We are pleased to announce that Steve Webb has joined the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) as a new Visiting Fellow, in addition to his role at Partner at Lane Clark & Peacock.

Steve Webb is a public policy expert with considerable political experience, including roles as Pensions Minister (2010 – 2015) and MP (1997 – 2015). Prior to his political career, he was an academic at the University of Bath.

We are delighted to welcome Steve back to the University, where during his time at the IPR, he will conduct research to examine later life financial prospects through a holistic lens. Using secondary datasets, he will look at financial trend projection, pension provision, and other facets affecting household wealth.

Through his research, Steve seeks to influence pensions policymakers and public policymakers more broadly, when formulating policy around later life wealth. His research will also engage with other interested parties (such as the equity release sector, and the insurance sector) to help shape a better-informed debate about later-life wealth and wellbeing.

On joining the IPR, Steve adds:

"I am delighted to be re-joining valued colleagues at the University of Bath, after two happy years here prior to being elected to Parliament in 1997. The IPR provides a natural home for someone like me who is interested in making sure that public policy is grounded in evidence and the latest data.”

“I look forward to working on the vitally important theme of later life finances, looking beyond the boundaries of the pension world to consider policy in key areas such as intergenerational transfers and use of housing equity. Our later life finances are going through a period of profound transition and it is important that policy looks at a broad range of factors rather than sitting in departmental silos’."

On his appointment, Director of the IPR, Professor Nick Pearce, adds:

“I am delighted to welcome Steve Webb as a Visiting Fellow to IPR. Steve will bring a wealth of expertise and experience to his research on later life, having had both academic and Ministerial roles during his career. We know from our own research at IPR on pensions policy what an important role he played in reforming the state pension system and introducing auto-enrolment for workplace pensions. We look forward very much to working with him.”