example, I wrote this for the Fabian Review on the 25th anniversary of Sure Start
fabians.org.uk/closing-the-...
fabians.org.uk/closing-the-...
July 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
For example, I wrote this for the Fabian Review on the 25th anniversary of Sure Start
fabians.org.uk/closing-the-...
fabians.org.uk/closing-the-...
Great to see @thefabians.bsky.social research on rural seats, quoted in this interesting column from Anushka Asthana.
Here is the map of the most rural seats in Great Britain - and how they voted.
Labour went from 2 seats to 40.
t.co/mzRu9cCoOE
Here is the map of the most rural seats in Great Britain - and how they voted.
Labour went from 2 seats to 40.
t.co/mzRu9cCoOE
June 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Great to see @thefabians.bsky.social research on rural seats, quoted in this interesting column from Anushka Asthana.
Here is the map of the most rural seats in Great Britain - and how they voted.
Labour went from 2 seats to 40.
t.co/mzRu9cCoOE
Here is the map of the most rural seats in Great Britain - and how they voted.
Labour went from 2 seats to 40.
t.co/mzRu9cCoOE
Great to see First Steps covered in the Sunday Times.
For @thefabians.bsky.social, I set out a number of recommendations for the Child Poverty Strategy and the 2025 Budget.
These would lift 230,000 under-fives out of poverty.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
For @thefabians.bsky.social, I set out a number of recommendations for the Child Poverty Strategy and the 2025 Budget.
These would lift 230,000 under-fives out of poverty.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
May 26, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Great to see First Steps covered in the Sunday Times.
For @thefabians.bsky.social, I set out a number of recommendations for the Child Poverty Strategy and the 2025 Budget.
These would lift 230,000 under-fives out of poverty.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
For @thefabians.bsky.social, I set out a number of recommendations for the Child Poverty Strategy and the 2025 Budget.
These would lift 230,000 under-fives out of poverty.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Yesterday, @thefabians.bsky.social published Seizing the Opportunity
@joedromey.bsky.social and I call for a fully funded Fair Pay Agreement to give many care workers a pay rise
An ambitious Agreement will help with recruitment, retention, quality and consistency of care, and tackle inequalities
@joedromey.bsky.social and I call for a fully funded Fair Pay Agreement to give many care workers a pay rise
An ambitious Agreement will help with recruitment, retention, quality and consistency of care, and tackle inequalities
May 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Yesterday, @thefabians.bsky.social published Seizing the Opportunity
@joedromey.bsky.social and I call for a fully funded Fair Pay Agreement to give many care workers a pay rise
An ambitious Agreement will help with recruitment, retention, quality and consistency of care, and tackle inequalities
@joedromey.bsky.social and I call for a fully funded Fair Pay Agreement to give many care workers a pay rise
An ambitious Agreement will help with recruitment, retention, quality and consistency of care, and tackle inequalities
Great to see Labour MPs calling for the FCA to stop companies charging people more for insurance if they pay monthly.
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social recommended this, saving low-income families nearly £130.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social recommended this, saving low-income families nearly £130.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
May 8, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Great to see Labour MPs calling for the FCA to stop companies charging people more for insurance if they pay monthly.
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social recommended this, saving low-income families nearly £130.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social recommended this, saving low-income families nearly £130.
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
ICYMI, last week @thefabians.bsky.social published initial findings on how to tackle early years poverty.
We recommended introducing:
✅Baby and Toddler elements for Universal Credit
✅Health in Pregnancy Grant, worth over £480 during a pregnancy
Read more: fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
We recommended introducing:
✅Baby and Toddler elements for Universal Credit
✅Health in Pregnancy Grant, worth over £480 during a pregnancy
Read more: fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
April 23, 2025 at 11:23 AM
ICYMI, last week @thefabians.bsky.social published initial findings on how to tackle early years poverty.
We recommended introducing:
✅Baby and Toddler elements for Universal Credit
✅Health in Pregnancy Grant, worth over £480 during a pregnancy
Read more: fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
We recommended introducing:
✅Baby and Toddler elements for Universal Credit
✅Health in Pregnancy Grant, worth over £480 during a pregnancy
Read more: fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
Children of all ages will benefit from introducing baby and toddler elements into Universal Credit.
Nearly 240,000 children overall could be lifted out of poverty as a result of our recommendations.
It would be a serious injection of cash into the pockets of the poorest families with children.
Nearly 240,000 children overall could be lifted out of poverty as a result of our recommendations.
It would be a serious injection of cash into the pockets of the poorest families with children.
April 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Children of all ages will benefit from introducing baby and toddler elements into Universal Credit.
