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| Formation | 2014; 11 years ago (2014) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public policy think tank |
| Legal status | Non-profit company |
| Location |
|
| Membership | Around 1,000 |
Executive chair | Ryan Shorthouse |
| Website | www.brightblue.org.uk |
Bright Blue is an independentcentre-rightthink tank andpressure group with a mission statement of defending and improvingliberal society, based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2014 by British thinkerRyan Shorthouse,[1] Bright Blue aims to "defend and champion liberal, open, democratic and meritocratic values, institutions and policies."[2] Bright Blue is a membership-based think tank, with membership open to anyone who identifies as a liberal conservative. It publishes political research, recommends and vets public policy, and hosts political events.
The Daily Telegraph has described the organisation as "the modernising wing of the Tory party"[3] and theConservativeHome website has described it as "a deep intellectual gene pool for theConservative Party's future."[4] In 2018, theEvening Standard[5] noted that Bright Blue "has managed to set the party’s agenda on a number of issues." In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, it was shortlisted for both UK Social Policy Think Tank of The Year and UK Environment & Energy Think Tank of The Year in the annualProspect awards.[6][7][8][9] It was the first centre-right organisation to call for the UK to adopt a legal net zero emissions target.[10]
Bright Blue covers five main research themes in its work, including employment, economic,environmental,social and educational policy.[11] Since its establishment, the think tank published over 100 reports.[12]
The think tank explores ideas such asliberal conservatism,one-nation conservatism,christian democracy andgreen conservatism.[13][14] It describes its guiding ideas as: optimism about human potential; evidence not ideology; pro-market not free-market;social justice; rewarding contribution; individual success and communal responsibility; open and integrated societies; the importance ofinstitutions; positivity about politics; andcitizen power.[15][neutrality isdisputed][non-primary source needed]
The think tank has worked extensively with multiple various intellectuals andmembers of parliament,[16] includingSimon Hoare,Liam Byrne,James Cleverly,Patricia Hewitt,Robert Jenrick,Carmen Smith,Laura Trott,Jerome Mayhew,Kevin Hollinrake,Wera Hobhouse,Emily Darlington,Bill Esterson,Sajid Javid,Tom Tugendhat,Robert Buckland,David Willetts,Andrew Mitchell,Laura Sandys orMatthew Parris.Michael Gove has described Bright Blue as "the source of radical and exciting ideas that have shaped Government" andLucy Frazer has called Bright Blue's work "pioneering."
Many of Bright Blue's projects also involve collaboration with partner organisations, such as other think tanks, pressure groups and universities. For instance, it has worked with the left-wing think tankFabian Society to call for and design a new pensions commission for the UK,[17] and it has hosted events with organisations such asUK Finance andVirgin Money.[18] The group works in partnership with theKonrad Adenauer Foundation, a centre-right foundation associated with theChristian Democratic Union which has collaboratively published essays on European climate diplomacy.[19]
Bright Blue has seen over 90 of its policies adopted by the UK Government. The think tank has had significant influence on a number ofConservative Governments, including those ofDavid Cameron,Theresa May,Boris Johnson, andRishi Sunak.
Bright Blue events are routinely covered by UK media, such asThe Independent,[20]City A.M.,[21] or theBBC.[22] The same is true of Bright Blue research.[23] Bright Blue also often provides political commentary for UK printed and broadcast media.[24][25]
The board of directors is made up ofRyan Shorthouse (executive chair), Alexandra Jezeph, Diane Banks, Phil Clarke and Richard Mabey. It currently has fifteen associate fellow and an independent advisory council of figures from different political and professional backgrounds, including former and currentparliamentarians such asMichael Gove,Penny Mordaunt,John Denham,Margaret Hodge,Jake Richards,Andrew Bowie,Ben Houchen, andVince Cable.
In November 2022, Ryan Shorthouse announced that he would stand down as Director of Bright Blue and step up to chair the organisation, criticizing the Conservative government for having "failed millennials" and citing disagreements over housebuilding policies and soaring childcare costs.[26]
Bright Blue is a not-for-profit company that is funded by a range of organisations. It acknowledges its sponsoring partners in all reports and advertising materials, as well as on its website.[27][28] TheJoseph Rowntree Reform Trust,Joseph Rowntree Foundation,Open Society Foundations,Lloyds Bank Foundation, andOak Foundation are some such organisations. In November 2022, the funding transparency websiteWho Funds You? gave Bright Blue a C grade (rating goes from A to E).[29]
Centre Write is a British online newspaper published and edited by the think tank Bright Blue. It publishes a spectrum of centre-left, centrist, and right of centre authors. Its focus is on providing a platform for up-and-coming writers to write political opinion pieces.
In the past, its printed magazine has featured contributors such asTim Yeo,Ben Goldsmith,Suella Braverman,Priti Patel,Frances O'Grady,Chris Grayling,John Hayes,Madeleine Sumption,Paul Blomfield,Vernon Bogdanor,John Curtice,Philippe Legrain,David Blanchflower,Matt Hancock,Vicky Ford,Alan Mak,Nigel Huddleston,Steve Hilton,Paul Goodman,Ed Vaizey,Flick Drummond,Angus Maude,Justine Greening,Nicky Morgan,Douglas Carswell,Jacob Rees-Mogg,Michael Heseltine,Damian Collins,Tracey Crouch,Sam Gyimah,Tim Loughton,Roger Scruton,Nick Gibb,Kwasi Kwarteng,Dehenna Davison,Neil O'Brien,Ben Houchen,Michael Kenny,Rory Stewart,Jesse Norman,Peter Hitchens,Victoria Atkins,Susan Hall,Alicia Kearns,Matt Warman,Tobias Ellwood,Grant Shapps, andEd Davey, amongst others.[30]
