A liberal-left think-tank that seeks to increase political participation, it was central to the development of Blairism in the early 1990s.

Address: Third Floor, Magdalen House, 136 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TU
Telephone: 0845 458 5949
Email: hello@demos.co.uk
Website: http://www.demos.co.uk

Director: Richard Reeves
Senior Researcher: Jamie Bartlett
Senior Researcher: Charlie Edwards
Senior Researcher: Celia Hannon
Director, Progressive Conservatism Project: Philip Blond
Head of Programme, Capabilites: Sonia Sodha
Head of Culture: Samuel Jones
Events Manager: Claire Coulier

Demos is focused on raising political participation and improving institutional accountability. After a period of uncertainty following the departure of Guardian columnist Madeleine Bunting as director in 2006 (a month after she joined) and the resignation of her successor Catherine Fieschi two years later, the organistion has been stabilised under current director Richard Reeves.

Reeves has maintained the liberal-left character of Demos but has also explored some of the ideas around ‘Progressive Conservatism’ as demonstrated by the appointment of ‘Red Tory’ Philip Blond as director of a project on the subject. In addition, Reeves has promoted the cause of localism, arguing that the major political divide is now not between left and right but between “centralisers and dispersers”. Current projects also include research on trust and local government, social care markets and the links between character development and well-being.

The organisation was founded in 1993 by journalist Martin Jacques and Geoff Mulgan (now director of the Young Foundation) and forged close links with New Labour during the early years of Tony Blair’s leadership.

In recent years Demos has broadened its international links and partners have included the French government, the International Olympic Committee and the Canadian High Commission.

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