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Rebecca Montacute

@beckymontacute.bsky.social

5.5K followers 2.6K following 910 posts

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

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 28d

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 ⤵️

Social Market Foundation @smfthinktank.bsky.social · 28d

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

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8h

If you missed any of our events (including if you couldn't make it to the conferences) lots of them are available on our YouTube channel -

youtube.com/@socialmarke...

Social Market Foundation

The Social Market Foundation (SMF) is Britain’s leading cross-party think tank. Our mission is to enable markets and government to work together to benefit society. We achieve this through the develop...

youtube.com

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8h

...programme of events across Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem conferences.

And they're straight on to thinking about conference season 2026 (!) if you're interested in partnering with us for next year's conferences, do get in touch 😊

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8h

3 weeks, 3 towns/cities, 3 party conferences - and I've officially made it through my first party conference season with @smfthinktank.bsky.social.

Absolutely in awe of the team, particularly our amazing events team (Hannah Murphy, Rhiannon Sewell and Eleanor Graham) for such a high quality...

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Reposted by Rebecca Montacute

Centre for Economic Performance @cep-lse.bsky.social · 1d

Jo Blanden (CEP), @GillWyness.bsky.social (CEP), @Opmc1.bsky.social (UCL) and @LindseyMacmillan.bsky.social could explain why private school pupils are more likely to end up in higher-ranked HE courses than peers with similar grades.

Read:

Elite school students end up in better universities than expected, based on their grades | British Politics and Policy at LSE

Students of private and grammar schools are over-represented in elite universities, but only part of that is explained by better grades.

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 2d

Standing room only for the @smfthinktank.bsky.social first event at Conservative party conference, on a major policy issue which doesn't get enough attention - pensions.

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Reposted by Rebecca Montacute

Social Market Foundation @smfthinktank.bsky.social · 3d

We're excited to put on a range of events at #CPC25 tomorrow, and hope to see you there!

See our full events programme:
buff.ly/LZH7Wbz

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 3d

Always great to be back in one of my favourite cities ❤️ up for the week (including the Manchester half next weekend)

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 3d

(it's not great that so many songs are greatly improved by switching to the non-explicit versions 🤣😭 - I was totally fine with Guilty as Sin but cannot cope with Wood, it's too on the nose)

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 3d

The Life of a Showgirl has some absolute bangers, and is v much one for the pop Taylor Swift fans rather than the evermore/folklore/TTPD set (which is also more my vibe, but I do like pop TS too) - bits of clever stuff but lyrically not as good as previous albums

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 4d

Parkrun number 99 (!) - absolutely gorgeous autumnal weather 🍂

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 5d

For anyone at Conservative party conference -

Social Market Foundation @smfthinktank.bsky.social · 5d

🚨NEW EVENT🚨

At #CPC25, we'll be talking about how to make sure everyone has a long, healthy life.

We'll be joined by Prof Arpana Verma, Tom Almond @thebhf.bsky.social & @drlukeevans.org.uk

Sponsored by Policy@Manchester

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 6d

Party conference programmes are built on the hard work of events teams behind the scenes.

Blown away seeing the amazing work of the @smfthinktank.bsky.social events team so far this conference season (some highlights from Labour conference below) - 2 conferences down, 1 to go!

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Reposted by Rebecca Montacute

The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 7d

Our former Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social is currently giving evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry 🔎

Tune in live to learn about the impact of the pandemic on children and young people 👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOYc...

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Live Stream

YouTube video by UK Covid-19 Inquiry

www.youtube.com

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 7d

I'll be giving evidence at the COVID inquiry this afternoon, as part of the children and young people module. You can watch (either during or post) on the inquiry YouTube channel -

Social Market Foundation @smfthinktank.bsky.social · 7d

Our Research Director @beckymontacute.bsky.social is giving evidence at the COVID inquiry this afternoon, covering her research on educational inequalities during the pandemic.

Watch it live here this afternoon buff.ly/NoHP0wf

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Live Stream

Warning: Occasional strong language may form part of evidence.Evidence may contain details about illness, medical treatment and death which some people may f...

www.youtube.com

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 7d

Spoke on a panel event yesterday on how skills and HE can help government boost social mobility and economic growth (mostly dominated by the HE/FE target which had JUST been announced in the leader's speech) #labourconference

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

HARD AGREE (takeaway bit immediately inside Leonardos is ok)

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Rachel Reeves in conversation with Matt Forde just started off - @smfthinktank.bsky.social #labourconference

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

HE/FE target is interesting framing, and always good to see the focus on vocational training/apprenticeships - if achievable will depend in part on what a "gold standard" apprenticeship is, and much more work will be needed to have enough high quality apprenticeships available. #labourconference

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Starmer just mentioned the government's flagship early education and childcare policy in the leader's speech - but as I've written, while govt present it as part of the Opportunity Mission, there are big issues in access for children from poorer homes -

www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

The government’s childcare expansion is a big commitment – but fundamentally flawed

The government recently completed the rollout of the 30-hour childcare expansion, with eligible families now able to claim support for children age...

www.politicshome.com

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Leader speech watch party with the @smfthinktank.bsky.social team #labourconference

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Great to speak with @andrewlewinmp.bsky.social yesterday about his idea for a Citizen's Advance - having a year of state pension as a lump sum earlier in life in return for a later retirement. With early insights into @smfthinktank.bsky.social research on the issue from @jamiegollings.bsky.social

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

A conference tradition

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Interesting from an economist article on this (www.economist.com/finance-and-...)

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

I think will be a range of issues - uptake in different industries and the gender split in those, women being more likely to take career breaks so missing developments, maybe also risk taking/confidence concerns with something perceived as very "techy" etc

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Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 8d

Issue flagged for anyone who might take a career break/may miss emerging developments and the importance of support for those workers to upskill when they return.