In The News
Policy Exchange publications, staff and policy concepts in the press.

Government & Politics News

New Statesman highlights Policy Exchange work on modernising the United Kingdom
Policy Exchange“Some attention has been given post-election to the Conservative plans for a constitutional commission. But less focus has been given to the significant plans being put together for a re-servicing of the Union. The Policy Exchange think-tank has called for ‘a Grand Strategy to modernise the United Kingdom.’ This is an activist Unionism of a kind only glimpsed before.”

Policy Exchange union polling quoted in Parliament
Policy ExchangeSpeaking in a debate on Strengthening the Union, Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk John Lamont cited Policy Exchange’s recent polling on the strength of the Union, saying “We should strengthen our Union because it is the will of the people of our land. Recent polling by Policy Exchange clearly demonstrates that the majority of people across the United Kingdom are in favour of the Union in its current form. Some 68% of people in England, 52% of people in Scotland, 66% of people in Wales and 59% of people in Northern Ireland want a continuation of the Union.”

Monarchy helps unify the country post-Brexit, new poll finds
Policy ExchangeA clear majority of people in all parts of the United Kingdom think that the monarchy unifies the country following the Brexit referendum, according to polling data carried out exclusively for Policy Exchange. Even in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which voted to remain in the EU, more than double think the monarchy brings the country together than the reverse.

Rupert Oldham-Reid joins Policy Exchange as Director of Research and Strategy
Policy ExchangeRupert is responsible for overseeing Policy Exchange’s research programme and liaising with government and other bodies. Previously based in Downing Street and Westminster as Special Adviser to the Chief Whip, Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Rupert has also worked for the Charity Commission and Centre for Social Justice. His work on social policy in Breakthough Britain II included crime, welfare, addiction, veterans and military families. Rupert has appeared on television and radio to discuss research findings, as well as contributing to national newspapers and journals.

Brexit: A Prize in Reach for the Left
Policy ExchangePolicy Exchange hosted Professor Richard Tuck, one of the world’s leading historians of ideas, to set out the case for Brexit as the best opportunity for the Left to bring about pure socialism. Labour MP Caroline Flint delivered the vote of thanks, in which she cautioned her colleagues that “We cannot spend the next 18 months voting down every one of the Tories’ EU Bills. If we do so, we will look like liars” in remarks covered by the Express, the Sun and Total Politics.

The Sun credits Policy Exchange’s agenda setting work on the ‘Just About Managing’ classes
Policy ExchangeThe Sun credited Policy Exchange’s agenda setting work on the ‘Just About Managing’ classes, saying: “Think tank Policy Exchange describe them as “people who just manage to get by each month but whose resilience to economic shocks is not high”.”

New Statesman discusses Policy Exchange report on ‘just about managing families’
Policy ExchangeGeorge Eaton refers to Policy Exchange’s 2015 report, ‘Overlooked But Decisive: Connecting with England’s Just About Managing Classes’

Brexit Vote Showed How a Referendum Can Reflect a Nation’s True Feelings
Richard Ekins Read Article Referendums are not generally a good idea. The electorate is not well placed to rule directly. In general, self-government should be by way of representative institutions. Still, there are times when it is reasonable for the legislature to put some...
Judges must keep out of political minefields
Policy ExchangePhilip Johnston, writes for The Daily Telegraph on judges making political decisions and the work of Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project.

Speaker Bercow: Corbyn will need to stick with new PMQs tone for months
Web AdministratorThe Spectator’s Isabel Hardman covers Policy Exchange’s event with John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker set out his thoughts on how PMQs could be improved (beyond better behaviour from MPs), including a longer session and a mix of open and substantive questions from MPs.