The world's biggest tech companies now shape what we see, think and do online every day - raising big questions about who really holds the balance of power between them and national governments.

The previous government proposed banning social media for under-16s, a policy Andy Burnham has also backed. But is that enough? As Burnham sets out his agenda, what should he prioritise in his first 100 days to protect children online, strengthen the UK's digital independence and make powerful tech companies more accountable?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix, Nesta's policy podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy sits down with some of the country’s leading experts on policy and government. Rather than just rehearsing the problems facing Burnham, they stress-test the big ideas that should shape his agenda, discuss the policy solutions he should actually pursue and map out the steps he should take to get started in his first 100 days.

In this episode, Ravi is joined by filmmaker, politician and leading voice on children’s rights in the digital environment, Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, to unpack the steps Andy Burnham should take to decisively reclaim public control from Silicon Valley.

Taking a wider view than proposed responses like social media bans or regulating AI, Beeban argues the real challenge is the growing power of a handful of tech companies. She explains why governments should hold platforms responsible for harmful and addictive products, not just the content they host.

The conversation also explores the risks of powerful AI, why the UK should make better use of trusted public data from organisations like the NHS and the BBC and how Britain can build digital technology that serves the public interest instead of corporate profit.

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We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

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As Prime Minister, Andy Burnham will need to find money to fund public services and deliver on his promises. But how should he raise it? Is a wealth tax the answer, or are there better ways to reform Britain's tax system?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy speaks to leading experts about the big decisions facing a new Prime Minister. Together, they test the ideas that could shape Burnham's first 100 days and explore what it would take to turn them into action.

In this episode, Ravi is joined by economist Dr Arun Advani to explore how Burnham could raise billions while making the tax system fairer and simpler.

Rather than introducing an annual wealth tax straight away, Arun argues there are faster, more practical reforms. He explains how changes to capital gains tax and National Insurance could raise significant revenue while encouraging investment and closing loopholes.

The conversation also explores whether the UK's property tax system needs an overhaul, the trade-offs between local and national tax reform, and how government can create a tax system that is fairer, more stable and fit for the future.

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We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook: facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/?hl=en

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Bringing essential services back under public control is a key part of Andy Burnham’s agenda. But with rising energy bills, struggling water infrastructure and growing frustration with privatised utilities, how can government deliver change without the cost of buying everything back?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy speaks to leading experts about the big decisions facing a new Prime Minister. Together, they test the ideas that could shape Burnham's first 100 days and explore what it would take to turn them into action.

In this episode, Ravi Gurumurthy is joined by economist and Nesta policy fellow Tony Curzon Price to explore how a new government can give the public more control over essential services without returning to old models of nationalisation.

They discuss why traditional regulation has often failed to deliver better outcomes and how government could take a more active role in shaping markets - from energy and water to digital services. The conversation also explores how better use of data could give people more control online and why creating a stronger public digital infrastructure could help build fairer markets.

Listen now to discover the practical steps Andy Burnham could take in his first 100 days to rebuild trust, improve public services and rethink the role of government.

Liked the episode? Rate, review, subscribe - and share with your network.

We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook:facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/hl=en

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nesta

The UK spends billions renting back access to its own data from private vendors, leaving crucial public information locked away in disconnected systems. That fragmentation holds back public service reform, stifles innovation and hampers economic growth.

If new Prime Minister Andy Burnham wants to transform the UK from a passive tech tenant into a sovereign digital architect, reforming our digital infrastructure is non-negotiable. So where should he begin?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix, Nesta's policy podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy sits down with some of the country’s leading experts on policy and government. Rather than just rehearsing the problems facing Burnham, they'll stress-test the big ideas that should shape his agenda, discuss the policy solutions he should actually pursue, and map out the steps he should take to get started in his first 100 days.

In this episode, Ravi is joined by Nesta's director of applied research methods, Mallory Durran, to explore how government can take back control of our digital public infrastructure.

They unpack why adopting common digital standards across government could reduce costs, improve services and end dependence on a handful of technology suppliers; how applying the principles behind Open Banking to healthcare could accelerate medical research, improve patient care and help grow the UK's health tech sector; and why attracting and retaining world-class technical talent should be treated as a national priority for effective government.

Liked the episode? Rate, review, subscribe - and share with your network.

We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook:facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/hl=en

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nesta

Andy Burnham wants to help people live well by building a preventative state. But the UK remains trapped in a struggling health system, burdened by chronic illness and soaring costs. How can he tackle the root causes of ill health - from poor housing to obesity - rather than just treating the symptoms?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix, Nesta's policy podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy sits down with some of the country’s leading experts on policy and government. Rather than just rehearsing the problems facing Burnham, they stress-test the big ideas that should shape his agenda, discuss the policy solutions he should actually pursue, and map out the steps he should take to get started in his first 100 days.

