Madsen as PM’s economic advisor
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is looking for an economic advisor, as Alan Walters was to Margaret Thatcher. Madsen Pirie would be a good choice.
He has a proven track record of influencing policy. As co-founder and long-time president of the Adam Smith Institute (ASI), Pirie played a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual groundwork for many of the free-market reforms of the Thatcher era. His ability to convert complex economic theories into actionable policy has a legacy of effectiveness. If Starmer seeks bold, innovative economic advice, Pirie brings a history of impact.
He is champion of market-oriented innovation. Pirie is a staunch advocate for entrepreneurial dynamism, deregulation, and competition, often identifying ways governments can enable rather than impede prosperity. In a post-Brexit, productivity-challenged UK, his ideas could serve as a useful counterweight to bureaucratic inertia, encouraging policy that unlocks growth through innovation.
His commitment to practical reforms is unequalled. Unlike most academic economists, Pirie specializes in concrete policy proposals that are both ideologically coherent and politically implementable. His history of producing digestible, persuasive white papers for policymakers shows he knows how to turn vision into policy, much like Alan Walters did for Thatcher.
His record as a pro-consumer and anti-corporatist advocate would go down well. Pirie's libertarian leanings often translate into policies that empower consumers, not just businesses. He tends to argue against crony capitalism and excessive government favoritism, positioning him as someone who could offer fresh ideas for Labour’s “pro-business but not pro-big business” messaging.
He has a cross-party appeal with intellectual diversity. Though traditionally associated with Thatcherite reforms, Pirie has demonstrated intellectual flexibility and openness to broader debates. A Starmer government might benefit from the presence of an advisor who doesn't conform to Labour orthodoxy but challenges groupthink and injects heterodox thinking, without being hostile to the party’s goals.
Pirie is a seasoned communicator, capable of framing economic arguments persuasively for public and political audiences alike. His strategic messaging could help Starmer’s government articulate complex economic reforms in ways that resonate with voters, similar to how Walters helped Thatcher sell her agenda.
In short, Madsen Pirie offers experience, policy clarity, strategic vision, and a history of translating radical economic ideas into viable governance. If Starmer seeks a bold economic direction with rigorous intellectual underpinning, Madsen Pirie would bring sharp tools to the table.
Sebastian Charleton
