Policy Exchange

Policy Exchange was set up in 2002 by a group including Nicholas Boles (director), Michael Gove (chairman) and Francis Maude.{{cite news |first=Zoe |last=Williams|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/oct/27/thinktanks-brains-for-hire |title=Brains for hire: the thinktank |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=5 March 2018}} While a shadow minister in the late 2000s during the Premiership of Gordon Brown, Francis Maude named being one of the co-founders as his proudest political achievement.{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Maude_Francis.aspx |title=Francis Maude |publisher=Conservatives.com |access-date=27 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024224532/http://www.conservatives.com/people/members_of_parliament/maude_francis.aspx |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=dead }} Both Maude and Gove went on to become ministers in subsequent Conservative governments.

In May 2007, Boles was succeeded as director by Anthony Browne, a journalist and political correspondent for The Times. In September 2008, Browne stepped down to work for Boris Johnson, and was succeeded by Neil O'Brien, formerly director of Open Europe.[http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/09/neil-obrien-is.html Neil O'Brien is new director of Policy Exchange] ConservativeHome 12 September 2008 In November 2012, O'Brien was appointed as a special adviser to George Osborne,{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Montgomerie |author-link=Tim Montgomerie |url=http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2012/11/george-osborne-appoints-neil-obrien-as-new-adviser-and-opens-door-to-a-more-blue-collar-northern-con.html |title=George Osborne appoints Neil O'Brien |publisher=ConservativeHome |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=5 March 2018}} and in 2013 he was succeeded by Dean Godson, formerly head of Policy Exchange's security unit.{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Hoskin |author-link=Peter Hoskin |url=http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2013/01/dean-godson-is-the-new-director-of-policy_exchange.html |title=Dean Godson is the new director of Policy Exchange |work=Conservative Home |publisher=ConservativeHome |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=5 March 2018}}

In November 2018, Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, described Policy Exchange as "multidisciplinary, highly influential, a productive force at the heart of Westminster and our political system."{{Cite web|title=Mark Carney on "Capitalism in America" {{!}} Policy Exchange|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/news/mark-carney-on-capitalism-in-america/|access-date=2019-04-10|language=en-GB}} In 2020, Iain Dale described Policy Exchange as "the pre-eminent think tank in the Westminster village".{{Cite web|title=Iain Dale: My reshuffle predictions. The Prime Minister believes he has delivered for his supporters – and now owes them nothing.|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2020/02/iain-dale-my-reshuffle-predictions-the-prime-minister-believes-he-has-delivered-for-his-supporters-and-now-owes-them-nothing.html|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Conservative Home|date=7 February 2020 |language=en-US}} Although associated with the British centre-right, it has also attracts contributors from the political left; contributors have included Labour MPs such as Khalid Mahmood.

In 2019, Marcos González Hernando, a sociologist at the University of Cambridge, summed up its political position and evolution as follows: "Policy Exchange (PX) is a right-of-centre think tank founded in 2002 by Conservative modernisers who believed their party needed to move beyond a strict adherence to Thatcherite ideas. Parallel to the rise of David Cameron, PX became ever more politically connected, while producing policy proposals on areas hitherto relatively neglected by the centre-right (e.g., education, social policy, healthcare). Indeed, the ideas behind the ‘Big Society’ platform were first developed under PX’s aegis. However, the moment of their political ascendancy coincided with the 2008 crisis, after which they became strong supporters of the austerity agenda — if positioning themselves as ‘reasonable’ rather than ideological advocates. As a result, PX expanded its output dramatically on fiscal and financial policy, moving much of their thinking towards the economic right. In the process, PX came to be seen as one of the most politically central British think tanks, the crucible of centre-right thinking, and the ‘policy shop’ of the Cameron premiership."{{Cite book |date= 2019-06-15|title=Policy Exchange: The Pros and Cons of Political Centrality |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-20370-2_6 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Springer Nature |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-20370-2_6 |language=en |last1=González Hernando |first1=Marcos |pages=191–232 |isbn=978-3-030-20369-6 }}

