Onward (think tank)

Onward is a British centre-right think tank producing research on economic and social issues. It has been described as "close to Rishi Sunak's Downing Street".[1] Onward was founded in 2018 by Will Tanner, Martyn Rose, and Neil O'Brien;[2] its advisory board is chaired by Daniel Finkelstein.[3] The founders state that the think tank would operate in the mainstream of conservative politics, and is a reaction to the "lack of energy on the centre right". It is explicitly aligned to the Conservative Party and is not a charity.[2]

In October 2020, Onward stated that its advisory board also included Kate Fall, Tom Tugendhat, Kate Rock, John Lamont, James Kanagasooriam, Craig Elder, Martyn Rose, Siobhan Baillie, James O'Shaughnessy, Rupert Harrison, Richard Harrington, Anthony Browne and Claire Coutinho.[3] In 2022, journalist Sebastian Payne became its director.[4]

The Labour Party think tank Labour Together, associated with the party's leader, Keir Starmer, has sought to model itself on Onward.[1]

  1. ^ a b Courea, Eleni (25 October 2023). "Meet the Labour think tank guiding Keir Starmer's path to power". Politico. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Eaton, George (18 May 2018). "Onward – the Tory think tank on a mission to remake conservatism". The New Statesman. London. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Onward Advisory Board". Onward. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  4. ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (24 March 2023). "Times Radio's Lucy Fisher appointed FT Whitehall editor". Press Gazette.