"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
Sunday, 16 August 2015 09:25
Building beautiful new homes
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, when it comes to the aesthetic appreciation of home, it appears that many of us share the same vision. Two polls released this summer have demonstrated the value placed on traditional architecture and accessible green space. Ipsos Mori have found that building new homes in traditional styles tripled approval ratings and in a separate poll, discovered that over 60% of those polled, including city-dwellers, strongly supported the retention of the Green…
Wednesday, 12 August 2015 13:29
Conservatives must be ambitious for London
Syed Kamall is an MEP for London and is campaigning to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London. Over the last few months more and more London Conservatives – and some from further afield – have asked me to run for Mayor of London. Why? Because I can win, because I break the mould, and because I reach out beyond the party's traditional base. Labour’s tired old mantra about class, wealth and privilege just doesn’t work against Syed Kamall.…
Friday, 07 August 2015 11:37
British foreign policy and the migrant crisis
As the tragic, complicated and seemingly intractable European migrant crisis manifested both in the Mediterranean and at Calais drags on, competing explanations fill the airwaves. One is particularly arresting – bringing a diverse range of commentators, from Nigel Farage to Frankie Boyle, into agreement – namely that British participation in western military interventions has destabilised developing countries and driven migrants into southern Europe and up through to Britain. To quote Mr Boyle “We invade their countries and justify it by…
Monday, 03 August 2015 15:35
Politics from the pub: Bright Blue’s first Education Forum
Despite school being out for summer, the classroom was at the forefront of Bright Blue discussion last week – with our first Education Forum being held at the Two Chairmen pub, Westminster. Chaired by Conservative Councillor and social entrepreneur Chris Hayes the Forum saw teachers, parents and those with a general interest in education policy come together to chat about learning, teaching and everything in between. Topics covered included that familiar friend– the debate over grammar vs comprehensive education –…
Thursday, 02 July 2015 11:23
Become responsible stewards of both the economy and the environment, Bright Blue urges the Conservative Party
Bright Blue has today launched a new report entitled Green and responsible conservatism, recommending new policies to revitalise green conservatism and promote long-termism across the economy. Bright Blue’s new report suggests that the Conservative Party must use the opportunity of a majority government to push through reforms that can simultaneously deal with the UK’s productivity crisis and support a cleaner and more sustainable society. Bright Blue’s new report suggests that the Conservative Party can broaden its electoral appeal by using…
Wednesday, 01 July 2015 00:00
Oliver Shore: How should conservatives approach environmental issues?
Unfortunately, in recent times, those on the right have been associated with inaction on environmental issues. I can see how this view might properly be directed at the section of the right that advocates entirely free markets and as little government regulation as possible, hence the Conservative Party’s association with big business, polluters, and oil companies. However, this should not be the case for a conservative. A conservative should be concerned with environmental issues and finding solutions to problems as…
Friday, 26 June 2015 09:05
Bright Blue: Don’t abandon child poverty targets
Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism and home of Conservative modernisers, urges the Government to supplement but not abandon the current relative poverty measure. David Kirkby, Senior Research Fellow at Bright Blue, said: “The Government is right to broaden the definition and measures of poverty. The causes of poverty are multiple. In fact, there are more than the ones this Government have identified: it can also stem from poor education, low pay and loneliness. But money matters.…
Thursday, 25 June 2015 10:24
Bright Blue: Privatisation of UK Green Investment Bank “last thing we need”
Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism and home of conservative modernisers, today criticises the Government’s announcement of its intention to privatise the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB). Ben Caldecott, an Associate Fellow of Bright Blue and a former advisor to the UK Green Investment Bank Commission, said: "I admire the UK Green Investment Bank and what it has achieved so far, but the last thing we need is a publicly supported, but privately owned, asset manager using…
Tuesday, 23 June 2015 14:07
PM opens door to refugee resettlement - but how wide will it be?
Sonya Sceats is Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom from Torture and tweets from @SonyaSceats The Prime Minister's announcement that he will boost refugee resettlement was a victory for Freedom from Torture and others calling for such a pledge as part of the UK's response to treacherous trips across the Mediterranean Sea by torture survivors and other desperate people. Now that we have won the argument in principle that Britain can do more to help, we need to get…
Monday, 22 June 2015 10:36
Bright Blue: Ethnic minorities are more positive about immigration than the wider population
Bright Blue has launched a new report entitled Understanding how ethnic minorities think about immigration, outlining how ethnic minorities view the purpose of the immigration system, which types of immigrants should be let into the UK, the impact of immigration, and their views on the integration of immigrants.Commenting on the report, co-author and Director of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse said:"Electoral support for the Conservative Party among ethnic minority groups is rising, but is still low in comparison to the Labour…