In 2020 it absorbed Open Europe, a Eurosceptic think tank working on the European Union. In November 2020, it awarded the inaugural Grotius Prize to Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister, "in recognition of his work in support of the international rules based order".{{Cite web|title=Inaugural Grotius Prize presented to Hon Scott Morrison MP|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/pxevents/inaugural-grotius-prize-scott-morrison/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}

The head of its Britain in the World project was previously Professor John Bew, who left in 2019 to join the Number 10 Policy Unit.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=The John Bew profile: 'I'm not even sure that he is a Conservative' |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/john-bew-profile-im-even-sure-conservative |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}

In February 2020, Open Europe's team joined Policy Exchange to lead the work of the Britain in the World project, where the research is focused on international trade and the opportunities for "Global Britain" after Brexit.{{Cite web|title=Open Europe joins Policy Exchange|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/press-release/open-europe-joins-policy-exchange/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Policy Exchange {{!}} Policy Commons |url=https://policycommons.net/orgs/policy-exchange/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=policycommons.net}}

The former Australian PM Kevin Rudd, responding to Stephen Kinnock at a Policy Exchange event at Labour Party Conference in autumn 2020, argued that there is a need to "reset" British foreign policy towards the Indo-Pacific.{{Cite web|title=Labour Party Conference 2020|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/labour-party-conference-2020/|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}} This idea has been pursued by Policy Exchange in its Indo-Pacific Commission, a project chaired by Stephen Harper, former Canadian PM, and given public support by Shinzo Abe, former Japanese Prime Minister, who argued in a foreword to the Commission's first report: "Britain can work with countries throughout the region on upholding democratic values and supporting the multinational institutions that have developed in recent years.{{Cite web |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick Wintour |date=2020-11-22 |title=UK should tilt foreign policy to Indo-Pacific region, report says |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/22/uk-should-tilt-foreign-policy-to-indo-pacific-region-report-says |access-date=2020-12-14 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} On the security front, the British military, and the Royal Navy in particular, will be a welcome presence in the seas of the Indo-Pacific."https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/A-Very-British-Tilt.pdf

The Integration Hub, in partnership with Policy Exchange, explores ethnic integration across five distinct themes – Residential Patterns, Work and Welfare, Society and Everyday Life, Education, and Attitudes and Identity. It allows people to explore integration across England and Wales through interactive data maps.http://www.integrationhub.net/

Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project researches whether the power of judges has increased in the UK, and what effect such a rise in judicial power is having on the principle of the separation of powers. The research unit focuses on the proper scope of judicial power within the Westminster constitution, arguing that judicial overreach increasingly threatens the rule of law and effective, democratic government. Policy Exchange's Judicial Power Project has also been involved in scrutinising the 2016 case R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, publishing a number of arguments that were used by the Government in their Supreme Court appeal.{{cite web|date=7 December 2016|title=Government deploys arguments developed by Policy Exchange in its Supreme Court appeal|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/government-recommends-professor-timothy-endicotts-policy-exchange-lecture-to-supreme-court-on-first-day-of-hearings/|access-date=5 March 2018|publisher=Policy Exchange}}

The head of Judicial Power Project is Professor Richard Ekins, Tutorial Fellow in Law at St John's College, Oxford and Professor of Law and Constitutional Government in the University of Oxford; the Project Website Editor is Professor Graham Gee, Professor of Public Law at the University of Sheffield.{{Cite web |title=People {{!}} Judicial Power Project |url=https://judicialpowerproject.org.uk/people-2/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=judicialpowerproject.org.uk}} Contributors include Sir Patrick Elias, Timothy Endicott, John Finnis, Dame Susan Glazebrook, Sir Stephen Laws, Sir Noel Malcolm, Baroness O'Neill of Bengarve, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, and John Tasioulas.{{Cite web |title=Posts {{!}} Judicial Power Project |url=https://judicialpowerproject.org.uk/category/posts/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=judicialpowerproject.org.uk}}

