Philip Collins is a writer on The Times and a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. He was, until July 2007, Chief Speech Writer to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in 10 Downing Street.

Between 2000 and 2004, he was Director of the Social Market Foundation (SMF), an independent think-tank and charity. Prior to that, Mr. Collins spent five years as an investment banker, ending his time in the City as the top ranked equity strategist in the smaller companies sector. He has also worked as a political assistant to Frank Field MP, for the Institute of Education at the University of London and for the BBC and London Weekend Television.

Mr. Collins has published two novels with Harper Collins and a number of academic books on broadcasting policy and public service reform. He is 41 years of age, married with two sons and lives in London.