Social Market Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Social Market Foundation (SMF) is a British
public policy think-tank based in Westminster
, London
. It was set up by supporters of David Owen
after the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) was disbanded in the late 1980s. It aims to promote and produce policies supporting the “social market”. This was the concept of the SMF’s first publication.
's favourite thinktank’ and two former directors (Rick Nye and Daniel Finkelstein
) left to work for the Conservative Party.
In 2001, Robert, Lord Skidelsky was replaced as chair by David, Lord Lipsey
. Since that time, the SMF has moved closer to the Labour Party and has since been regarded as a left of centre think tank. It was associated with some of the policies of Tony Blair
's New Labour, particularly issues of public service reform.
In September 2010, Mary Ann Sieghart
, the political and social affairs journalist, took over as Chair.
s and energy
policy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
public policy think-tank based in Westminster
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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was set up by supporters of David Owen
David Owen
David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen CH PC FRCP is a British politician.Owen served as British Foreign Secretary from 1977 to 1979, the youngest person in over forty years to hold the post; he co-authored the failed Vance-Owen and Owen-Stoltenberg peace plans offered during the Bosnian War...
after the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
(SDP) was disbanded in the late 1980s. It aims to promote and produce policies supporting the “social market”. This was the concept of the SMF’s first publication.
History
Founded in 1989, the organisation was cited as ‘John MajorJohn Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
's favourite thinktank’ and two former directors (Rick Nye and Daniel Finkelstein
Daniel Finkelstein
Daniel Finkelstein OBE is a British journalist and former politician. He is the Executive Editor of The Times, where he's also Chief Leader Writer and a weekly political columnist.-Background:...
) left to work for the Conservative Party.
In 2001, Robert, Lord Skidelsky was replaced as chair by David, Lord Lipsey
David Lipsey, Baron Lipsey
David Lawrence Lipsey, Baron Lipsey is a British Labour Party politician.-Life:Lipsey was created a Life peer in 1999. From 1982 to 1983 he was chair of the Fabian Society and from 1970 to 1972 secretary of the Streatham Labour Party....
. Since that time, the SMF has moved closer to the Labour Party and has since been regarded as a left of centre think tank. It was associated with some of the policies of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's New Labour, particularly issues of public service reform.
In September 2010, Mary Ann Sieghart
Mary Ann Sieghart
Mary Ann Sieghart is a former assistant editor of The Times, where she wrote columns about politics, social affairs and life generally. She now writes a weekly political column in The Independent and presents Profile and Beyond Westminster on Radio 4...
, the political and social affairs journalist, took over as Chair.
Policy goals
The SMF’s remit is to focus on domestic public policy, particularly the public services and welfare. The majority of publications are therefore focused on issues concerning education, health care and employment. However it also produces publications on wide-ranging subjects such as road-pricing, casinoCasino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s and energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
policy.
External links
- Official website
- The Social Market Foundation, Charity CommissionCharity CommissionThe Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
, charity number 1000971