In September 2017, Andrew Gimson in ConservativeHome wrote that 'Policy Exchange's work on "lawfare", as it came to be known, was the UK equivalent of the Manhattan Institute's "Broken Windows" moment, for it drastically changed the terms of the debate, and led to decisive action to deal with the problem."{{Cite web|title=Profile: Tom Tugendhat, successful insurgent and a possible future Tory leader|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2017/09/profile-tom-tugendhat-successful-insurgent-and-a-possible-future-tory-leader.html|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Conservative Home|date=7 September 2017 |language=en-US}}

In July 2018, the Judicial Power Project published Judicial Power and the Left, a series of essays examining the issue of judicial activism from the left of politics. In the Foreword, Labour MP Jon Cruddas argued, "The retreat towards the law and the continental constitutional separation of powers, and away from democracy and parliamentary sovereignty, have been very powerful tendencies within the left over the past fifty years."{{Cite web|date=2018-01-09|title=Jon Cruddas MP {{!}} Foreword to Judicial Power and the Left|url=http://judicialpowerproject.org.uk/jon-cruddas-mp-foreword-to-judicial-power-and-the-left/|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Judicial Power Project|language=en-US}}

The former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, argued in the foreword to a July 2020 Judicial Power Project paper on reforming the Supreme Court, "There are some who wish this debate to 'go away'. That is not, in my view, a tenable position..." Suella Braverman, the Attorney General for England and Wales, described the Judicial Power Project as "so influential, and so often mentioned in Parliament, both on the left and right. At times it seems that it is the only public defender of constitutional orthodoxy".{{Cite web |title=Equalities and rights: Conflict and the need for clarity |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/equalities-and-rights-conflict-and-the-need-for-clarity |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=GOV.UK |date=10 August 2022 |language=en}} Another attorney general, Sir Geoffrey Cox, said that "Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project provides an invaluable counterpoint to the expansive liberal constitutionalism that has come to be the prevailing legal orthodoxy of our day."{{Cite book |last1=Ekins |first1=Richard |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Mishandling-the-Law.pdf |title=Mishandling the Law: Gerry Adams and the Supreme Court |last2=Laws |first2=Sir Stephen |publisher=Policy Exchange |year=2020 |location=London |pages=5}} Conversely, Thomas Poole has attacked the Judicial Power Project as "The Executive Power Project", claiming that the JPP's approach owes more to anarcho-conservatism than to constitutional conservatism.{{cite news |last1=Poole |first1=Thomas |title=Thomas Poole {{!}} The Executive Power Project · LRB 2 April 2019 |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2019/april/the-executive-power-project |access-date=8 December 2020 |work=LRB Blog |date=2 April 2019 |language=en}}

Liveable London is a policy programme which attempts to develop new ideas to make London a better place to live and work. Grown out of the Capital City Foundation initiative, Liveable London focuses on the everyday experiences of Londoners, addressing both structural and small challenges the capital faces.{{Cite web |title=Liveable London |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/liveable-london/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Policy Exchange |language=en}}

The New Politics Monitor is a project that seeks to chart and understand the ongoing transformation of British politics." Reports include Academic freedom in the UK and An Age of Incivility.{{Cite web|title=An Age of Incivility|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/an-age-of-incivility/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Academic freedom in the UK |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/academic-freedom-in-the-uk/ |access-date=2020-12-13 |website=Policy Exchange |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Bashford |first=Becca |date=2022-06-09 |title=In Pursuit of Prevent |url=https://cdbu.org.uk/in-pursuit-of-prevent/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=CDBU |language=en-GB}}

