 Finkelstein was formerly on the board of the Gatestone Institute, a far-right think tank known for publishing anti-Muslim articles.In 2018 he became chairman of the new think tank Onward, whose mission is to renew the centre right for the next generation.Between 1995 and 1997 Finkelstein was Director of the Conservative Research Department and in that capacity advised Prime Minister John Major and attended meetings of the Cabinet when it sat in political session.