Letwin, Oliver (1956– )

British Conservative politician, chair of the Policy Review from 2005. He became MP for West Dorset in 1997, was the party's shadow home secretary 2001–03, shadow chancellor of the exchequer 2003–05, and shadow secretary of state for the environment, food, and rural affairs 2005. A Thatcherite in economic matters and a Eurosceptic and social liberal, he was a member of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit 1983–96, and was a director of N M Rothschild and Sons Ltd from 1991.

Letwin was educated at Eton and Cambridge University, where he obtained a PhD, and the London Business School. He has publications on ethics and the purpose of politics.

He faced strong criticisms during the 2001 general election when, as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, he suggested that the party's spending plans implied £20 billion cuts in public spending.