In October 2022, Labour MP Rosie Duffield, SNP MP Joanna Cherry, and Conservative peer Baroness Jenkin of Kennington announced a new "biology matters" policy unit at Policy Exchange aiming to document the spread of policies informed by what it called "gender identity theory" in the public sector, making a public call for evidence.{{cite news |last=Clarence-Smith |first=Louisa |date=22 October 2022 |title=Unit aims to stop gender ideology 'compromising' women's rights |language=en-GB |work=The Sunday Telegraph |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/10/22/unit-aims-stop-gender-ideology-compromising-womens-rights/ |access-date=24 October 2022 |issn=}}

Think tank Transparify, which is funded by the Open Society Foundations, ranked Policy Exchange as one of the three least transparent think tanks in the UK in relation to funding. Transparify's report How Transparent are Think Tanks about Who Funds Them 2016? rated them as 'highly opaque,' one of 'a handful of think tanks that refuse to reveal even the identities of their donors.'{{Cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52e1f399e4b06a94c0cdaa41/t/5773022de6f2e1ecf70b26d1/1467154992324/Transparify+2016+Think+Tanks+Report.pdf|title=How transparent are think tanks about who funds them 2016?|publisher=Transparify 29 June 2016|access-date=30 November 2016}} However, Policy Exchange does list some sponsors inside its reports, such as the European Climate Foundation{{Cite web|title=Powering Net Zero|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/powering-net-zero/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}} and the Gates Foundation.{{Cite web|title=Global Britain, Global Challenges: How to make aid more effective|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/global-britain-global-challenges-how-to-make-aid-more-effective/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}

In 2017 ExxonMobil, donated £30,000 to a US based Policy Exchange fundraising arm,{{Cite web |title=Patel's anti-protest law 'came from oil-funded think tank' |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/policing-bill-policy-exchange-exxonmobil-lobbying/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=openDemocracy |language=en}} and, in November 2022, the funding transparency website Who Funds You? gave Policy Exchange an E grade, the lowest transparency rating (rating goes from A to E).{{Cite web |title=Who Funds You? Policy Exchange |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/who-funds-you/policy-exchange/ |language=en}}

Policy Exchange authors have included former government advisor Professor Dieter Helm, economist Robert Shiller, author and broadcaster Bill Bryson, historian and journalist Anna Reid, former Financial Times journalist John Willman, and Olympic athlete James Cracknell.

In June 2018, Policy Exchange published Building More, Building Beautiful,{{Cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/building-more/|title=Building More, Building Beautiful {{!}} Policy Exchange|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-15}} which argued that if developers build more homes in ways that the public find beautiful, there will be less opposition to new housebuilding. The paper argued that this would make development less risky, with increased benefits to people's physical and mental health. The report included a poll of more than 5,000 people, which detailed their preferences for the design and style of the built environment. Its foreword was written by James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the report was by commended by Theresa May in a speech to Policy Exchange.{{Cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PM-Speech-Transcript.pdf|title=A speech by the Prime Minister to Policy Exchange, 20 June, 2018}}

The Government subsequently announced the establishment of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/building-better-building-beautiful-commission|title=Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}} an independent body to advise ministers on how to promote and increase the use of high-quality design for new build homes and neighbourhoods. An article in The Economist hailed the policy as the "brainchild of Policy Exchange" and "the biggest idea in housing policy since the sale of council houses under Margaret Thatcher."{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/11/15/how-to-defeat-nimbyism-build-more-beautiful-houses|title=How to defeat nimbyism: build more beautiful houses|date=2018-11-15|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2019-04-15|issn=0013-0613}} To feed ideas into the Commission, in January 2019 Policy Exchange also published Building Beautiful, a cross-party essay collection with contributions from politics, architecture and the housebuilding industry, including by the Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP, Dame Fiona Reynolds, and Jon Cruddas MP.{{Cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/building-beautiful/|title=Building Beautiful {{!}} Policy Exchange|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-15}}

In a Policy Exchange event on beauty in the built environment and the left, Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, argued that the building of "grim, grey, massive tower blocks" in the post-war period was proof that the planning authorities had not listened to the concerns of ordinary people.{{Cite web|title=Beauty for the many, not the few?|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/pxevents/beauty-and-socialism/|access-date=2020-12-14|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}

