The UK policy universe, mapped
Britain has more think tanks than any comparable country. This tool maps 20 of the most influential by political position and policy output — and identifies where organisations from opposite ends of the spectrum reach the same conclusions. Those overlaps are where implementation pressure matters most.
Hover over any circle for profile. Position based on published self-description, academic classification, and party access patterns post-GFC.
Output intensity by policy area since the 2008 financial crisis. Based on published report catalogues, government citation data (Overton), and parliamentary evidence submissions. Darker cell = higher volume of published work in that area.
| Think tank | Position | Housing | Productivity | Energy | Tax | NHS | Inequality | Delivery | Trade |
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Cross-ideological agreement is Blueprint's core signal. When organisations from opposite ends of the spectrum reach the same diagnosis, the argument is settled — the only remaining question is why it hasn't been acted on. These are the highest-value targets for sustained implementation pressure.
Planning reform is essential
Very strongEvery credible policy organisation agrees the current discretionary planning system suppresses housing supply. The disagreement is about mechanism — zoning vs targets vs land value tax — not the diagnosis. This is the most settled consensus in British domestic policy.
UK productivity is structurally broken
Very strongIFS, Resolution Foundation, IPPR, CPS, Policy Exchange and NIESR all document the productivity puzzle since 2008. All agree it is structural and persistent, not cyclical. No cross-ideological disagreement on the diagnosis; significant divergence on whether the fix is supply-side (right) or industrial strategy (left).
UK energy costs are uncompetitive
StrongTBI, Policy Exchange, ASI, IPPR and the Resolution Foundation all flag UK industrial electricity prices as a drag on growth and manufacturing competitiveness. Blueprint's own research puts the GDP cost at £14–16bn annually. Agreement on the problem; some divergence on nuclear vs renewables speed as the fix.
Tax system is too complex
StrongASI, IEA, CPS, IFS, SMF and the Resolution Foundation all call for simplification. Merging income tax and national insurance has broad cross-spectrum support — the IFS has been making this case since 2011. Divergence is on rates, not on the principle of structural simplification.
Civil service reform needed
MediumIfG, TBI, Policy Exchange, Reform and CPS all argue Whitehall is structurally incapable of sustained delivery. IPPR and the left support reform but resist politicisation. The diagnosis spans the spectrum; prescriptions diverge on accountability vs independence.
Capital markets failing the UK economy
MediumResolution Foundation, IPPR, ASI, SMF and CPS all flag the UK's shrinking stock market and persistent under-investment as structural problems. 88 delistings vs 18 new listings in 2024. Left favours a national investment bank; right favours regulatory reform to unblock private capital.
NHS needs structural reform, not just funding
MediumNuffield Trust, Reform, King's Fund, IPPR and Policy Exchange all argue funding alone will not solve NHS productivity. The 18-week target has not been met since February 2016. Significant divergence on whether the fix is competition, integration, or workforce — but not on whether the current trajectory is sustainable.
Regional inequality is an economic drag
MediumIPPR, Resolution Foundation, Onward and Centre for Cities all make the case that London concentration costs the whole economy. Onward coined "levelling up"; IPPR quantified the regional productivity gap. Cross-ideological agreement on the problem; deep disagreement on devolution vs central investment as the mechanism.
AI can transform public services
EmergingTBI, IfG, Reform and IPPR are all producing substantive work on AI in government. Cross-ideological optimism is unusual. The constraint is delivery capacity and trust, not political will — which makes this an implementation problem, not a policy argument.
Pensions undersaving is a systemic risk
EmergingResolution Foundation, SMF and IPPR all flag 14 million people undersaving for retirement. Auto-enrolment extension to 12% has cross-spectrum support. Less politically charged than most reform areas — which makes it unusually actionable.