"Bright Blue and its contributors have been tireless in bringing forward new ideas and fresh thinking to the conservative cause."
The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
Centre Write
Monday, 08 February 2016 14:05
Mark Stockwell: Can we really achieve 'real equality of opportunity for all'?
Oliver Letwin’s recent Bright Blue lecture on the theme of ‘Opportunity for All’ presented a solid case that the current government’s policies were – slowly but surely – improving life chances for people right across the socio-economic spectrum. He was at pains to make clear, however, that this was not the limit of his ambition – he wanted to achieve “real equality of opportunity for all”. While he acknowledged that this was a high bar, he felt it was one…
Friday, 05 February 2016 13:08
Ryan Shorthouse: Making the case for School Choice
Bright Blue's Director Ryan Shorthouse recently spoke at the Centre for the Study of Market Reform of Education's School Choice Week conference in a debate, defending the motion "This house believes that school choice is the best way to provide educational opportunity and improve equity". Watch Ryan's speech below (starts 18:02)
Tuesday, 02 February 2016 13:10
Corinna Peachey: George Freeman MP's speech on "Innovation economy for an opportunity society"
Bright Blue's Drinks Tanks are an opportunity to meet, drink and discuss ideas, and last night’s event with George Freeman MP was no exception. The Minister for Life Sciences opened with the compelling thesis that New Labour ‘inverted the pyramid’, moving Britain from a society with entry for all at the bottom, and an accountable and admired few at the top to one where entry into society is difficult, and dominated by an unelected elite. This theme of an ‘unelected…
Wednesday, 27 January 2016 18:21
Ryan Shorthouse: Family-friendly migration?
Today, the Migration Observatory at Oxford University has published a report analysing the implications of the current Minimum Income Rule that British Citizens need to meet to be able to sponsor a family visa for their spouse. Currently, that minimum income level is £18,600 per annum, which increases if the citizen is also wanting to bring in children. The Coalition Government introduced this policy in 2012 as part of its plan to reduce net migration. It is a contentious policy.…
Monday, 25 January 2016 17:37
Sam Dumitriu: Oliver Letwin’s take on ‘Opportunity for all’
Over the past fifteen years (and beyond) Oliver Letwin has been one of the Conservative Party’s most influential figures. With various stints as Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Home Secretary, to his current role as the Chancellor of the Duchy Lancaster where he’s responsible for overseeing the cabinet office, he’s been at the heart of Conservative Party policy. But before he entered party politics, Letwin was a philosopher. His background in philosophy, in particular in emotion and ethics, was on full…
Thursday, 14 January 2016 12:47
Peter Kirby-Harris: Assessing the Paris Climate Conference: renewed enthusiasm for action
If there was one key success that anyone who took part in the Paris Climate Conference or who watched from the side-lines felt, it was enthusiasm for a deal. The despondence of previous conferences was replaced by a more optimistic tone that an effective solution to climate change was possible in the near future. It is not important that the deal was not legally binding except that national governments were required to implement their own INDC’s (Individually Determined National Contributions).…
Wednesday, 13 January 2016 17:25
Bright Blue’s predictions for 2016
2015 was full of surprises, from a Conservative majority that confounded the pollsters to a rank outsider in Jeremy Corbyn going on to win the Labour Leadership with a massive mandate. Bright Blue’s Executive team have come forward with their predictions of what 2016 has in store politically. Our director Ryan Shorthouse, decided to focus on the area he thought would dominate the Conservative government’s policy agenda over the next year. “The PM wants the EU referendum out of the…
Monday, 11 January 2016 11:26
David Kirkby: Extending jobcentre support for those on in-work benefits
The Government has made it clear that welfare reform is a ball which will keep on rolling throughout this parliament. Building on the changes implemented in the last parliament, more are on their way. One of the most significant is underlined in an article this past Friday from Justin Tomlinson, the Minister for Disabled people: the extension of jobcentre support and conditionality to in-work claimants of Universal Credit. “Importantly and uniquely, UC stays with people when they enter work until…
Thursday, 07 January 2016 10:27
Matt Browne: Our wildlife needs the EU
Amidst all the bustle of Christmas, one of last month’s news stories was easy to miss. As red robins graced cards, and turtle doves flitted through carol recitals, wildlife charities published a new assessment indicating severe declines amongst Britain’s native bird species. According to the report 27% of UK bird species have declined to such an extent that they are now of conservation concern, up from 21% in 2009. It isn’t just birds – a separate study published last month…
Saturday, 02 January 2016 16:34
Eamonn Ives: Cameron must continue modernisation
With Jeremy Corbyn elected as the new Labour Party leader, there are countless individuals within the Conservative camp who are under the impression that the 2020 general election will be something of a formality. Such sentiments are founded with good reason, but one ought not to get carried away – there are still challenges ahead for the Conservative Party, and it must not become complacent. When David Cameron was installed as the leader of the Conservatives in 2005, he was…