In 2017 Policy Exchange published The New Netwar: Countering Extremism Online, which provided an analysis of the struggle against online extremism. It included a survey of public opinion which showed that two-thirds of people believe the leading social media companies are not doing enough to combat online radicalisation. Three-quarters of people want the companies to do more to locate and remove extremist content. The report explored a range of policy options for interdicting the supply-chain of extremist content.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-new-netwar-countering-extremism-online/|title=The New Netwar: Countering Extremism Online|date=23 September 2017|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}}

In covering the report, Con Coughlin of the Daily Telegraph called Policy Exchange "One of London's most effective think tanks, which has done ground-breaking research on the emerging jihadi threat"{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/19/tech-giants-should-front-line-war-terror/|title=Tech giants should be the front line in the war on terror|last=Coughlin|first=Con|author-link=Con Coughlin|date=20 September 2017|access-date=5 March 2018|newspaper=Daily Telegraph}} while William Booth of the Washington Post said that its "reports often inform government policy in Britain".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/09/19/the-5-countries-where-people-click-most-on-isis-propaganda-and-the-u-s-is-no-2/|title=The 5 countries where people click most on ISIS propaganda (and the U.S. is No. 2)|last=Booth|first=William|date=19 September 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=26 September 2017|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}

In 2013 Policy Exchange published The Fog of Law, which argued that the increasing application of civilian norms to military conflict, and resulting increase in legal claims against the Ministry of Defence, risked undermining the effectiveness of the armed forces and therefore the security of the nation. The co-authors were former US army lawyer Laura Croft and former British Army officer Tom Tugendhat.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-fog-of-law-an-introduction-to-the-legal-erosion-of-british-fighting-power/|title=The Fog of Law: An introduction to the legal erosion of British fighting power|date=18 October 2013|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}}

The report recommended that the government should legislate to define Combat Immunity to allow military personnel to take decisions without having to worry about risk of prosecution, that the MoD should be exempt from the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, for the UK to derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights during deployed operations and for legal aid to be removed from foreign nationals.{{Cite web |title=The Fog of Law: An introduction to the legal erosion of British fighting power |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-fog-of-law-an-introduction-to-the-legal-erosion-of-british-fighting-power/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Policy Exchange |language=en}}

In March 2015, an update was published called Clearing the Fog of Law by Tugendhat, Richard Ekins and Jonathan Morgan.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/clearing-the-fog-of-law-saving-our-armed-forces-from-defeat-by-judicial-diktat/|title=Clearing the Fog of Law: Saving our armed forces from defeat by judicial diktat|date=29 March 2015|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}} This further developed the argument that the expansion of "lawfare" hinders the ability of commanders on the ground to make immediate and potentially life-or-death decisions. Five former Chiefs of the General Staff wrote to the Times on 8 April 2015 to support the recommendations, saying "We urge the government to recognise the primacy of the Geneva Conventions in war by derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights in time of war and redefining combat immunity through legislation to ensure that our serving personnel are able to operate in the field without fear of the laws designed for peacetime environments."{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/combat-zones-r6k0zjc20wx|title=Combat zones|date=7 April 2015|newspaper=The Times|access-date=5 March 2018|url-access=subscription}}

In 2016, the Labour MP Jo Cox started working with Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat on a pamphlet which would examine Britain's attitude to intervening in humanitarian situations overseas. They intended to publish the report to coincide with the publication of The Iraq Inquiry's report into the origins of the Iraq War. The report was put on hold when Jo Cox was murdered in June 2016. However, her family agreed that the report should be completed and her friend Labour MP Alison McGovern helped Tugendhat to finish it.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-the-price-of-inaction-in-the-face-of-mass-atrocities/|title=The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Price of Inaction in the Face of Mass Atrocities|date=26 January 2017|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}}

The report examines the history of British intervention overseas and argues that successful examples such as Sierra Leone, Kosovo and the Gulf War demonstrate the value potential for intervention to succeed. The authors contrasted this with examples of Britain and the wider international community failing to intervene in time to prevent mass atrocities, such as the Rwandan genocide, massacres in Bosnia and most recently the death of hundreds of thousands of people in the Syrian Civil War.

