History, Philosophy and Future of the British Left: Diverse Reflections on New Labour
Philip Collins is a British journalist, academic, banker and speechwriter.
A columnist and chief leader writer for The Times, Phil is also the chair of the board of trustees at the independent think tank Demos and a visiting fellow at University College, Oxford.
Prior to joining the national newspaper he was the Chief Speech Writer for the former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 10 Downing Street; he wrote Blair’s last speech as Leader of the Labour Party in 2007.
Between 2000 and 2004, he was Director of the independent think-tank and charity Social Market Foundation (SMF).
He previously spent a number of years working as an equity strategist in investment banking in the City - he was the top ranked equity strategist in the smaller companies sector.
A political advisor to Frank Field MP, he has also worked for the Institute of Education at the University of London, and for the BBC and London Weekend Television broadcasting networks.
Mr Collins has published two novels with Harper Collins as well as a number of academic books on broadcasting policy and public-service reform.
He co-wrote the pamphlet ‘The Liberal Republic’ in 2009 with a former colleague, Richard Reeves, who later became Nick Clegg's Director of Strategy.
Married to BBC World News presenter Geeta Guru-Murthy, the couple have two sons and live in London.
