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)