Former Tory Adviser Joins Reform-Linked Think Tank
2 min read
A former Conservative Party adviser has joined a new think tank with links to Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Christopher Howarth, who served as a special adviser to former cabinet minister Priti Patel, has joined the Centre for a Better Britain. He also advised the European Research Group of staunchly pro-Brexit Conservative MPs during the tumultuous years dominated by the UK's divorce from the European Union.
The new think tank – which will be run by former Reform Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Brown – will officially launch in September, where it is expected to publish its first policy paper on energy and net zero.
It will also be present at Reform conference in Birmingham next month.
PoliticsHome reported earlier this year that those involved in setting up the think tank, which was originally called Resolute 1850, had met with leader Farage and Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice as part of their preparations. Both Reform and the think tank have offices in the same Westminster building, Millbank Tower.
Reform insists it has no formal ties with CBB and is creating policy in-house, however.
Howarth told PoliticsHome: "[It is] great to be joining CFABB at a pivotal time for UK politics. After many years of incrementalist governments, there is a real need and desire for creative policies to reform the British state and economy.
“Having worked for the European Research Group during the 'Brexit wars' and in Tory policy circles for nearly twenty years, I wish to use my experience on ideas that a future government, of whatever complexion, can deliver as soon as possible."
As well as producing policy ideas, CFABB will aim to support a future centre-right administration by recruiting "talented" people who could potentially go on to serve in government as advisers and officials.
Brown also has foreign policy experience, having worked as a diplomat in the foreign office for more than a decade. He was stationed across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.
In an interview with PoliticsHome last week, the think tank head defended the civil service from what he described as "classic right-wing" attacks.
“I am a former civil servant. I don’t think everyone in the civil service [is bad]. I will go very much on record on that. There's a lot of great talent there...
"There are clearly pockets that need huge improvement, but there is a lot of talent in the civil service, which actually needs to be released," he said.
