Matthew Taylor (Labour politician)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Taylor is Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in the United Kingdom.
and the historian Jennie Howells. His stepmother (his father's second wife) is Anna Coote, the New Statesman
and Channel 4
Dispatches
journalist. He was educated at Emanuel School
, the University of Southampton
and University of Warwick
.
lor and fought Warwick and Leamington in the 1992 general election
, pulling Labour up into second place, before joining the Labour Party
's staff in 1994. He became the Party's Campaign Co-ordinator, then Director of Policy during the 1997 general election
victory. He played an important role in drawing up the manifesto and the Party's high-profile pledge-card and developing the Excalibur rapid rebuttal database that was used to campaign against the Conservative Party
. Taylor became Assistant General Secretary of the Labour Party
under Margaret McDonagh but clashed with her and left in December 1998.
He moved on to be Director of the left wing think tank
, the Institute for Public Policy Research
. Some IPPR trustees were uncomfortable about appointing someone so closely associated with the Labour government, but he reformed the Institute's profile and output. Taylor became a familiar face on current affairs programmes such as Newsnight
.
Following this he was appointed by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Tony Blair
to head the Number 10 Downing Street
Policy Unit, being charged with drawing up the Labour Party's manifesto
for the May 2005 general election
. Following the re-election of the Labour government he was given the post of Chief Adviser on Strategy to the Prime Minister. He was associated with several initiatives to engage the public with the political process and played a key role in developing the Labour Party's "Big Conversation" discussion forums. He left in 2006 to take up his current role at the RSA. He is now a frequent blog
ger.
Background
Taylor is the only son of the sociologist and broadcaster Professor Laurie TaylorLaurie Taylor (sociologist)
Laurence John "Laurie" Taylor is an English sociologist and radio presenter originally from Liverpool.-Academic career:After attending Roman Catholic schools including the direct grant grammar school St Mary's College in Crosby at the same time as Liverpool poet, Roger McGough, Taylor first...
and the historian Jennie Howells. His stepmother (his father's second wife) is Anna Coote, the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Dispatches
Dispatches (TV series)
Dispatches is the British television current affairs documentary series on Channel 4, first transmitted in 1987. The programme covers issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment, usually featuring a mole in an organisation.-Awards:*...
journalist. He was educated at Emanuel School
Emanuel School
Emanuel School is a co-educational independent school in Battersea, south-west London. The school was founded by Lady Dacre and Elizabeth I in 1594. Today it has some 710 pupils, aged between ten and eighteen.-History:...
, the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
and University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
Career
Taylor became a Warwickshire county councilCounty council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
lor and fought Warwick and Leamington in the 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, pulling Labour up into second place, before joining the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's staff in 1994. He became the Party's Campaign Co-ordinator, then Director of Policy during the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
victory. He played an important role in drawing up the manifesto and the Party's high-profile pledge-card and developing the Excalibur rapid rebuttal database that was used to campaign against the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Taylor became Assistant General Secretary of the Labour Party
General Secretary of the Labour Party
The General Secretary is the most senior employee of the British Labour Party, and acts as the non-voting secretary to the National Executive Committee...
under Margaret McDonagh but clashed with her and left in December 1998.
He moved on to be Director of the left wing think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, the Institute for Public Policy Research
Institute for Public Policy Research
The IPPR is the leading progressive think-tank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.It was founded in...
. Some IPPR trustees were uncomfortable about appointing someone so closely associated with the Labour government, but he reformed the Institute's profile and output. Taylor became a familiar face on current affairs programmes such as Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
.
Following this he was appointed by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
to head the Number 10 Downing Street
Downing Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
Policy Unit, being charged with drawing up the Labour Party's manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
for the May 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. Following the re-election of the Labour government he was given the post of Chief Adviser on Strategy to the Prime Minister. He was associated with several initiatives to engage the public with the political process and played a key role in developing the Labour Party's "Big Conversation" discussion forums. He left in 2006 to take up his current role at the RSA. He is now a frequent blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger.