Conservative Research Department

The Conservative Research Department (CRD) is part of the central organisation of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. It operates alongside other departments of Conservative Campaign Headquarters in Westminster.

The CRD has been described as a training ground for leading Conservative politicians. Former CRD advisers to have served in the Cabinet include former prime ministerDavid Cameron, former deputy prime ministerOliver Dowden, former chancellor of the exchequerGeorge Osborne, former defence secretaryMichael Portillo, former chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterOliver Letwin and former health secretaryAndrew Lansley. After 1945, Enoch Powell, Iain Macleod, Reginald Maudling and Chris Patten passed through it.