Nick Faith
Director of Communications, 2011-14
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, sets out the case for George Osborne announcing a mass distribution of RBS shares at his forthcoming Mansion House speech. Originally proposed in Privatising the Banks, the scheme would see the creation of a new generation of shareholders with an estimated 20 million taxpayers receiving shares worth £1,000.
Following an event at the Conservative Party Conference 2014 on how the Conservatives can win more urban seats, Policy Exchange Director of Communications Nick Faith reflects on some of the key recommendations the event threw up.
Policy Exchange's Director of Communications Nick Faith highlights the fact that, although people can see the economy improving many are still not seeing their own life circumstances improving. Nick highlights the plight of coastal towns in particular, and calls for the government to address the economic problems people are facing through a focus on improving training, jobs and wages.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, considers Labour’s choice of guest speaker at this year's Labour Party Conference. Nick argues that the decision to invite Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, is not a particularly wise one, considering Mayor de Blasio’s record of raising taxes, unfunded spending commitments and caving in to militant trade unions.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, sets out how this autumn's party conference speeches offer party leaders the opportunity to deliver a clear and strong message to the electorate ahead of the 2105 general election. Nick argues that if the political parties really want the electorate to pay detailed attention then bold ideas in the autumn could offer them the best opportunity.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, looks at the changing outlook of younger voters, and argues that parties ignore younger voters at the expense of the old at their peril. Nick suggests a batch of policies that will appeal to younger voters, including more and better quality homes, extending the NI exemption to 25 year olds to stimulate youth employment and improving the quality of childcare.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, says the free market is under attack, and businesses are failing to effectively make the case for it. Nick argues that businesses have been loath to take a position on big political issues but nonetheless find themselves used as political scapegoats on issues like tax. Businesses provide wide societal benefits such as apprenticeships and housebuilding, and it is time for them to show that they are a positive force in society.
Prior to George Osborne's speech to the CBI tonight, Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, calls on politicians to show the people that an open free-market economy - closely monitored by government - will work for the many and not just the few.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, argues that while Budget 2014 was a great success, the Chancellor should not be complacent if his party seeks to govern alone post-2015. Nick argues that the Conservatives need an iconic policy that will link economic growth to rising living standards. He suggests creating a new generation of shareholders by distributing government-owned shares in Lloyds – as we called for in our report Privatising the Banks – as one such policy.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, writes saying that the Chancellor needs to make it clear how national policy on jobs, housing and taxes will improve voters' personal situations.
Policy Exchange Director of Communications Nick Faith sets out how we can build a better system for benefits sanctions. Highlighting recommendations from our recent report Smarter Sanctions, Nick shows how a benefits card for people breaching benefits conditions for the first time would help provide a safety net for the 68,000 people a year who are found to have had their benefits withdrawn unfairly.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, sets out how the Conservatives a coalition of voters that will allow them to win elections in the long-term. Nick makes the case from our report Northern Lights that the Conservatives must reach out to the working classes by selecting more northern and working class candidates and focus on building up local networks in marginal seats.
Policy Exchange Director of Communications Nick Faith writes arguing that the best way to support the high street is not to discriminate against out of town malls. He makes the case from our report 21st Century Retail Policy that radical action is required to help high streets, including replacing poor performing councils with a management team of retail experts tasked with reinvigorating ailing high streets and allowing empty shops to be converted more easily into housing.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange writes that the Chancellor's Autumn Statement was littered with references to Northern towns and examines just how these areas will benefit from the Coalition's policies and what this could mean for Tory prospects in the next election.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange, gives his view on the Autumn Statement as part of a Conservative Home panel. Nick found this to be a budget showing signs of economic recovery, but with a clear message that the Conservatives are the party to get Britain back in the black.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, sets out the reasons behind Policy Exchange's decision to form a new Black and Ethnic Minority Research Unit. Nick points out that, despite making up 15-20% of England's population, and with a diverse range of communities each with their own nuances, politicians have tended to assume that BME groups can be treated as a single political entity and very little research has actually been conducted as to why individuals within these communities choose to engage (or not) in British politics and public life.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange writes that with the focus on living standards in the run up to the next general election, by selling off its remaining shares in Lloyds the government could put £230 in every pocket and give itself a much needed boost in the polls in the process.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, praises the focus in George Osborne's Times article on job creation outside of the South East. Nick argues that Osborne has chosen the right message to send to the electorate and should follow up with policies to ram the message home over and over again.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange, sets out the Catch 22 situation that UKIP has put the Conservatives in. UKIP is likely to prevent the Conservatives from winning some key marginals, but tacking to the right to try and head this off in the North West and Midlands will harm the party in the South West. Nick argues that David Cameron's best response would simply be to forget the electoral connotations and focus on leading the country instead.
Nick Faith, Policy Exchange's Director of Communications, calls on George Osborne to introduce a system of local pay bargaining for public sector employees in his upcoming budget. Nick cites findings from report Local Pay, Local Growththat the money saved on such a system could be reinvested in local job creation and infrastructure projects, creating at least 288,000 jobs outside London and the South East.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange, highlights the similarities between Ed Miliband's current position and that of George Osborne in 2009 - namely the need to clearly define for the public policies that will give them the credibility to govern in a time of austerity.
Nick Faith, Head of Communications at Policy Exchange, sets out three main priorities that Lynton Crosby needs to address when he joins the Conservative party's 2015 election campaign. Nick cites findings from Policy Exchange's reportNorthern Lights which found that the Conservative party lacks support in the North and in urban areas.
Nick Faith, Director of Communications at Policy Exchange, sets out the priorities for PCCs in their first 100 days in office. He argues that PCCs need to take the time to get to know their communities, put in place a proactive communications plan and try to set themselves two or three major priorities for their first term.
Policy Exchange Director of Communications Nick Faith argues that the Conservatives need to forget about the boundary review and focus on broadening their appeal to people living within urban areas.
Policy Exchange's Director of Communications Nick Faith cites findings from report Northern Lights which show that those who do not own their own home are far less likely to vote Conservative than those who do. He argues that coupled with the current housing crisis and fewer and fewer people able to afford to get on the property ladder, this could cause electoral problems for the Tories.
