Mental health conditions have slowly been increasing among young people in the UK. Between 2012-13 and 2022-23, incidences of mental health conditions for under 25s rose by 10 percentage points (Stark et al., 2024). A meta-analysis of 11 high-income countries indicated that one in eight children have mental disorders…

CSPG submitted evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty and Inequality’s inquiry into young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). Our submission (p.28) argued that the rise in the number of NEETs has a biological dimension often missing from policy design…

Disabled people are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act from day one of employment, yet many disabled people report that this protection feels theoretical, accessible only through exhausting, precarious, adversarial processes…

In November 2025, the Government published its Replacing animals in science strategy, aiming to ‘create a revolutionary research and innovation system that replaces animals with alternative methods wherever possible’, bringing ‘clear benefits for animal welfare and a host of economic and scientific impacts’. Commissioned by Lush, this business case identifies some of those benefits by examining the UK’s Non-Animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) sector…

2025 was a year of rapid growth for the Common Sense Policy Group. Our report details activity and impact across almost all areas of public policy. With genuine opportunities for change emerging, we are proud that our long-held position on what is common sense is increasingly be shared by those with the ability to rebuild Britain…

3.3 million people in the North of England suffer from transport-related social exclusion (Transport for the North, 2022). Securing affordable, effective and reliable integrated transport is essential to economic activity, particularly for those on low incomes and, with it, a number of health and environmental outcomes. There is real reason to believe, given that poverty is a recognised determinant of health, that reform to transport can produce improvements in health across the region…

This report analyses engagement with UK trade unions on Basic Income (BI). Unions ‘firefighting’ issues such as pay erosion, workplace disputes and job cuts lack time to engage with long-term transformative ideas such as BI and believe policy change must stem from members. However, now that there is greater union engagement with a Green New Deal, there is evidence that evidencing BI’s ability to support a just transition could increase union support for BI…

This report challenges the flawed assumptions underpinning the UK Government’s fiscal strategy, exposing the long-term economic damage caused by sustained spending cuts and regressive welfare policies. Drawing on new evidence, we demonstrate how applying our Common Sense Spending Multipliers reveals the true value of public investment as a powerful driver of long-term growth…

In our response to the Government’s 2025 Spring Statement, we emphasise the need for the Government to count the cost of its cuts and implement common sense, evidence-backed alternative measures that restore stability, secure meaningful growth, improve living conditions and achieve national renewal…

This Basic Income Research Group, UBI Lab Network and Common Sense Policy Group report sets out the evidence base for Greater Manchester to commit to a Basic Income pilot…

At a time of increasing political disinformation and disaffection among citizens, this report sets out a plan for democratic reform to ensure that an era of dysfunction and decline comes to an end…

In response to the North East Devolution Deal’s commitment to establish a Radical Prevention Fund (RPF) to address health inequalities in the North East Combined Authority area, this report examines the social determinants of health and presents a series of recommendations to Combined Authorities seeking to introduce innovative RPFs…

Published by Insights North East, the Common Sense Policy Group presents the results of survey on transport policy in the run up to the May 2024 North East Mayoral Election. The survey found the public support bold changes that would transform the transport system, lay down a legacy of infrastructure investment and provide an impetus for regional renewal…

In response to the Government’s Autumn 2024 Budget, we present our Common Sense Alternative Budget, a popular, feasible and affordable programme to kickstart our economy and sustainably fund a whole-government programme that secures the nation and improves the population’s wellbeing…