Centre for Policy Studies

The free market think tank set up by Sir Keith Joseph which is most associated with the rise of Margaret Thatcher.

It was set up in 1974 by Margaret Thatcher, Keith Joseph and Alfred Sherman. Keith Joseph, who was head of policy at the Conservative Party between 1975 and its successful election in 1979, was strongly influenced by the Institute of Economic Affairs. He helped set up the CPS as a kind of politicized version of the IEA, with the aim of promulgating its ideals around the political establishment -- in particular, around the Conservative Party [1].

During Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister, the CPS enjoyed a considerable influence over policy, which declined rapidly following the departure of Keith Joseph from government in 1986, and Thatcher's removal in 1990.

The CPS 'develops and publishes public policy proposals and arranges seminars and lectures on topical policy issues, as part of its mission to influence policy around the world. It also maintains a range of informal contacts with politicians, policymakers, civil servants and the press, in Britain and abroad.' and 'can claim a large share of the credit for initiating policies such as privatisation, trade union reform, council house sales, pensions deregulation, education reform, free trade, health service reform and the recent restructuring of the tax system to favour traditional families.'

Employees

• Chairman: Lord Blackwell
• Director: Ruth Lea
• Editor: Tim Knox
• Assistant to the centre: Lynn Craig
• Secretary: Jenny Nicholson

Previous employees

• Director: Tessa Keswick
• Director of studies: Daniel Kruger
• Assistant to the centre: Sian Barry

Board of Directors

Meg Allen

Lord Blackwell (Chairman)

J G Cluff

Matthew d’Ancona

Sir Rocco Forte

Michael Heller (Deputy Chairman)

Tessa Keswick (Deputy Chairman)

Ruth Lea (Director)

Professor Kenneth Minogue

John Nash

Lord Saatchi

Richard Sharp (Hon Treasurer)

Centre for Policy Studies Council

• Dr Stuart Ball
• Christopher Booker

Professor Nick Bosanquet

• Graham Brady MP
• Tim Evans
• Professor Niall Ferguson
• Gerald Frost
• David Harvey
• David Heathcoat-Amory MP
• Martin Howe
• Richard Jeffrey
• Jill Kirby
• Oliver Letwin
• Dr. John Marks OBE
• Minette Marrin
• Professor Patrick Minford
• Charles Moore

Mark Nicholson Professor Lord Norton of Louth

• Lord Powell of Bayswater KCMG
• John Redwood
• Richard Ritchie

Andrew Roberts David Ruffley MP Razeen Sally

• Roger Scruton
• Nick Seaton

Sir Alan Thomas

• Andrew Tyrie MP
• David Willetts MP
• Chris Woodhead
• Lord Young

Links

• Commanding Heights: Interview with Ralph Harris, PBS, 07/17/00
• CPS website