Nearly 240,000 children overall could be lifted out of poverty as a result of our recommendations.
It would be a serious injection of cash into the pockets of the poorest families with children.
Nearly 240,000 children overall could be lifted out of poverty as a result of our recommendations.
It would be a serious injection of cash into the pockets of the poorest families with children.
Around 1.2m babies + toddlers live in poverty, but the Child Poverty Strategy can change that
The government can lift over 140,000 babies + toddlers out of poverty - delivering greater economic security for families
My analysis for @thefabians.bsky.social shows how 👇
fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
The government can lift over 140,000 babies + toddlers out of poverty - delivering greater economic security for families
My analysis for @thefabians.bsky.social shows how 👇
fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
April 18, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Around 1.2m babies + toddlers live in poverty, but the Child Poverty Strategy can change that
The government can lift over 140,000 babies + toddlers out of poverty - delivering greater economic security for families
My analysis for @thefabians.bsky.social shows how 👇
fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
The government can lift over 140,000 babies + toddlers out of poverty - delivering greater economic security for families
My analysis for @thefabians.bsky.social shows how 👇
fabians.org.uk/baby-steps/
Great to speak @housinglin.bsky.social yesterday about Home Comforts.
We need to invest in existing rented stock to lift standards and tackle hazards.
It will cost the cost of living, save the NHS money, and ensure people can live independently for longer.
We need to invest in existing rented stock to lift standards and tackle hazards.
It will cost the cost of living, save the NHS money, and ensure people can live independently for longer.
March 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Great to speak @housinglin.bsky.social yesterday about Home Comforts.
We need to invest in existing rented stock to lift standards and tackle hazards.
It will cost the cost of living, save the NHS money, and ensure people can live independently for longer.
We need to invest in existing rented stock to lift standards and tackle hazards.
It will cost the cost of living, save the NHS money, and ensure people can live independently for longer.
At the Council Housing Summit 2025, Matthew Pennycook is speaking about the need to build more homes - but not at any price.
Design and quality of new homes matters.
This is something I wrote about in Left Foot Forward.
leftfootforward.org/2025/02/labo...
Design and quality of new homes matters.
This is something I wrote about in Left Foot Forward.
leftfootforward.org/2025/02/labo...
March 6, 2025 at 11:27 AM
At the Council Housing Summit 2025, Matthew Pennycook is speaking about the need to build more homes - but not at any price.
Design and quality of new homes matters.
This is something I wrote about in Left Foot Forward.
leftfootforward.org/2025/02/labo...
Design and quality of new homes matters.
This is something I wrote about in Left Foot Forward.
leftfootforward.org/2025/02/labo...
Read the full recommendation on energy bills, including how to fund it 👇
Work needs to start asap to ensure low income families can pay lower bills, and feel better off by the next election.
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Work needs to start asap to ensure low income families can pay lower bills, and feel better off by the next election.
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
February 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Read the full recommendation on energy bills, including how to fund it 👇
Work needs to start asap to ensure low income families can pay lower bills, and feel better off by the next election.
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Work needs to start asap to ensure low income families can pay lower bills, and feel better off by the next election.
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
It took hundreds of years to build Notre Dame Cathedral.
It's Lego form is taking me hundreds of hours.
It's Lego form is taking me hundreds of hours.
February 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It took hundreds of years to build Notre Dame Cathedral.
It's Lego form is taking me hundreds of hours.
It's Lego form is taking me hundreds of hours.
Great to see the gov re-affirm its plan for a new Decent Homes Standard yesterday
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social suggests reforms:
🏠 Consolidates housing quality regs into one doc
🏠 Focused on eliminating serious hazards
🏠 Includes new requirements on carpets, accessibility + overheating
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social suggests reforms:
🏠 Consolidates housing quality regs into one doc
🏠 Focused on eliminating serious hazards
🏠 Includes new requirements on carpets, accessibility + overheating
February 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Great to see the gov re-affirm its plan for a new Decent Homes Standard yesterday
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social suggests reforms:
🏠 Consolidates housing quality regs into one doc
🏠 Focused on eliminating serious hazards
🏠 Includes new requirements on carpets, accessibility + overheating
My report for @thefabians.bsky.social suggests reforms:
🏠 Consolidates housing quality regs into one doc
🏠 Focused on eliminating serious hazards
🏠 Includes new requirements on carpets, accessibility + overheating
We've lifted 150,000 people off waiting lists.
If we can do that in 4 months, imagine what we can do in 4 years, says Wes Streeting at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference.
If we can do that in 4 months, imagine what we can do in 4 years, says Wes Streeting at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference.
