Philip Collins

Philip Collins is a former chief speechwriter to Prime Minister Tony Blair, a columnist for The Times, and the founder of The Draft, a writing agency specializing in rhetoric. He also serves as a tutor in rhetoric at the Blavatnik School, University of Oxford, and has written speeches for other prominent political figures. After serving as Chief Speechwriter to Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2004 to 2007, Philip Collins went on to establish himself as a leading authority on rhetoric, politics, and communication. In his governmental role, Collins was responsible for crafting key addresses, including Blair’s final speech as Leader of the Labour Party.

A prolific author, Collins has penned six books, including ‘Start Again: How We Can Fix Our Broken Politics,’ released in 2018, and several influential works on the art of speeches and effective communication. Collins continues to shape public discourse through his current roles, including as a tutor in rhetoric at the Blavatnik School, University of Oxford. He provided direct advisory support to Sir Keir Starmer on his 2021 Conference speech, demonstrating his ongoing influence in political communications. In September 2020, he expanded his media footprint by joining the New Statesman as a columnist and contributing writer, where he continues to offer expert analysis on contemporary political and social issues.