A supportive message from Prime Minister Theresa May was printed on the back cover. The report was launched by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown with Tom Tugendhat and Alison McGovern on 26 January 2017.{{Cite web |title=The Cost of Doing Nothing: The Price of Inaction in the Face of Mass Atrocities |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/the-cost-of-doing-nothing-the-price-of-inaction-in-the-face-of-mass-atrocities/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Policy Exchange |language=en}}

In January 2017, Policy Exchange published a paper by the economists Gerard Lyons and Liam Halligan which argued that the United Kingdom should leave the European Economic Area when it leaves the European Union and that the British economy could thrive trading under World Trade Organisation tariffs.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/clean-brexit/|title=Clean Brexit|date=16 January 2017|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}}

In the week following its publication, Theresa May made a speech setting out her proposed approach to Brexit which incorporated many of the ideas set out in 'Clean Brexit', including that she would be prepared to walk away from negotiations if the EU does not offer a good enough deal.

In June 2015, Policy Exchange published 'Overlooked But Decisive: Connecting with England's Just about Managing classes'. The report examined the values and political attitudes of C1 and C2 voters by the NRS social grade classifications in marginal seats in England. The author of the report, James Frayne, argued that these families rely heavily on public services like state schools and the NHS, and rely on a stable economy, low inflation and low interest rates to keep their jobs and ensure their mortgage payments are affordable.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/overlooked-but-decisive-connecting-with-englands-just-about-managing-classes/|title=Overlooked But Decisive: Connecting with England's Just about Managing classes|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Policy Exchange|access-date=5 March 2018}}

Schools Week wrote in February 2017 that "Policy Exchange's power can be seen in the impressive number of policies foreshadowed in their reports: reducing the frequency of Ofsted inspections, sharpening up accountability, removing vocational qualifications from league tables in favour of a focus on so-called academic GCSEs."{{cite web|url=http://schoolsweek.co.uk/beware-john-blake-the-red-rebel-with-great-influence/|title=Beware John Blake, the "Red rebel" with great influence|last=McInerney|first=Laura|date=3 February 2017|publisher=Schools Week|access-date=5 March 2018}}

In August 2019, Policy Exchange published a report looking at ways the new Conservative government could work to modersnise the United Kingdom. The report argued that the new government should pursue a 'Grand Strategy to modernise the United Kingdom, drawing on the strength of the Union to stimulate local areas through both an audacious programme of infrastructure investment and further devolution of powers.'{{Cite web|title=Modernising the United Kingdom|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/modernising-the-united-kingdom/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}

It pushed for greater devolution and enhancement of community and government partnerships. The report was cited as an insight into how Johnson's government plan to strengthen the Union.{{Cite web|title=Don't be so sure a Boris Johnson government means the end of the Union|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/01/dont-be-so-sure-boris-johnson-government-means-end-union|first=Leighton|last= Andrews|date=7 January 2020|access-date=2020-12-13|website=www.newstatesman.com|language=en}}

In October 2019, in anticipation of the UK December election, Policy Exchange published McDonnellomics: How Labour's economic agenda would transform the UK. The paper looked at John McDonnell's policy approach and political inspiration. It argued that ‘‘McDonnellomics' would represent the biggest shift in UK economic policy since the advent of Thatcherism.'

