The top 10 progressive policies of the decade

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

This afternoon, Left Foot Forward have published their Top 10 Progressive Policies of the Noughties.

I would have liked, of course, to see universal free school meals added to the list – but the noted achievements are nonetheless substantial:

1. Reducing Child Poverty
2. Investment (in public services and buildings)
3. Recapitalisation of the banks
4. UK leadership on international development
5. Sure Start
6. EU renewables
7. The Freedom of Information Act (which – incidentally – is five years old today)
8. Quality of Life (not a government policy this one, but a nod to the work of the Quality of Life Policy Group, which sought to measure development through metrics other than GDP)
9. Civil Partnerships
10. Free access to museums

There are also a selection of the 5 regressive policies of the decade:

1. Iraq
2. Lack of regulation
3. 10p tax band abolition
4. Increasing detention without charge
5. Inheritance Tax

Read the full Left Foot Forward post here.