Phillip is an
internationally recognised political thinker and social and economic
commentator. He bridges the gap between politics and practice, offering
strategic consultation and policy formation to governments, businesses and
organisations across the world. He founded ResPublica in 2009 and is an
academic, journalist and author. Prior to entering politics and public policy
he was a senior lecturer in theology and philosophy – teaching at the
Universities of Exeter and Cumbria. He is the author of Red Tory (Faber and Faber 2010) which sought to redefine the centre
ground of British politics around the ideas of civil association, mutual
ownership and social enterprise. His ideas have influenced the agenda around
the Big Society and civil renewal and have helped to redefine British and
international politics. Papers he has authored and co-authored while at
ResPublica include Military Academies: Tackling disadvantage,
improving ethos and changing outcome (2012,) Asset Building for Children (2010), To Buy, To Bid, To Build: Community Rights for an
Asset Owning Democracy (2010) and The Ownership State (2009). He has written extensively in the
British and foreign press including The
Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, The Financial Times, Prospect
and the New Statesman and The International Herald Tribune. As a
renowned speaker and communicator, Phillip is a frequent broadcaster –
appearing on the BBC and Sky as well as foreign media. Through both his writing
and speaking Phillip argues for a new economic and social politics based around
free association and group formation.