Lord Mandelson wrote a foreword to the paper and argued: "Instead of moving Britain forward, with new ideas and utilising the opportunities that digital technology and AI, for example, offer us to transform the economy and public services, a Corbyn-McDonnell government wants to reassert the statist mindset that New Labour disavowed."{{Cite web|date=2019-10-27|first=Rob |last=Merrick|title=Lord Mandelson attacks Labour's left-wing economic plans but admits voters could be won over|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/peter-mandelson-labour-john-mcdonnell-corbyn-economy-manifesto-blair-a9173176.html|access-date=2020-12-13|website=The Independent|language=en}}

In November 2019, Policy Exchange published a paper arguing that universities should be places of free speech and should avoid a 'culture of conformity'. Polling that informed the paper revealed that 'a solid core of 30% of students are consistently in favour of free speech' however noted that 'cancel culture' was becoming prevalent on UK campuses.

Gavin Williamson endorsed the paper in an article in The Times in which he wrote, 'Despite the "snowflake" stereotype, recent polling by the Policy Exchange think tank shows a large number of students want an environment in which they're free to hear a diversity of views. Yet one only needs to look at the worsening situation on US campuses to see the importance of taking action here.' He went on to argue that the current situation was so serious that, 'if universities don't take action, the government will.'{{Cite news|last=Williamson|first=Gavin|date=7 February 2020|title=If universities can't defend free speech, the government will|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/article/if-universities-cant-defend-free-speech-the-government-will-jwmnfznh7|work=The Times|access-date=2020-12-13|issn=0140-0460}}

In December 2019, a report looking into civil service reform was published by Policy Exchange. The report argued for policy proposals that would make 'the civil service more democratically accountable and better able to deliver on the mandate of the government of the day.' The report was widely covered by the media as it was highlighted that Dominic Cummings was 'used as a source by the think tank Policy Exchange for its new briefing paper "Whitehall Reimagined", which recommended that the Prime Minister's office and special advisers should lead fundamental reforms to "unlock the potential" of the civil service.'{{Cite web|title='Seismic' changes planned by Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings for civil service|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/seismic-changes-planned-boris-johnson-and-dominic-cummings-civil-service-1398456|first=Gina|last= Davidson|date=2 January 2020|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en}}

In October 2020, Policy Exchange established a Commission of "heavy-hitters" to examine how the Civil Service could be improved and modernised.{{cite web |url= https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/policy-exchange-group-to-take-on-civil-service-reform |title= Policy Exchange recruits heavy-hitters to take on civil service reform |last= Smith |first= Beckie |date=19 October 2020 |website= www.civilserviceworld.com}} The Policy Exchange Reform of Government Commission was composed of Dame Patricia Hodgson (Chair), Rt Hon Hazel Blears, Rt Hon Sir Lockwood Smith, Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court, Trevor Phillips, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, General Sir Peter Wall, Lord Caine of Temple Newsam, Rt Hon Baroness Morgan of Cotes, Ben Houchen, and Rt Hon Lord Hill of Oareford. The Commission heard from a range of expert witnesses, including Lord Sedwill, former Cabinet Secretary; Lord Blunkett, former Home Secretary; and Lord Maude, former Cabinet Office minister.{{Cite web|title=Government Sets Out Declaration on Government Reform|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/news/government-sets-out-declaration-on-government-reform/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}}

The Commission published its final report, entitled "Government Reimagined: A Handbook for Reform", in May 2021. The report, which was written by Policy Exchange's Head of Technology Policy, Benjamin Barnard, received widespread media coverage. The report was endorsed by a range of figures including Rt Hon Michael Gove MP (then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), Sir Howard Bernstein (former Chief Executive of Manchester City Council), and Dame Sue Owen (former Permanent Secretary at DCMS). In June 2021, the Government set out a Declaration on Government Reform, which echoed the recommendations made in Government Reimagined.

Policy Exchange has been addressed by senior figures from all governments of the past 15 years including Hazel Blears, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Sir Michael Fallon, Michael Gove, Philip Hammond, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Ed Miliband, Baroness Morgan, Dominc Raab and Amber Rudd.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Other speakers include Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, Mark Carney, Dr Andrea Coscelli CBE, S. Jaishankar, Professor William Kovacic, John Larkin QC, General James Mattis, Benjamin Netanyahu, General David Petraeus, James Plunkett, Mike Pompeo, Speaker Paul Ryan, Malcolm Turnbull and Rt Hon Lord Tyrie.

