The Bench Report

25% of the total population—16.8 million people—had a disability in the 2023/24 financial year. We discuss how prevalence is rising, especially driven by increases in mental health conditions reported among children and working-age adults. We analyze significant disparities in outcomes, including the 28.6 percentage point disability employment gap (July to September 2025), lower median household incomes, and higher rates of crime victimization. The episode also highlights the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disabled people, including a disproportionate mortality risk. (99 words)

Key Takeaways

Various government support schemes are available to eligible households across the UK designed to improve domestic energy efficiency, heating, and power generation. We highlight major programs such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which focuses on low-income households, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which provides grants for renewable heating systems. You will learn about eligibility criteria for schemes in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and understand how systems like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pay you for exporting power. Crucially, we also cover the steps required to rectify problems with scheme installations, including issues reported under ECO4...

Significant changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) for Inheritance Tax (IHT) were announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, commencing in April 2026. Historically, these reliefs allowed up to 100% of eligible assets to be exempted from IHT. The government is introducing a £1 million cap on the combined 100% relief for APR and BPR, with 50% relief applying to value above that threshold. The aim is to target a wealthy minority of estates and raise funds. However, the policy has sparked debate, with concerns raised by farming organisations about negative impacts on family businesses and the administrative complexity of the n...

This episode examines the critical state of healthcare provision for transgender people in the UK, drawing on recent parliamentary discussions. Key themes include the severe discrimination trans patients face in general healthcare settings, such as being repeatedly misgendered or refused care. The core focus is the national scandal of unacceptably long waiting lists for NHS gender-affirming care, which can stretch for years or even decades, forcing many to rely on unregulated private providers. These extensive delays are linked to worsening health outcomes, increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The conversation highlights urgent calls for government...

Grassroots cricket clubs are cornerstones of UK communities. They foster physical health, mental wellbeing, and social cohesion. 

This episode highlights record participation, with over 2.5 million people playing annually, and massive growth in youth programmes and the women's and girls' game.  

Key themes include the necessity for sustained Government support and investment to address infrastructure challenges, such as facility availability and flood damage. 

There is a huge need to tackle deep-rooted elitism and financial barriers that restrict opportunities for children from state schools and certain ethnic backgrounds.

We also discuss advocating for fac...

Today we focus on the progress of the proposed Hillsborough Law (the Public Office (Accountability) Bill), introduced to address the institutional failure experienced by the victims and families of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. The government has acknowledged that the British state failed victims to an "almost inhuman level," characterized by "institutional lies, cover-ups, smears and betrayal". Key themes addressed by the Bill include achieving truth, expeditious justice, and consequences. The legislation seeks to transform the culture of the state by introducing a legal duty of candour and ensuring "parity of arms"—equal legal representation—for bereaved fami...

The appointment of David Kogan as the Chair of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has caused controversy. The findings of the Commissioner for Public Appointments revealed breaches of the governance code linked to political donations Kogan made to the Secretary of State (Lisa Nandy). Nandy acknowledged the findings and took responsibility, although the Commissioner found the breach regarding her knowledge of the donations was "unknowing". The primary learning objective is understanding the tension between upholding strict public appointment standards and the pressing need to quickly implement the IFR to protect financially vulnerable football clubs and put fans first.

Public Inquiries are investigations set up by government ministers to respond to events of major public concern or to consider controversial public policy issues. We differentiate between statutory inquiries (governed by the Inquiries Act 2005, with powers to compel evidence) and non-statutory inquiries (which are more flexible but have fewer legal powers). The key objectives of holding an inquiry often include establishing the facts, learning from events, and providing public reassurance and accountability. We also examine the establishment process, the role of core participants, and the production of a final report with recommendations. (98 words)<...

A recent e-petition signed by nearly 190,000 people addressed the growing frustration of gamers regarding consumer rights and video games. Many modern titles are "live services" that rely on company servers; when these servers shut down, purchased games become unplayable, leading to a loss of consumer investment, time, and cultural heritage. We explore the push for greater transparency and legal protections, such as requiring clear end-of-life strategies, refunds, or the provision of offline modes. While the Government acknowledges the cultural and economic importance of the £7.6 billion industry, there is caution about introducing mandates that could stifle innovation or create security i...

Football policing across the UK costs tens of millions of pounds annually, with the taxpayer currently covering the majority of the expense. This episode explores the financial arrangement where local police forces generally meet these costs. However, under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996, police can charge clubs for "special police services" on land owned or leased by the club, typically inside the grounds. A crucial 2017 court decision restricted cost recovery, confirming that police cannot charge clubs for services provided on public land outside the stadium, viewing this as normal policing duty. Government bodies and police leaders are...

There is an urgent need to protect consumers from rogue builders, particularly those operating in the Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) sector. We explore how "dodgy builders" ruin lives, causing homeowners significant financial distress, with losses estimated at £14.3 billion over five years. The key learning objective is understanding why current routes for redress—like civil courts and police intervention—are often ineffective because they treat apparent fraud as a costly, complex civil matter. We discuss proposed solutions, including mandatory licensing, an ombudsman scheme, and compensation funds, aimed at restoring accountability and consumer confidence.

Key Takeaways

The UK's high alcohol duty rates have had a severe impact on the nation's vital wine sector and hospitality industry. Parliamentarians note that tax now makes up over 60% of the cost of a bottle of wine, making the UK one of the most highly taxed wine markets globally. The shift to a strength-based (ABV) duty system is challenging for wine, an agricultural product whose strength naturally fluctuates, creating immense bureaucracy. Crucially, higher taxes have become counterproductive: duty receipts have fallen by £300 million, suggesting the UK is on the "wrong side of the Laffer curve". The debate calls for duty f...

There remains an urgent need for improved support for dyslexic pupils across the UK. Dyslexia is a common neurological difference affecting about one in ten people, yet four in five dyslexic children leave school without formal identification. The debate highlights severe inequalities, noting that the cost of diagnosis (around £600) means diagnosis often depends on parental income, leading to a postcode lottery. Without support, students suffer from low self-esteem, poor educational attainment, and mental health issues. Crucial calls for action include establishing a National Dyslexia Strategy, universal screening, comprehensive teacher training, and reforming exams to measure knowledge rather t...

Autistic adults face significant challenges in securing and maintaining meaningful employment, despite the majority expressing a strong desire to work. Current statistics show that only 34% of autistic people are in employment, a rate significantly lower than other disabled or non-disabled groups. Key themes include systemic barriers, such as bureaucratic, slow support programs like Access to Work, and discriminatory "one-size-fits-all" recruitment practices. The conversation highlights that autistic individuals possess valuable cognitive strengths, like pattern recognition and sustained concentration, which employers are currently missing out on. The episode calls for widespread reforms, emphasizing that businesses must adapt their structures...

There has been a critical collapse of house building in London, where construction starts have dramatically fallen short of government targets. The debate centres on the Mayor's London Plan, which critics argue has failed due to its complexity and expensive demands, such as high affordable housing requirements (often 35% or 50%). We examine the resulting human cost, including record homelessness, with over 97,000 children in temporary accommodation. The discussion focuses on whether recent emergency measures, like partial infrastructure levy relief and a fast-track route requiring just 20% affordable homes, will successfully unlock stalled developments, especially on brownfield land.

Key Takeaways<...