Neil O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Neil O'Brien is Director of the centre-right think tank
Policy Exchange
. He was appointed in August 2008, succeeding Anthony Browne
and Nicholas Boles
in this role.
O'Brien was previously, between 2005–2008, Director of Open Europe
, a think tank working for free market reform in Europe. He grew up in Huddersfield
, West Yorkshire, and took a first in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, at Christ Church, Oxford
.
In March 2010, O'Brien co-authored a wide-ranging book called The Renewal of Government. It was praised by Michael Gove
, then Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and now Secretary of State for Education, who said that it “lays down with admirable clarity and form a set of radical policies ... which in the field of education I think are peerless”.
O'Brien often comments on political issues in print and on broadcast. He writes a regular blog for the
Daily Telegraph and has written in the Financial Times
, the Guardian
and the Times
. He has appeared on BBC
Newsnight, Sky News and Channel Four news. He has spoken on BBC radio programmes including The Moral Maze and the Today Programme. He has commented on a broad range of issues including public spending, welfare reform, housing, education and the environment. He tweets on public policy as “NeilDotObrien.”
Neil O'Brien was ranked number 14 in Total Politics
’ poll of the top 50 political influencers in Britain, named in The Daily Telegraph as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential people on the Right", in the Sunday Times as one of the “New Political Elite” and as one of the Evening Standard
's "Power 1000 of London’s New Influentials".
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange
Policy Exchange is a British conservative think tank based in London. The Daily Telegraph has described it as "the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right"...
. He was appointed in August 2008, succeeding Anthony Browne
Anthony Browne
Anthony Browne may refer to:*Anthony Browne , author and illustrator of children's books*Anthony Browne , journalist, author, and policy director for London mayor Boris Johnson...
and Nicholas 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...
in this role.
O'Brien was previously, between 2005–2008, Director of Open Europe
Open Europe
Open Europe is an influential eurosceptic think-tank and interest group, founded in London by some UK business people, with offices in London and Brussels. While Open Europe does not advocate British withdrawal from the European Union, it is critical of the process of European integration and has...
, a think tank working for free market reform in Europe. He grew up in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, West Yorkshire, and took a first in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
In March 2010, O'Brien co-authored a wide-ranging book called The Renewal of Government. It was praised by Michael Gove
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
, then Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and now Secretary of State for Education, who said that it “lays down with admirable clarity and form a set of radical policies ... which in the field of education I think are peerless”.
O'Brien often comments on political issues in print and on broadcast. He writes a regular blog for the
Daily Telegraph and has written in the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and the Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. He has appeared on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Newsnight, Sky News and Channel Four news. He has spoken on BBC radio programmes including The Moral Maze and the Today Programme. He has commented on a broad range of issues including public spending, welfare reform, housing, education and the environment. He tweets on public policy as “NeilDotObrien.”
Neil O'Brien was ranked number 14 in Total Politics
Total Politics
Total Politics is a British political magazine described as a "a lifestyle magazine for the political community". It was first published in June 2008 and is distributed freely to all MPs, MEPs, peers, political journalists, members of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies, and all...
’ poll of the top 50 political influencers in Britain, named in The Daily Telegraph as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential people on the Right", in the Sunday Times as one of the “New Political Elite” and as one of the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
's "Power 1000 of London’s New Influentials".