Key facts
- Forty prominent academics urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to join a UN initiative on global inequality.
- They called for the UK to help establish an International Panel on Inequality (IPI).
- The IPI would provide an independent, trusted global evidence base on inequality.
- The UK is set to chair the G20 in 2027, presenting an opportunity for global leadership.
- Joseph Stiglitz is slated to chair the new panel, which is being developed at the UN.
- Brazil, South Africa, Norway, and Spain have been involved in the IPI's setup.
Dozens of prominent academics, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Professor Mariana Mazzucato, have penned an open letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to commit the UK to a new United Nations initiative focused on tackling global inequality. The proposed International Panel on Inequality (IPI) aims to establish a trusted global evidence base on the causes and consequences of inequality, and to analyze effective policy solutions.
The academics argue that while Burnham's domestic policies address fairness, inequality is also a critical global issue exacerbated by geopolitical instability. They suggest that by backing the IPI, Burnham could globally cement the principles of his political agenda. The letter highlights the UK's upcoming chairmanship of the G20 in 2027 as a prime opportunity to demonstrate leadership on the world stage and reclaim Labour's historical focus on global development.
The IPI, which would be chaired by Stiglitz and modeled after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has seen involvement from countries like Brazil, South Africa, Norway, and Spain in its development. The academics are encouraging Burnham to signal the UK's support for the initiative during his attendance at the UN General Assembly next month, referencing his prior advocacy for inequality issues as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The letter also touches upon Labour's recent history regarding foreign aid, noting cuts made under Keir Starmer, which led to the resignation of a development minister. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has indicated a desire to prioritize international development. The government, through Foreign Office minister Stewart Wood, responded by emphasizing the importance of international partnerships to strengthen the global economy, boost growth, combat inequality, and improve international financial institutions and coordinated development support.