Thanks, and goodbye (for now)

Thanks very much for reading Think Tank Review. It’s been a privilege to share the best new thinking in public policy with you each week for the past two years. But now it’s time to take on new challenges – so, for the time being, our weekly briefing is going on hold.
 
When we set up Think Tank Review, we wanted to solve a problem. People wanted to hear new ideas about the future of politics, economics and society. But we believed that the way policy options were communicated didn’t start a conversation.
 
Two years on, we’ve seen some changes. Think tanks have been asking hard and necessary questions about how they can continue to have an impact on policy and public debate. But there are significant tensions. Is a focus on getting headlines distracting think tanks from the big questions? Can they maintain a broad programme while focussing in on very specific problems? Does seeking close engagement with those who put policy into practice undermine critical distance, and make conflicts of interest inevitable?
 
A lot is at stake. Brexit and devolution are reshaping UK institutions. In the urgency of the moment, long-term strategy may be trumped by quick wins. Open and inclusive policymaking may fall victim to political expediency.
 
We’ll still be thinking about these questions, and we’d like to stay in touch. Thanks for joining us.
 

Tom Jeffery (@tdwjeffery)
Rowland Manthorpe (@rowlsmanthorpe)