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The City That Doesn't Build
Despite the clear need for more houses in London, the capital is building at less than a quarter of the per capita rate of the rest of England, according to new CPS analysis. In the 2024-25 financial year, only 4,170 homes were started in London.
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Value for Money in LEA Schools
It is generally agreed that, whatever other outcomes may be desirable for schools to foster – and there are many of them -, the standards achieved are the most important. It is also accepted that the funds available for education are finite – and that it is essential that what money is available is spent effectively.
The Ghost of Toryism Past: the Spirit of Conservatism Future
I was delighted to be asked by the Centre for Policy studies to give this lecture. But as a member of the Cabinet which led the Conservative Party to its greatest ever defeat, and as a former Member of Parliament who lost to Labour on a 17% swing, you will understand that I am not here to lecture anyone.
The Dearing Report on Higher Education: A Personal Response
This pamphlet considers the report of the National Committee on Higher Education, Higher Education in the Learning Society (‘the Report’ or ‘Dearing’). This Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sir Ron Dearing, was set up by Mrs Shephard as Secretary of State for Education and Employment in 1996, jointly with her then shadow David Blunkett.
The Creation and Destruction of EMU
It is becoming clear that the United Kingdom will be fortunate not to be a founder member of the EMU when it is launched on 1 January 1999. Once they have embarked, all those countries which do join will have the same short-term interest rates – yet the representatives of each country will only have the influence of a single voter over their determination.
Class on the Brain: The cost of a British obsession
Twenty years after the first edition of this pamphlet appeared, it remains part of contemporary political folklore that a restrictive and diverse class system is the bane of this country. The system is supposed to be a major barrier to economic progress in Britain and also a significant source of justified social discontent. This is untrue.
From Maastricht to Amsterdam
The Treaty of Amsterdam may be upon us within weeks. This Treaty could be of critical importance for the future of the United Kingdom as an independent nation state. The obscure but important workings which have led up to it have escaped public attention because of the General Election. They deserve now to become centre state.
Blue Skies Ahead: Recapturing the Missing Generation
There is a hole in the heart of the Conservative Party which has been torn wide open by the unprecedented general election defeat of May 1997 and Labour’s deft performance in office.
The Corruption of Liberalism
Melanie Phillips looks at the definition of liberalism in society, and why the government needs to revert back to true liberalism where constraints are necessary to allow institutions to properly function.
The Future of Europe
MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Michael Howard MP looks at the European Union and suggests that it must adopt flexibility with a new approach in order to keep the allegiance of the European people.
The Performance of Privatisation Vol. III: Privatisation and Efficiency
Does anyone today doubt that the privatised industries are now more ‘efficient’ than they were when they were in state hands?
What is a Conservative?
The origins of the Whig-Tory dichotomy can be traced to the reign of Richard II at the end of the fourteenth century, with the King himself, who took an elevated view of the royal prerogative, speaking for the Tories, and John of Gaunt, with his notions f an ideally-constituted English community, speaking for the Whigs.
The Key to Higher Living Standards
In May 1979 when Margaret Thatcher won her first general election the print unions were in dispute with the management of The Times and The Sunday Times. The printers’ would was transformed a few years later; but in 1979 printers still had the power to prevent the publication of any newspaper for up to a year.
Standards of Arithmetic: How to correct the decline
Concern about standards of arithmetic in British schools is not new. As long ago as 1977 a survey of 8,000 sixteen year-olds by the institute of Mathematics showed significant weakness in basic computational skills with, for example, 25% of London’s sixteen year-old school children unable to multiply 6 by 79 even with a pencil and paper.
The inaugural Keith Joseph Memorial Lecture – Lady Thatcher
Keith Joseph, in whose honour this Lecture is delivered, had the charm of a hundred paradoxes. He was a modest man; but, unlike so many modest men, he had really nothing to be modest about.
Reading Fever: Why Phonics must come first
Once upon a time I wished to write a book called Reading Fever. The title alluded to the little earthquake of excitement that seizes children along with the insight that print consists of speech written down in a coded sequence of letters – and who then begin to read any and all print that swims into their ken: household packaging, street signs, newsprint.
Pensions in the 21st Century: Why we must change the regulatory regime
Culture change cannot be encouraged unless and until the pensions industry is significantly deregulated. The regulatory regime imposed after the mis-selling scandal is too restrictive.
