Martin Lewis Launches a Public Call for Small Fixes to Improve the UK
Martin Lewis has launched the Small Ideas Initiative, a public call for everyday fixes to take to government. The launch was announced on 8 October 2026. The Guardian
The ask is for practical, low-cost ideas that avoid political controversy, sent in before 12 November. Ideas can cover health, schools, policing, tech and money. The Guardian
Submissions are collected through www.small-ideas.org, with a deadline of 12 November 2026. MoneySavingExpert Charities and organisations that speak for people who cannot speak for themselves may also submit ideas. MoneySavingExpert
Organisers describe everyday problems as 'life potholes'. The Times MoneySavingExpert describes the search as 'small fixes to life's glitches' across health, education, community and more. MoneySavingExpert The stated aim is to turn the best public suggestions into policy proposals. The Times
The project is described as a year-long experiment. MoneySavingExpert It is run with Lewis by Nesta, a charity working on innovation, and Involve, a charity working on public participation. The Guardian Inside Nesta, the Centre for Collective Intelligence co-runs the work with Involve. MoneySavingExpert
Martin Lewis CBE chairs the deciding panel, which brings together politicians and policymakers from across party lines. MoneySavingExpert Named members include Reform MP Danny Kruger, former Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt, Labour mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Polly Mackenzie, alongside social housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa. The Guardian The panel also includes Jonathan Bartley, Dame Tamara Finkelstein and Emma Roddick MSP. MoneySavingExpert About 50 ideas are expected to be put to government, councils and regulators. The Guardian
The broader context here is why small was chosen on purpose. Low cost makes an idea easier to adopt. Lack of controversy makes agreement easier. That combination faces fewer blocks than large structural reform. It also tests whether an open public call can surface fixes that routine consultations miss — like faults that officials walk past every day.
Looking at what this means for policymakers and participants, process will matter as much as substance. Fifty ideas must be filtered from an open call without losing detail. Then each proposal goes to a different place, with different legal powers, budgets and timelines. For close watchers, the test is traceability over the year: which proposals move, which stall, and why.
