History
Founded in 1989, the organisation was cited as ‘John Major's favourite thinktank’ and two former directors (Rick Nye and Daniel Finkelstein) left to work for the Conservative Party.
In 2001, Robert, Lord Skidelsky was replaced as chair by David, Lord Lipsey. Since that time, the SMF has moved closer to the Labour Party and has since been regarded as a left of centre think tank. It was associated with some of the policies of Tony Blair's New Labour, particularly issues of public service reform.
In September 2010, Mary Ann Sieghart, the political and social affairs journalist, took over as Chair.
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“Properly speaking, history is nothing but the crimes and misfortunes of the human race.”
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“I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility—I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.”
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