Centre for Social Justice

Political positions

The organisation's stated aim is to "put social justice at the heart of British politics". While the think-tank states it is politically independent, it was labelled one of the most influential on the British Conservative Party under the leadership of David Cameron.

Policy programmes and impact

One of the CSJ's most notable reports was Breakthrough Britain. It has also produced well-publicised reports on gang culture, modern slavery, addiction, family breakdown, and educational failure. In 2012 the CSJ announced that it would carry out the study Breakthrough Britain II. The CSJ has also played important roles in the design and development of Universal Credit and in championing the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

2017

• Housing First recommended placing homeless people dealing with problems such as alcohol and drug abuse in permanent accommodation and giving them access to care and training. The approach, known as Housing First, had been tried out in the United States and adopted by Finland with positive results. Conservative Communities Secretary Sajid Javid had said that he was keen to examine the scheme. While the CSJ called for a nationwide roll-out of Housing First, the Government announced and allocated £28m funding for a number of Housing First pilot sites in the West Midlands, Liverpool and Manchester. A further report on Housing First was published in 2025.
• Growing the Local called on the government to give Police and Crime Commissioners additional flexibility to increase the police precept, a set of proposals subsequently adopted and providing additional resources for policing and crime.
• Lowering the Stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals called on the government to reduce the maximum stake from £100 to £2 for fixed odds betting terminals, which the government duly did in 2018.

2018

• A Woman-Centred Approach called on the government to scrap plans for up to five new women's prisons and to put funds towards community-based alternatives. The Ministry of Justice subsequently announced that plans for new women's prisons were being abandoned and set out proposals to pilot five residential centres for women in the community.

2019

• A report called on the government to increase the state pension age to 75.

Structure and operation

Initially, the CSJ operated on a project-based model in which both projects and staff changed frequently. Under chief executive Andy Cook, the organisation has established permanent policy units, each led by a designated head.

The CSJ coordinates an alliance of charities that address poverty and hosts the annual Centre for Social Justice Awards, which recognise voluntary and non-profit organisations throughout the United Kingdom. It also stages events at the main UK political party conferences.

Notable members

Past and present:

• Iain Duncan Smith
• Tim Montgomerie
• David Blunkett MP, co-chairman of the CSJ Advisory Council
• Johan Eliasch, chairman and chief exec, Head N.V ; Chairman, Cool Earth; Prime Minister's Special representative on deforestation and clean energy
• Frank Field MP, Member of Parliament for Birkenhead (Independent)
• William Hague MP, former foreign secretary, former leader of the Conservative Party, former member of parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire (Conservative)
• Syed Kamall MEP, co-founder of Global Business Research institute, MEP for London (Conservative)
• Paul Marshall, chairman of management committee of Centre Forum; Adviser to Nick Clegg MP, deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats
• Kevin Tebbit, former director of GCHQ and former permanent under secretary of the Ministry of Defence
• Natalia Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster
• Claire Coutinho MP, Former Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Funding

In September 2023, the funding transparency website Who Funds You? gave the CSJ a D grade, the second-lowest transparency rating (rating goes from A to E).

References

References

1. (30 September 2013). "List of thinktanks in the UK".
2. Justice, The Centre for Social. "Iain Duncan Smith bids to rescue state school sport - The Centre for Social Justice". The Centre for Social Justice.
3. "Philippa Stroud: I worked with IDS for five years. Now I'm back at the CSJ".
4. Iain Duncan Smith. "The CSJ Story".
5. (1 April 2010). "Centre for Social Justice and Policy Exchange are best regarded think tanks by ConservativeHome's 'influentials panel'".
6. (10 July 2007). "Breakthrough Britain, Tory recommendations". The Telegraph.
7. [https://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/38572/csj_backs_gangs_plan_and_calls_for_relentless_effort_to_make_streets_safe.html politicshome: "CSJ backs gangs plan and calls for 'relentless effort' to make streets safe" 1 Nov 2011] {{webarchive. link. (4 October 2013)
8. Buchanan, Michael. (10 March 2013). "UK anti-trafficking efforts need overhaul, report says". BBC News.
9. (1 September 2013). "UK is 'addictions capital of Europe'". BBC News.
10. (10 June 2013). "Million Children Live In Fatherless Households".
11. Adam Withnall. (3 September 2013). "'Education underclass' of children in the UK is still in nappies when they start school". The Independent.
12. "Breakthrough Britain II Overview". Centre for Social Justice.
13. Home Office, [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80d4e340f0b62305b8d65a/2015-02-12_TISC_Consultation_FINAL.pdf Modern Slavery and Supply Chains Consultation], page 10, published on 12 February 2015, accessed on 29 July 2025
14. Helm, Toby. (11 March 2017). "Government considering plans to house addicts who sleep rough". The Guardian.
15. "Government announces £28m funding for Housing First pilots".
16. Centre for Social Justice, [https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/no-place-like-home No Place like Home], published in July 2025, accessed on 29 July 2025
17. (19 December 2017). "Police to get 'extra £450m funding'". BBC News.
18. Davies, Rob. (17 May 2018). "Maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals cut to £2".
19. "Female Offender Strategy".
20. (18 August 2019). "Pension age should rise to 75, Tory think tank report says".
21. "Who Funds You? Centre for Social Justice".