David Skelton
Deputy Director and Head of Research, 2011-2013
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's outgoing Deputy Director, sets out his plan to set up a new group to broaden the appeal of the Conservative Party. David highlights his plans to reach out to voters in the North and in urban areas, noting the influence of Policy Exchange’s key report Northern Lights on the challenges facing all political parties.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, writes highlighting the growing political imperative to appeal to working class voters and sets out how Labour and the Conservatives could exploit it.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, sets out the 'conservative case' for equal marriage from report What's In A Name?. Skelton argues that marriage is a socially beneficial institution and that extending it to same-sex couples will benefit both the couples and the institution.
David Skelton, Deputy Director at Policy Exchange, sets out what the Conservative Party needs to do to stand a chance of winning a majority at the next election. David cites findings from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights exploring the North-South political divide, arguing that the Tories need to appeal to voters in the North, Midlands and urban areas, as well as to ethnic minorities and ordinary working people.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, argues in response to a recent article by Kelvin MacKenzie that narrowing the North/South divide is a priority for long-term prosperity across the whole of the UK. David said this goal should not be cheapened by outdated stereotypes about the North.
David Skelton, Deputy Director at Policy Exchange, shows how drastic the decline of the Conservative party has been in the North of England, with the party lacking representation even at a council level in some cities like Liverpool. He cites polling results from Policy Exchange's Northern Lights report which show that the Conservatives must focus on cost of living issues and job creation if they wish to win such areas back.
David Skelton, Deputy Director of Policy Exchange, argues that the UK needs to increase its aviation capacity to compete with global competitors. David sets out findings from Policy Exchange's report Bigger & Quieter, which suggests that building four new runways to the west of the current Heathrow site would double its current yearly capacity.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, argues that the Conservative Party could learn from former US President Teddy Roosevelt who appealed to all sections of society using "popular conservatism".
David Skelton, Deputy Director of Policy Exchange, argues that politicians should stop point scoring over gay rights issues. David suggests that it is crucial for political parties to press ahead with equal rights for gay people.
David Skelton, Deputy Director at Policy Exchange, argues that private monopolies will do little to drive up standards in public service delivery. He suggests that a competitive local market needs to be established in the area of electronic monitoring, especially with the electronic tagging of criminals as we explored in recent report Future of Corrections.
David Skelton, Deputy Director at Policy Exchange, argues that A-levels should be judged on the esteem in which they are held by employers and businesses. He argues that schools should use autonomy over their curriculum to teach subjects that are academically rigorous, with real world application, potentially working in conjunction with local universities and businesses.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director and author of report What's In A Name?, sets out the advantages to allowing homosexual couples the opportunity for equal marriage, including helping to reduce mental health problems and HIV/AIDs levels.
Policy Exchange Deputy Director David Skelton argues that Ed Miliband was right to speak at the Durham Miner’s Gala. PX report Northern Lights highlights the fact that many working class people feel no politician truly represents them and their families and that it is important for leaders to engage with communities as much as possible.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, argues that the recent selection of Jon Cruddas as head of Labour’s policy review could be a masterstroke for Ed Miliband if he’s able to translate his impressive, but often abstract, thinking into concrete policy. He shows how Cruddas's views are supported by polling findings from our report Northern Lights.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, argues that the recent selection of Jon Cruddas as head of Labour’s policy review could be a masterstroke for Ed Miliband if he’s able to translate his impressive, but often abstract, thinking into concrete policy. He shows how Cruddas's views are supported by polling findings from our report Northern Lights.
With the elected Mayors referenda looking set to deliver a 'No' result, Policy Exchange Deputy Director David Skelton criticises the failure of the government to put together an effective campaign in favour of elected Mayors. He also points out that Mayors were seen as 'more politics' at a time when the public is very anti-politics and that the powers and boundaries for the new Mayors were poorly chosen.
David Skelton, Policy Exchange's Deputy Director, argues that the North is poorly understood by the centralised government, bureaucracy and media in London, suggesting that elected mayors would allow the North to provide a strong voice for the North and end the reliance on Whitehall and Westminster for providing jobs.
