CentreForum
Encyclopedia
CentreForum is an independent, liberal think-tank that seeks to develop evidence-based, long-term policy solutions to the problems facing Britain. It is based in Westminster
, London, and was formerly known as Centre for Reform.
The organisation, chaired by Paul Marshall
, is linked by many to the Liberal Democrats
. Many prominent Liberal Democrat politicians are involved in CentreForum including David Laws
MP, Nick Clegg
MP, Dr Vince Cable MP and Lord Ashdown
. However, it is independent from the party and its board members include the Labour Party MP Natascha Engel
, Labour Peer Lord Myners and the Conservative MPs David Willetts
and Nick Boles
as well as several prominent journalists and academics.
Other publications of CentreForum include 'Globalisation: a liberal response', 'Climbing the ladder: how can Britain become more socially mobile?', 'Open universities: a funding strategy for higher education' and 'A balancing act: fair solutions to a modern debt crisis' These publications highlight CentreForum's combination of both economic and social liberalism.
In recent times CentreForum has published work on how to improve the working of higher education reform, social housing and alternative approaches to tackling crime
. Since the formation of the coalition government
in May 2010, which includes Liberal Democrat ministers in government for the first time since the Second World War, several of CentreForum's ideas have been adopted as government policy. Most notable are the idea of a pupil premium in education and the use of community land auctions as part of the government's localism agenda.
After the death of Richard Wainwright in 2003 the Centre's future appeared uncertain Paul Marshall
, then chair of the Liberal Democrat Business Forum, agreed to fund the Centre's future for at least three years. A new business plan was written and former Goldman Sachs banker Jennifer Moses was brought in as Chief Executive.
The organisation moved to larger offices in Westminster and expanded its staff. For the first time it was able to produce in-house research. It was at this time that the think tank was relaunched as CentreForum.
Two Directors were recruited: Alasdair Murray from the Centre for European Reform; and Julian Astle MBE who had been working for Paddy Ashdown in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In early 2008 Jennifer Moses left to become a Special Advisor to Gordon Brown
in Downing Street. Chris Nicholson took over as Director and Chief Executive in 2010 and in April 2011, Julian Astle left CentreForum in the same month that Tim Leunig, London School of Economics
economist and contributer to several existing CentreForum publications was appointed as Chief Economist.
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London, and was formerly known as Centre for Reform.
The organisation, chaired by Paul Marshall
Paul Marshall (financier)
Paul Roderick Clucas Marshall is a British investor and philanthropist.He was educated at St John's College, Oxford, and holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School....
, is linked by many to the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
. Many prominent Liberal Democrat politicians are involved in CentreForum including David Laws
David Laws
David Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury....
MP, Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
MP, Dr Vince Cable MP and Lord Ashdown
Lord Ashdown
Lord Ashdown can refer to:*Arnold Silverstone, Baron Ashdown *Paddy Ashdown , Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon...
. However, it is independent from the party and its board members include the Labour Party MP Natascha Engel
Natascha Engel
Natascha Engel is a German-British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire since 2005. She has extensive involvement in the trade union movement, and has close connections to Gordon Brown....
, Labour Peer Lord Myners and the Conservative MPs David Willetts
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
and Nick Boles
Nicholas Boles
Nicholas Edward Coleridge "Nick" Boles is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the Grantham and Stamford constituency in Lincolnshire...
as well as several prominent journalists and academics.
Publications
Amongst their publications is 'Britain After Blair', in which senior Lib Dem politicians gave their view on a liberal direction for the policy brief they covered at the time in the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet. Although not party policy, the then Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Menzies Campbell wrote a foreword to the volume. The book is the successor to the controversial Orange Book which advocated classical liberal solutions to current social policy issues.Other publications of CentreForum include 'Globalisation: a liberal response', 'Climbing the ladder: how can Britain become more socially mobile?', 'Open universities: a funding strategy for higher education' and 'A balancing act: fair solutions to a modern debt crisis' These publications highlight CentreForum's combination of both economic and social liberalism.
In recent times CentreForum has published work on how to improve the working of higher education reform, social housing and alternative approaches to tackling crime
. Since the formation of the coalition government
United Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
in May 2010, which includes Liberal Democrat ministers in government for the first time since the Second World War, several of CentreForum's ideas have been adopted as government policy. Most notable are the idea of a pupil premium in education and the use of community land auctions as part of the government's localism agenda.
History
After a successful 1997 General Election, a number of influential Liberal Democrats sought for ways to give the party a firmer policy grounding. Richard Wainwright led the project and the Centre for Reform was formally launched at the Liberal Democrats 1998 Spring conference with Richard Grayson as the first Director. Anthony Rowlands became the Director in 2000 and guided the think tank as it published a wide range of papers - many by Liberal Democrat MPs and Lords.After the death of Richard Wainwright in 2003 the Centre's future appeared uncertain Paul Marshall
Paul Marshall (financier)
Paul Roderick Clucas Marshall is a British investor and philanthropist.He was educated at St John's College, Oxford, and holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School....
, then chair of the Liberal Democrat Business Forum, agreed to fund the Centre's future for at least three years. A new business plan was written and former Goldman Sachs banker Jennifer Moses was brought in as Chief Executive.
The organisation moved to larger offices in Westminster and expanded its staff. For the first time it was able to produce in-house research. It was at this time that the think tank was relaunched as CentreForum.
Two Directors were recruited: Alasdair Murray from the Centre for European Reform; and Julian Astle MBE who had been working for Paddy Ashdown in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In early 2008 Jennifer Moses left to become a Special Advisor to Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
in Downing Street. Chris Nicholson took over as Director and Chief Executive in 2010 and in April 2011, Julian Astle left CentreForum in the same month that Tim Leunig, London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
economist and contributer to several existing CentreForum publications was appointed as Chief Economist.