January 25, 2025 at 12:54 PM
We've lifted 150,000 people off waiting lists.
If we can do that in 4 months, imagine what we can do in 4 years, says Wes Streeting at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference.
If we can do that in 4 months, imagine what we can do in 4 years, says Wes Streeting at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference.
Britain 2030, @thefabians.bsky.social's New Year Conference, has started.
Hundreds of Fabian and Labour members ready to discuss the big issues for our country.
Hundreds of Fabian and Labour members ready to discuss the big issues for our country.
January 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Britain 2030, @thefabians.bsky.social's New Year Conference, has started.
Hundreds of Fabian and Labour members ready to discuss the big issues for our country.
Hundreds of Fabian and Labour members ready to discuss the big issues for our country.
Looking forward to speaking on two panels tomorrow at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference
First, I'll be speaking on how we can rebuild arts and culture provision across the country
Then I'll be talking about the housing quality crisis, identified by Home Comforts - launched last week
First, I'll be speaking on how we can rebuild arts and culture provision across the country
Then I'll be talking about the housing quality crisis, identified by Home Comforts - launched last week
January 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Looking forward to speaking on two panels tomorrow at @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference
First, I'll be speaking on how we can rebuild arts and culture provision across the country
Then I'll be talking about the housing quality crisis, identified by Home Comforts - launched last week
First, I'll be speaking on how we can rebuild arts and culture provision across the country
Then I'll be talking about the housing quality crisis, identified by Home Comforts - launched last week
Read the full report, and my recommendations to ensure that every social renter live in a safe, secure, warm and accessible home 👇
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
January 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Read the full report, and my recommendations to ensure that every social renter live in a safe, secure, warm and accessible home 👇
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
There's also significant geographic inequality in the quality of social housing (less than the private rented sector)
The East Midlands and the South West have above average %s of non-decent social homes.
Twice as many rural social homes are poor-quality compared to towns and cities.
The East Midlands and the South West have above average %s of non-decent social homes.
Twice as many rural social homes are poor-quality compared to towns and cities.
January 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
There's also significant geographic inequality in the quality of social housing (less than the private rented sector)
The East Midlands and the South West have above average %s of non-decent social homes.
Twice as many rural social homes are poor-quality compared to towns and cities.
The East Midlands and the South West have above average %s of non-decent social homes.
Twice as many rural social homes are poor-quality compared to towns and cities.
There is clear North-South divide in the quality of PRS properties
The North West and Yorkshire have double the proportion of non-decent PRS homes than London
And 27% of PRS properties in the North are non-decent - compared to 17% in the South
The North West and Yorkshire have double the proportion of non-decent PRS homes than London
And 27% of PRS properties in the North are non-decent - compared to 17% in the South
January 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
There is clear North-South divide in the quality of PRS properties
The North West and Yorkshire have double the proportion of non-decent PRS homes than London
And 27% of PRS properties in the North are non-decent - compared to 17% in the South
The North West and Yorkshire have double the proportion of non-decent PRS homes than London
And 27% of PRS properties in the North are non-decent - compared to 17% in the South
Around 21% of households who rent privately live in non-decent homes.
The percentage of poor quality PRS properties keeps falling
But the absolute number actually INCREASED by 58,000 since the pandemic
And much of the private sector's progress on quality is because the sector got bigger
The percentage of poor quality PRS properties keeps falling
But the absolute number actually INCREASED by 58,000 since the pandemic
And much of the private sector's progress on quality is because the sector got bigger
January 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Around 21% of households who rent privately live in non-decent homes.
The percentage of poor quality PRS properties keeps falling
But the absolute number actually INCREASED by 58,000 since the pandemic
And much of the private sector's progress on quality is because the sector got bigger
The percentage of poor quality PRS properties keeps falling
But the absolute number actually INCREASED by 58,000 since the pandemic
And much of the private sector's progress on quality is because the sector got bigger
I've received lots of new followers in recent days (hello!), so I'm going to post highlights of my recent research
1️⃣ Support Guaranteed: A Roadmap to a National Care Service
This was the first independent plan on reform to come with more money for social care
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
1️⃣ Support Guaranteed: A Roadmap to a National Care Service
This was the first independent plan on reform to come with more money for social care
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
November 18, 2024 at 10:19 AM
I've received lots of new followers in recent days (hello!), so I'm going to post highlights of my recent research
1️⃣ Support Guaranteed: A Roadmap to a National Care Service
This was the first independent plan on reform to come with more money for social care
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...
1️⃣ Support Guaranteed: A Roadmap to a National Care Service
This was the first independent plan on reform to come with more money for social care
fabians.org.uk/wp-content/u...