Meet our experts
Our team of researchers and policy experts work with partners to deliver evidence-based policy recommendations that are progressive, realistic, and actionable.
LUKE RAIKES, deputy general secretary and research director
Research areas: regional economies and inequalities, devolution, productivity, the economy, industrial strategy, employment rights, employment support, transport and political strategy.
Luke previously led IPPR North’s research on the regional economies and devolution, and he has also published work on skills, employment support, industrial strategy and transport. Prior to this he worked at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Luke was also a Labour councillor on Manchester City Council from 2012-2023.
GOING UP A GEAR
This paper offers a set of practical recommendations to boost productivity while raising living standards, protecting the environment, and unlocking resources for public services and infrastructure.
EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT
A progressive proposal for devolving public spending, raising important questions about how public money can be used more effectively to deliver policy objectives.
A GOOD LIFE IN ALL REGIONS
Final report of the Commission on Poverty and Regional Inequality, which set out to unite England’s regions around a shared agenda to reduce poverty and raise living standards.
BEN COOPER, research manager
Research areas: election strategy, housing, rural and coastal policy, education, early years, culture, and disability policy.
Ben joined the Fabian Society in 2018. Since joining the Fabians, Ben has led research on older, rural and costal voters, early years, education, housing, and culture funding. In 2022, Ben was selected by MHP Group as one of the ’30 to Watch Politics’ award for under-30s.
Ben is also a trustee for a charity supporting people with complex disabilities and was chair of the Co-op Party’s (dis)Ability Network until 2025. He previously worked for a Labour MP.
A GOOD LIFE IN ALL REGIONS
Final report of the Commission on Poverty and Regional Inequality, which set out to unite England’s regions around a shared agenda to reduce poverty and raise living standards.
COST CUTTERS
This report sets out how the UK can address the poverty premium and make markets work for low-income families. It sets out the scale of the poverty premium before looking at the reasons why markets, regulators and the government fail families.
A MATURE APPROACH
This report looks at older voters’ perceptions of the Labour party and how it can reconnect with those voters. It is largely focused on England and Wales. Labour’s relationship with voters is different in Scotland.
SASJKIA OTTO, senior researcher
Research areas: labour markets, skills, poverty in later years, digital, data and technology, infrastructure, competition.
Sasjkia joined the Fabian Society in 2022 from the civil service, where she led policies to tackle digital divides and tech platform power, working across Whitehall and internationally. Before joining the civil service, she advised blue chip companies on topics including the economy, labour markets, consumer affairs, climate change, health and equalities. She is the founder of a democracy-building nonprofit and served as trustee for a charity tackling poverty and isolation.
WORKING NEIN TO FIVE
This report argues that, to improve work-life balance, the government should enhance minimum statutory rights, strengthen the social safety net, establish institutions to drive down working time, and empower workers through collective bargaining.
WHEN I’M 64
A quarter of people aged 60 to 65 live in poverty – the highest poverty rate for any adult age group. This report looks at the roots of the problem and presents a strategy to address it from two directions: support for longer working lives, and improved financial support for those who cannot work more.
working for you
This manifesto proposes policies to improve working conditions, financial security, and business support for the self-employed and microbusinesses, covering everyone in work who is not an employee under both employment and tax law