Philip Collins is a journalist, speech writer and academic who acts as a political commentator in many spheres.

He is a visiting lecturer at Oxford University's School of Government and has worked for the Institute of Education at the University of London and was a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics.

Initially an investment banker, he ended his five years in the City as the top ranked equity strategist in the smaller companies sector. From 2000 he spent four years as director of the Social Market Foundation, a leading cross-party think-tank, working on the intersection of markets, society, and state. He was also Chair of the Board of Trustees of Demos, for 10 years.

During his varied career, Philip worked as political advisor to Frank Field MP and served as Tony Blair's Chief Speech Writer for five years, penning his last speech in office. Latterly he helped Sir Kier Starmer write his 2021 Conference speech.

He was columnist for The Times for over a decade; thereafter, working for the Evening Standard and New Statesman and contributing to the on-line newsletter Tortoise.

Philip is author of two novels and academic books including When They Go Low, We Go High, in which he explores the art of rhetoric via great historical speeches.

As the founder and Writer in Chief of the Draft he runs an online mini-MBA, mastering the art of communication, and a recent venture is the on-line news-letter, Look Stranger.