Bright Blue

Bright Blue is a UK-based think tank described as 'the modernising wing of the Tory party'.

Formed in 2010 by Ryan Shorthouse, its stated aim is to apply "liberal conservative ideas and insights to tackle the major economic and social problems of the modern day"

Brexit lobbying

In November 2017, Bright Blue published a report on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. A greener, more pleasant land proposes it be replaced with a 'market-based commissioning scheme' for rural payments after Brexit, which would fund 'ecosystem services, such as woodland creation, restoration of peatlands and removing invasive plant species'. The report was funded by Green Alliance.

How to fund the UK"s farming sector was among the issues discussed at Bright Blue's inaugural Green conservatism conference on 1 November 2017, which was addressed by Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, Claire Perry

People

• Ryan Shorthouse, director. Formerly worked for the Social Market Foundation and the Bow Group and for David Willetts and Maria Miller. Is also an associate at lobbyists Lodestone Communications.
• Laura Round, Communications Manager
• Sam Hall, Senior Research Fellow
• James Dobson, Senior Researcher; previously published a report that examined cohesion and migration in the UK with the Adam Smith Institute

Directors

• Matthew d'Ancona, chair
• Rachel Johnson
• Alexandra Jezeph, head of external affairs. Formerly chair of the Coningsby Club from 2011-2012 and a fellow for the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
• Diane Banks
• David Kirkby, researcher.
• Richard Mabey

Associate fellows

• Ben Caldecott
• Kate Maltby, associate fellow.
• Kieron O'Hara

Advisory Board

• The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, president.
• The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP.
• Nick Boles MP, founder of Policy Exchange.
• Margot James MP, founder of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Trade & Investment and co-founder of Shire Health Group.
• George Freeman MP.
• The Rt Hon Maria Miller MP.
• The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP.
• The Rt Hon Damian Green MP.
• The Rt Hon Gregory Barker MP.
• Charlotte Leslie MP.
• Lord Andrew Cooper.
• Matthew d'Ancona.
• Ian Birrell, former speechwriter for David Cameron in 2010 and held posts for The Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Sunday Express and The Independent.
• Rafael Behr, held roles at the New Statesman, The Guardian, The Observer, the BBC and the Financial Times.
• Matthew Parris, previously worked at the Foreign Office under Margaret Thatcher, Conservative MP from 1979-1986 and columnist at The Times.
• Conrad Wolfram, strategic director and European co-founder/CEO of the Wolfram group of companies.
• Patrick Shine.
• Emran Mian, director of the Social Market Foundation.
• Dr Alan Mendoza, co-founder and executive director of The Henry Jackson Society and founder and president of the Disraelian Union.
• Henneke Sharif.

Principles

• Optimism about human potential. All individuals, no matter their background or identity, can flourish in life with the right support.
• Social Justice. Policy should focus on empowering the most deprived, here and abroad. We believe life changes are maximised by supporting children in the early years and at school.
• Evidence not ideology. Politicians and policy-makers should be open-minded to new thinking, applying solutions to major public policy problems on the basis of good ideas rather than tired ideology.
• A mixed and sustainable economy: Markets are the best way of allocating resources, including in the commercial sphere and in public services. But markets can be inefficient and inequitable, so government and social institutions have an important role to play. Environmentally, socially and financially responsible industries and individuals should be encouraged.
• Strengthening social institutions: Individuals learn from and are supported by enduring social institutions such as the family and schools. These institutions need cultivating and modernising to accommodate increased diversity in the modern world.
• Human Government: Government should put the person before the process, with responsiveness and relationships at the heart of service delivery.
• Powerful citizens: We believe political action has the potential to bring positive change. We need to create and revive routes for citizens to take control of the politics that affects their lives, locally and nationally
• Enthusiasm for the future. Democratic institutions, an open society, a market economy and innovation have led to progress in our society. When the foundations of a liberal society are strong, we can be excited and hopeful about the future.

Events

Fringe Events

Labour Party Conference

• 22nd September 2014 - Northern Futures: are we becoming another country? Held by Institute for Public Policy Research, speakers: The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Lucy Powell MP, Lord Andrew Adonis, Owen Jones, Ryan Shorthouse and Ed Cox.

Conservative Party Conference

• 28th September 2014

No place like home: what housing policies should Conservatives have? Held by Generation Rent and Social Housing Under Threat, speakers: Mark Pawsey MP, Cllr Gary Porter, Rafael Behr, Hannah Gousy, Martin Wheatley and Alexandra Jezeph.

What do conservatives want from welfare? Held by Oxfam, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Child Poverty Action Trust and Grandparent Plus, speakers: Jeremy Lefroy MP, Janet Daley, Alison Garnham, David Kirkby and Iain Dale.

Immigration: a balanced agenda. Held by Barrow Cadbury Fund, speakers: The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, Sir Andrew Green, Prof Matthew Goodwin, Ian Birrell and Alexandra Jezeph.

Can the Tories go green again? Held by WWF, speakers: Neil Carmichael MP, Michael Liebreich, Geoffrey Lean, David Nussbaum and David Kirkby

Enterprise Britain. Held by G4S, speakers: George Freeman MP, Iain Martin, Matthew Elliott, Peter Neden and Ryan Shorthouse

• 29 September 2014

Making the UK the HQ for global talent. Held by Universities UK and London First, speakers: The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Dan Hodges, Jenni Russell, Nicola Dandridge, Baroness Jo Valentine and Ryan Shorthouse.

Getting a better deal for consumers in the energy market. Held by Smart Energy GB, speakers: Baroness Sandip Verma, Angela Knight, Adam Scorer, Sacha Deshmukh and Ryan Shorthouse.

Helping the middle classes. Held by TUC, speakers: Dominic Raab MP, Sir Ferdinand Mount, Gaby Hinsliff, Frances O'Grady and Ryan Shorthouse.

Drink Tank. Held by Bright Blue, speakers: The Rt Hon Ken Clarke QC MP and Kate Maltby.

• 30 September 2014

Conservatism unchained: what will the Tories do alone in government? Held by Institute for Public Policy Research, speakers: The Rt Hon David Davis MP, Matthew Parris, Peter Oborne, Isabel Oakeshott, Nick Pearce and Ryan Shorthouse.

A Tory nanny state? Conservatives and childcare. Held by Child Care Vouchers Association and 4Children, speakers: Sam Gyimah MP, Rachel Johnson, Cristina Odone, Anne Longfield OBE, Iain McMath and Ryan Shorthouse.

Standing up for the little guy: Conservatives as consumer champions. Held by Ombudsman Services, speakers: Baroness Dame Neville-Rolfe, Mark Garnier MP, Mary Riddell, David Skelton, Lewis Shand Smith and Ryan Shorthouse.

Funding

Bright Blue doesn't publish its funders. However, they include:

• Green Alliance, funded a report in 2017 on reforming the payment system to farmers.

Contacts

Website:http://brightblue.org.uk/