The Social Market Foundation is delighted to announce that its new Chair will be Mary Ann Sieghart. The leading political and social affairs journalist succeeds Labour peer Lord Lipsey.
Welcoming the appointment Lord Lipsey said:
“After nine years as chair of the SMF the time has come to move on. Mary Ann Sieghart will bring to the job all the qualities required – a penetrating intelligence, an insistence on evidence and sound argument and a non-partisan approach to the issues of the day.”
Commenting on her new role Mary Ann Sieghart said:
“I am very excited to be taking over from David Lipsey. He is handing over a think-tank in great shape for today’s new politics. The SMF’s blend of open-mindedness, rigour and expertise couldn’t be better suited for a climate in which politicians need to look at economic and social policies afresh.
“David Lipsey has been a wonderful chair of the SMF. All the staff and trustees owe him a great debt of gratitude for the nine years of leadership he has brought to the organisation. Under his chairmanship, the SMF has matured into a think-tank renowned for its authority and free thinking, uninfluenced by party pressure.
“Now that the coalition Government is rethinking the role and functions of the State, the SMF is perfectly placed both to offer objective judgments on ministers’ decisions and to generate ideas for new ways of delivering public services.”
SMF Director Ian Mulheirn said:
“We’re delighted that Mary Ann has become chair at this time of change in British politics. She will be participating in our fringe programme at the three main party conferences where, as usual, the SMF will be hosting the most events of any think tank. We are particularly pleased that coalition colleagues Danny Alexander and Oliver Letwin, have agreed to share a platform at SMF fringe events at each other’s conferences, where they will be joined by the TUC’s Brendan Barber to discuss the future of jobs in the public and private sector.”