In this episode, Ravi Gurumurthy and Hugo Harper, director of our healthy life mission, break down the biggest drivers of ill health, the societal and economic costs at play - and the practical fixes Andy Burnham should focus on first.

Our duo set out an evidence-led blueprint for making prevention the foundation of the UK’s health system, exploring outcome-based regulation for major food retailers, smarter tax incentives to reduce alcohol harm, the strategic rollout of weight-loss medications (GLP-1s) and licensing prescription e-cigarettes to accelerate the decline in smoking.

Liked the episode? Rate, review, subscribe - and share with your network.

We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook:facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/hl=en

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nesta

As Andy Burnham enters Downing Street, he needs to find the financial headroom to fund his ambitious agenda. But what are the policy cul-de-sacs that Burnham should avoid - ideas for revenue raising, cost cutting that might seem easy or tempting but which are likely to fail or trip up a new government?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix, Nesta's policy podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy sits down with some of the country’s leading experts on policy and government. Rather than just rehearsing the problems facing Burnham, they'll stress-test the big ideas that should shape his agenda, discuss the policy solutions he should actually pursue, and map out the steps he should take to get started in his first 100 days.

In this episode, Ravi is joined by Nesta's chief economist, Tim Leunig, to explore where a new government should look for funding- and where it shouldn't.

Together, they challenge some of the most common ideas for raising tax revenue and instead explore practical, evidence-led reforms that could raise revenue, improve public services and boost long-term economic growth.

The conversation covers closing the tax gap through stronger enforcement, modernising VAT, reforming disability assessments and making targeted investments in education, transport infrastructure and AI-enabled public services.

Our duo set out a pragmatic roadmap for a new government’s first 100 days, exploring where not to look for money, how to avoid tempting policy traps and where to focus to lay the foundations for genuine economic growth.

Liked the episode? Rate, review, subscribe - and share with your network.

We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook:facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/hl=en

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nesta

The UK has an extraordinary amount of taxes and exemptions. The result is a system burdened by complexity, distorted incentives and a tax gap estimated to be billions.

With big promises to take back control of public utilities, ease the cost of living and build thousands of council homes, Andy Burnham needs serious cash. Can fixing Britain’s broken tax system and closing our tax gap help him foot the bill?

In this special deep-dive from the Policy Fix, Nesta's policy podcast, Nesta CEO Ravi Gurumurthy sits down with some of the country’s leading experts on policy and government. Rather than just rehearsing the problems facing Burnham, they stress-test the big ideas that should shape his agenda, discuss the policy solutions he should actually pursue and map out the steps he should take to get started in his first 100 days.

In this episode, Ravi is joined by tax expert Dan Neidle to explore how Andy Burnham could claw back billions by closing the tax gap. Our duo explore how to fix our broken tax system - from changing capital gains tax to raise billions to a Small Business Tax Commission that could help tackle modern tax avoidance and fraud without placing extra burdens on ordinary small businesses.

Liked the episode? Rate, review, subscribe - and share with your network.

We are a UK charity and our work is enabled by a financial endowment. Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales 1144091 and Scotland SC042833.

To find out more or connect with us, check out our website and socials:

Website: nesta.org.uk

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/nestauk.bsky.social

Facebook:facebook.com/nesta.uk

Instagram: instagram.com/nesta_uk/hl=en

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nesta

Right now in the UK, around two-thirds of all adults are living with excess weight and obesity. This is not just a crisis for adults - more than one in 5 primary school-aged children in England are now living with it.

A year ago, the government set out a ‘moonshot’ to end the obesity epidemic in the 10 Year Health Plan for England. However, successive governments have announced almost 700 initiatives to tackle obesity in the last 30 years - in that time, rates have doubled.

So why has nothing worked and what would it actually take to turn the tide?

In this episode of the Policy Fix podcast from Nesta, host Joe Owen is joined by Dr Dolly van Tulleken, an obesity and food policy expert and visiting researcher at Cambridge University, and Hugo Harper, director of Nesta’s Healthy Life Mission, which aims to halve obesity in the UK by 2030.

Together they unpack the food environment that shapes what we eat, why so many policies get watered down or delayed and what the evidence really says works. They dig into the junk food advertising ban and its loopholes, the sugar tax, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the new healthy food standard and the lessons from tobacco control. The conclusion is hopeful: with the right mix of solutions, halving obesity is possible.

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