In October 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in what was his first appearance at a think tank as Prime Minister, introduced the author Charles Moore at a Policy Exchange event marking the book launch of Moore's 'Margaret Thatcher: Herself Alone'.{{Cite web|title=Launch of 'Margaret Thatcher: Herself Alone' by Charles Moore|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/pxevents/launch-of-margaret-thatcher-herself-alone-by-charles-moore/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}} {{primary source inline|date=March 2024}}

In May 2019, Prime Minister Theresa May launched the Augar Report in a keynote speech at Policy Exchange. She appeared with Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, the Education Secretary, and Philip Augar.{{Cite web|title=Prime Minister visits Policy Exchange to launch the Augar Report|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/pxevents/augar-report-launch/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Policy Exchange|language=en-GB}} {{primary source inline|date=March 2024}}

In December 2017, in what was the first time two holders of these positions have spoken together in a public forum, Policy Exchange hosted US National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster and his British counterpart, the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Mark Sedwill CMG to discuss The New US National Security Strategy.{{cite news|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|title=Coronavirus: We can't rely on China if it won't play by our rules, warns William Hague|date=15 April 2020|work=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/we-can-t-rely-on-china-if-it-won-t-play-by-our-rules-warns-hague-529lzjmg3|access-date=13 December 2020|issn=0140-0460|url-access=subscription}}

In December 2022, Wes Streeting spoke at Policy Exchange in support of a report on increasing medical school places.{{Citation |title=Double vision: A roadmap to expand medical school places | date=16 December 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxjm2LsJYw |access-date=2023-07-20 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-08 |title=Double vision: A roadmap to double medical school places - Policy Exchange |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/events/double-vision-a-roadmap-to-expand-medical-school-places/ |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=Policy Exchange - Shaping the Policy Agenda |language=en}}

In May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a speech on security at Policy Exchange,{{Cite web |date=2024-05-13 |title=PM speech on security: 13 May 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-security-13-may-2024 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} his first major intervention after the 2024 local elections. The speech contained party political messages in preparation for the 2024 United Kingdom general election.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2024 |title=Keynote speech by the Prime Minister Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/events/keynote-speech-by-the-prime-minister-rt-hon-rishi-sunak-mp/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Policy Exchange}}

Its alumni can be found across parliament and government – including Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Leader of the House of Lords and previously Deputy Director of Policy Exchange); Neil O'Brien (MP for Harborough and previously Director of Policy Exchange); and Nicholas Boles (former MP for Grantham and Stamford and previously Director of Policy Exchange).

• Alexander Downer, Chairman
• Dame Patricia Hodgson, Deputy Chairman
• Lord Feldman of Elstree, Treasurer
• Lord Godson, Director
• Julia Mizen, Managing Director
• Will Heaven, Director of Policy
• Warwick Lightfoot, Head of Economics
• David Goodhart, Head of the Demography, Immigration and Integration Unit
• Richard Ekins, Head of the Judicial Power Project
• Dr Graham Gudgin, Chief Economic Adviser
• Sir John Jenkins, Senior Fellow
• Sir Stephen Laws, Senior Fellow
• Dr Gerard Lyons, Senior Fellow
• Sir Noel Malcolm, Senior Adviser on Human Rights
• Lord Moore of Etchingham, Visiting Scholar
• Sir Trevor Phillips, Senior Fellow
• Juliet Samuel, Senior Fellow
• Sir William Shawcross, Senior Fellow
• William Schneider Jr., Senior Fellow
• Richard Walton, Senior Fellow

• List of think tanks in the United Kingdom

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• [http://www.policyexchange.org.uk Official website]

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Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Organisations associated with the Conservative Party (UK)

Category:Organisations based in London

Category:Political and economic think tanks based in the United Kingdom

Category:Think tanks based in the United Kingdom