Last week, as the 2017 Autumn Budget was announced, we kickstarted our #InvestIn campaign by asking what YOU would invest in to create a truly prosperous society. And we got some great answers.

On twitter….

@BDLandTrust ‘Healthy #farms for healthy people!’

@NetwrkWellbeing ‘We need to #InvestIn people & services which are good for the #wellbeing of people & planet’

@WhoInTheZoo ‘At minimum we want to see the same as @HealthFdn, a reversal of planned cuts and protected public health budgets plus further investment in mental health services’

@eeoij ‘The arts need to be accessible to students at every level of education’

@postgrowth ‘Investing in #resilience is what we should be doing, not cutting vital services’

@lady_kate ‘Wind 💨 farms’

 

And on facebook….

Karen: ‘Time to #Investin renewable energy and community organisations who KNOW what’s best and… they actually DO it’

Post-Carbon Man: ‘Time for the Chancellor to invest in Wind Farms not Tax Havens’

Pete: ‘Invest in collaboration not conflict’

The Climate Lemon: ‘Renewable energy, better public transit, energy efficiency programs, more urban trees and new affordable zero carbon homes would be my priority’

Becky: ‘environment, education, put people first please! For future people and future leaders!’

This action was the first step in our #InvestIn campaign, and together we reached hundreds of thousands of people with messages like the ones above. It’s too easy to leave politicians and established commentators to dominate the debate around moments like the budget, but if we speak out, together we can change the narrative. That’s what the campaign is all about.

Bitten by the budget bug?

If you’ve been inspired to think more about the ins and outs of the budget itself, and want to dig into the detail, here are some great links to satisfy your thirst!

New Economics Foundation podcast: Will the Chancellor’s proposals be enough to make our economy “fit for the future”? And with Brexit looming, is the Government doing enough to deal with the country’s economic problems? Listen here to hear what experts from NEF and TUC have to say

Positive Money on BBC radio: Positive Money executive director Fran Boait talks to Mark Forrest about what the Budget means for ordinary households. Click here to hear the full discussion

Newsnight debate: The Spectator’s Fraser Nelson, Faiza Shaheen of the Centre for Labour and Social Studies, and former Chief of Staff to George Osborne Rupert Harrison discuss Philip Hammond’s Autumn Budget. Click here to watch