Politeia is a centre-right British political think tank that generally supports free-market initiatives. Its director, Sheila Lawlor, and Politeia 'have been and remain hugely influential in steering public policy debate gently in a right of centre direction'.
Its aim is to encourage reflection, discussion and debate about the place of the state in the daily lives of men and women across the range of issues which affect them, from employment and tax to education, health and pensions.
Tax and public spending: What are the right levels for a flourishing economy?The potential consequences of the Euro or the European constitution for British social and economic policy, employment, taxation and tradeInternational comparisons of educational standardsPolicies for high employment: the role of the state, the employer and the employeeCovering for lost income: health, long term care, pensions and unemploymentWelfare reform, pensions and benefits: A fairer framework for incentiveConstitutional change and stabilityHome Affairs – Tackling crime effectivelyHealthcare systems for the futurePatrons and Advisory Council
Described as 'small but influential' (Professor Deepak Lal), 'Politeia's ideas have been taken up across the political spectrum' (Lord Strathclyde) and politicians of all parties sit on its Westminster Council. Its patron is George Robinson and its director is Dr. Sheila Lawlor. Among those on its advisory council include Professor Tim Congdon, Professor David Dilks, Dr. Oliver Letwin MP, Francis Maude MP, David Willetts MP and Professor Carl Lygo. Maurice Cowling was also on the advisory council.
Contributors and Speakers
Contributors and speakers for Politeia have included (among others):-
Boris Johnson, Mayor of LondonWilliam Hague, Foreign SecretaryChris Daykin, HM Government Actuary (1989-2007)Irwin Stelzer, Economics & Business Columnist, The Sunday TimesMichael Gove, Secretary of State for EducationHarold James, Professor of Economic History at Princeton UniversityFrank Field, Minister for Welfare Reform (1997-1998)Theresa May, Home SecretaryDr Ludger Schuknecht, European Central BankChris Woodhead, HM Chief Inspector of Schools (1994-2000)Tim Hames, Assistant Editor, The TimesGeorge Osborne, Chancellor of the ExchequerDaniel Hannan, Conservative Party MEPJohn O'Leary, Times Education Supplement EditorLord George, Governor of the Bank of England (1993-2003)Lord Salisbury, Leader of the House of Lords (1994-1997)Deepak Lal, Professor of International Development Studies at the University of CaliforniaJohn Bird, founder of The Big IssueChris Bolt, Former non-executive Chairman of The Office of Rail RegulationVito Tanzi, EconomistPeter Luxton, Law ProfessorTony Hockley, Research Associate at LSE HealthDr Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for DefenceChris Grayling, Secretary of State for JusticeStanley Brodie QC, Barrister, Blackstone Chambers'Working Lives: Making Welfare Work' "Chris Grayling" (September 2011)'The Cost to Justice: Government Policy and the Law Courts' "Stanley Brodie QC"'Crisis Management?', David B. Smith'Teachers Matter: Recruitment, Employment and Retention at Home and abroad', the Politeia Education Commission'Making Law, Parliament v The Charity Commission', Peter Luxton MP'Clear and Accountable? Institutions for Defence and Security', Robert Salisbury et al.'A Premium on patients? Funding the Future NHS', Tony Hockley'Banking Benefit: Welfare Accounts for the Individual', Dennis Snower and Alessio Brown 