Dr Lisa Cameron MP attended The Big Issue’s “Wellbeing Week” where she engaged with young people on the key issues facing future generations
- Lisa Cameron MP discussed hot topics with young people, including the environment and climate change, poverty and inequalities, as well as racial injustice and pandemics
- The Today for Tomorrow Campaign, run by The Big Issue and supported by the ALL Party Parliamentary Group on Future Generations, calls for new legislation that tackles short-term thinking, and focuses on Britain’s well-being
Lisa Cameron MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow listened to young people aged 15 to 25, about their concerns for the future and for future generations.
These young people are ambassadors of Big Issue founder Lord Bird’s and Green MP Caroline Lucas’ Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill, which is currently making its way through the House of Commons.
Lisa Cameron MP spoke to the young people about the pertinent issues affecting future generations.
The young ambassadors of the Bill formed groups of three and met with Lisa Cameron MP. They each told their own individual story of why long-term thinking needs to be put into action now.
They also asked MPs to co-sign a joint letter to Government, asking them to bring forward their own Government Bill on future generations, so that this most important of topics is implemented quickly.
Lisa Cameron MP said: ““It was fantastic to meet with young ambassadors of the Bill and I was inspired by some of their ideas on how we can improve lives for future generations. We spoke about the importance of education on climate change and the work I have been doing in parliament on sustainable fashion and plastics pollution.
I have a renewed sense of hope that we will be able to turn the clock back on some of the inequalities that sadly persist across generations in the UK today, and it is wonderful that Scotland is taking the lead on implementing the Wellbeing Economy, which covers much of this Bill.”
Lord Bird, said: “Wellbeing Week provides an opportunity for us to rethink how we plan for the long-term, and that involves rewiring how our democracy works. My Future Generations Bill offers a way to level up prospects between current and future generations. It’s a chance to create a society we all want to live in.
“The pandemic has taught us how important it is to think about the future. We must place the wellbeing of future generations at the heart of policymaking, now.
“If, like me, you believe that future generations deserve a brighter tomorrow, then please join the campaign at www.todayfortomorrow.org.uk – thank you.”
The Bill will ensure that all non-devolved public bodies, including the UK Government, work to prevent problems – including global warming and poverty – from happening.
As well as creating a ‘future generations test’ for all new policy changes, Lord Bird’s Bill calls for national well-being goals for the whole country to work towards, creates a UK Future Generations Commissioner to act as a guardian for the unborn, sets up a Joint-Committee on Future Generations in Parliament, and requires budgets to measure and increase their preventative spending.You can sign up to the campaign on the website: www.todayfortomorrow.org.uk