Comments on: This Think Tank Is A Powerful Vehicle

By: Tories on the level « Pushing the boundary

Tories on the level « Pushing the boundary — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:16:17 +0000

[...] “failed”, which David Cameron had to rush to distance the Conservatives from, despite the fact (familiar to Boris Watch readers) that Policy Exchange has extremely close links to powerful Tories and indeed they’ve managed to [...]

By: Ooh Err, Break Out The Tinfoil Hats

Ooh Err, Break Out The Tinfoil Hats — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:36:52 +0000

[...] It really is very influential. [...]

By: Indecent behaviour at a police station, TPCA 1847 « Alternate Seat of TYR

Indecent behaviour at a police station, TPCA 1847 « Alternate Seat of TYR — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:11:49 +0000

[...] of the Queen’s Cup polo match when I saw, over a hedge, the top of a Routemaster! Given the bizarre significance of the things to the PolEx/Godson/Standpoint/CCO/Martin Bright club, I’m tempted to imagine it as the transport for the Decent assassination squad. No [...]

By: BenSix

BenSix — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:33:31 +0000

Thankamayou, Tim, very intruiging stuff.
Martin Bright had a knockabout bit of Islamist bashing with them as well (http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/publications.aspx?id=192). Iain was amusing, because he seemed to shrug off ‘conspiracy theories’ about Policy Derange, and then went on to campaign vehemently against the Smith Institute.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:05:24 +0000

Cheers, Tim, very interesting in that it ties up a loose end. Hypothetically speaking, we can now posit that someone at PX realised that a front-man was required and Boris, being completely uninterested in day to day running of things but with a high profile was ideal. Boles got his nose in the trough straight off, one notices.

Incidentally, I think you’re right, if Boris’ minders start to foam at the mouth and run the city along hard right lines espoused by PX they’re going to come an almighty cropper. Unfortunately, amusing as this is for you colonial provincials, we actually have to live here…

Tim – you and I need another pint Somewhere In London…

By: Tim Ireland

Tim Ireland — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:53:29 +0000

I found evidence of Nicholas Boles using Policy Exchange as an administrative base for his own ill-fated campaign:
http://www.bloggerheads.com/guido_fawkes/2007/02/nicked.html

(Note – There was more than this little item at the time, but nothing I could publish.)

But he and/or Dean Godson especially are sure to be hoist by their own petard(s) soon enough. Watch, wait and be patient. You will catch them helping themselves… because they simply won’t be able to help themselves.

(Psst! Iain Dale – former Trustee of Policy Exchange – is also worth a look-see. Tory or not, for a man who doesn’t live in London, he sure did more than his fair share of Ken-bashing.)

By: BenSix

BenSix — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:13:48 +0000

I was rather amused by Harry’s Place’s concerns about Munira Mirza and the RCP, though. They seemed to hop, skip and jump over the point.

By: BenSix

BenSix — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:01:15 +0000

Blakey,
Thanks very much. We can either assume that Ganesh was beginning a patient veer rightwards, or take his case as further evidence that very little separates New Labour and the Tories.
Tom,
She was a board member for the European Cultural Foundation, but that aside I believe that she’s been hired on the basis of ‘Living Together Apart’ and the report that Sunny has mentioned.
Wireman,
Indeed, it was a great embarrassment for them. The Newsnight interview with Dean Godson, incidentally, was a wonderful protracted example of a debator moving the goalposts.

By: Wireman

Wireman — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:02:08 +0000

There is also the controversial Hijacking of British Islam report, roundly fisked by Newsnight, who were threatened by Policy Exchange with legal action “relentlessly, to trial or capitulation”. Needless to say, the courts have so far been unbothered.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:05:36 +0000

Does she have any, like, actual practical political or management experience beyond this, or is ‘wrote a report for PX’ considered sufficient qualifications to get into the GLA these days?