With this government, it’s often hard to see the wood for the forests. But, overall, David Cameron is on the right side of a major battle over the very fundamentals of government: the size and role of state, as well as radical welfare and education reform. Politicians cannot be expected to fight this battle alone. This is about advocacy: making and winning arguments.
The think tanks have a huge role to play – as Thatcher realised in the mid-1970s when she set up the Centre for Policy Studies. It’s looking for a new director right now, and as a board member I’m on the committee to find one. The CPS is on the side of the angels: advocating low tax, small governments, free minds and free markets.
Labour is very well represented by think tanks (or “institutes”) which are mostly funded by tax money – and will, therefore, always make the case for more tax money.
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