Graham Mather

Director of the IEA who wants 'to get government out of providing schools and hospitals, cut taxes and give vouchers to the poor.' (1) His resignation in 1992 came after in-fighting with Harris and Seldon following Thatcher's removal. After claims it covertly acted as a political organisation the Charity Commissioners investigated the IEA's status.

At the Institute of Directors his interests were 'the advance of markets into government itself', (2) seeing himself as part of a 'priesthood of believers in the market' pushing a libertarian right ideology against the 'threat...from socialism'. (3) The IPPR's Patricia Hewitt got together with Mather:

'There is even, between the rival think tanks, agreement on the part of the new agenda... That has reached the point where the IEA and IPPR are planning a joint seminar...'

It is not Mr Mather said, 'a consensus on solutions. But there is a consensus on objectives.' Patricia Hewitt said: 'We may even be able to agree on some of the methods.' Their conference was on empowerment, '...an attempt to simulate the power of the market mechanism within the public sector...' (4)

notes

1 The Guardian 4 May 1999

2 Financial Times 16 March 1992

3 The Independent 12 December 1990

4 The Financial Times 26 March 1991