Propeller-Head Wonk Watch: The Social Market Foundation was the creation of SDP Owenites financed by Lord Sainsbury. With the election of Blair it became Blairite after losing a few wonks like Danny Finkelstein to the Tories. It was never as “in” as the IPPR and Demos, only producing worthy dull stuff on the welfare state.

Guido wonders what Lord Sainsbury, Tony Blair’s biggest sponsor, will make of the event they are holding today in the House of Lords; “The Tragedy of Tony Blair“. This following on from Demos renouncing Blairism with the appointment of Madelaine Bunting points to the beginning of an intellectual trend in Wonkland. The distancing of think-tanks from their Blairite third-way policy failures could become a theme over the next year or two. Not sure Lord Sainsbury will be too chuffed, still he can just bung even more money at Progress, the last redoubt of Blairites.