Mark Littlewood: voice of freedom
Thursday, May 20, 2010 
Mark Littlewood, Institute of Economic Affairs:
"The emergence of a Conservative-Liberal coalition government might now provide the opportunity for a politics based around individual freedom and responsibility, rather than government diktat. The new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister use the language of liberty, but will they have the guts and determination to put actually big government into reverse gear? The case for freedom was often ignored by the previous administration, this series of debates is an important contribution to ensuring that the new government listens rather more closely."
Mark will be chairing two debates in The Free Society's Voices of Freedom: The Battle Against Big Government series of debates in June. For more information click HERE.
Strictly RSVP - email events@forestonline.org or telephone 01223 370156.
Simon Clark
The Devil's Knife (formerly Devil's Kitchen) has blogged about Voices of Freedom HERE.
Reader Comments (25)
Are we entering a renaissance of Churchill's "bright sunlit uplands" on personal liberty and freedom from the state? These events certainly kick start an era that I hope will be less oppressive.
"The case for freedom was often ignored by the previous administration.............."
'Often' ?
Funny - that's just what I was thinking !
The only 'freedoms' the last lot were interested in were the phony 'freedoms' of fashionable-and-perceived-as-electorally-important minorites:
The 'freedom' of transgendered newts to get 'married' and adopt goldfish (subject to appropriate vetting procedures).
Whatever the other inhabitants of the garden pond may think (what do THEY know ?).
That sort of thing.
Not quite, perhaps, what John Stuart Mill had in mind.....................
A Ray of Hope, nonetheless ?
I wish you well with your debates.
But we notice that, no sooner has the coalition gained power, that they want to BAN something. Yes folks! A ban!
The idea is to ban the use of alcohol as a loss leader (selling beneath cost price). Erm..just a minute, Does one not need to be over 18 to buy alcohol?.....and does that not mean that one is an adult and can therefore make ones own mind up?
So, because very occasionally some youth gets drunk, every adult in the country has to pay more than is necessary for alcohol?
So this is the new politics, is it? God's truth!
"Well-Mr-Junican-I'm-glad-you-asked-that-question-and-yes-I-like-a-tipple-as-much-as-the-next-but-you-know-alcohol-abuse-is-costing-the-country-an-estimated-thirty-quintillion-pounds-every-year-and-although-I-for-one-do-not-believe-in-telling-people-what-to-do-I-nonetheless-think-that-it-is-the-duty-of-government-to-push-people-in-the-right-direction-schools-and-hospitals-you-know-it-makes-sense-challenges-of-climate-change-go-to-work-on-an-egg-exterminate-exterminate-exterminate............"
(Program failing to respond)
I know what you are saying Junican, but.
The "but" is that one minute we are all moaning about the demise of the British pub, which admittedly owes a great deal to the smoking ban, but it also owes equally as much to the price of the beer.
I have heard publicans bemoaning this fact time after time, that they are loosing many customers due to the ridiculously low prices that the supermarkets are charging for their drinks.
I am not saying that this new Government initiative is being brought in to save the pubs, but in a strange round-about way, it just might help a little.
The way to find out, is to ask your publican what he/she thinks about this. I would like to bet they are all for it.
Peter -
Do you really buy the price-of-beer argument ?
I have always had problems with this one, frankly.
In the days when I used to 'frequent' my local, the 'frequency' was only about once a week.
The price of a pint (or two) never really concerned me that greatly. I was happy to pay what many see as some sort of premium for:
1) REAL Ale - and not the fizzy pterodactyl-piss that passes for beer in supermarkets.
2) Chance Encounters with amusing/interesting people.
3) A general atmosphere of unforced bonhomie and conviviality.
Now all taken away from me by that Un-Nameable Bitch From The Colonies.
(Yes, Mr Pointy-Head, I KNOW I don't HAVE to drink beer, thank you)
To be honest, if they upped the price to a fiver, I'd still go.
It's the price of FAGS that kills me.
And the dental-surgery atmosphere of my local that keeps me and others away.
Grrrrrrrr................
I know what you are saying Martin, but many people don't have the disposable income that you seem to apparently have. Think of old people on a pension, and students trying to eke out an existence.
To be perfectly honest with you, I cannot remember the last time I went into a pub for a social occasion, so I have no idea of the price of beer today, but from the little I read on the subject, I would guess the price of a pint in a London pub to be about £4, is that correct? And in a supermarket, I would hazard a guess at buying 3 or 4 pints for that money?
So you can well imagine a pensioner or a student buying their drink from the supermarket if they are going to save that much.
I know what you mean about a "real English pub" being more than just somewhere to pour beer down your neck (as many seem to do). There is a lovely old traditional pub in the street where I live, where people play cards and dominoes, and the "potman" also operates a sort of free library for the customers. The only time the TV is switched on is if there is an "important game" and even then it is not overtly loud, and the only food they serve is crisps. All in all, a real traditional English pub, with so much conversation, and absolutely no shouting or swearing.
But, you must bear in mind that the pub I am talking about is in a pretty select street, and the local people don't have to worry about spending an extra few quid, whereas, another pub I used to use in the east-end, which also had that type of atmosphere, suddenly lost half its clientele when they put the price of beer up by two pence (this was about 15 years ago). I saw one of the old boys one day, that used to go in there, and when I asked him why he didn't go there any longer, he told me flatly, "I am not paying him (the publican) extra money when I can get it down the Nag's Head for two pence cheaper".
There's your answer Martin, sad, but true!
Well, clearly, Peter, from what you have just said, beer in pubs is far too expensive - students, oaps and old codgers cannot afford to go to pubs. It is very odd for a good Tory to argue that the fact (if it is a fact) that the price of beer in pubs is very high is a reason to force supermarkets to increase their prices. I fear that you may have been arguing with UKIP's Margot and Pat for so long that their funny reasoning has affected your mind!
Seriously, a pint of Carling lager in my local is £2.50. I do not mind paying this, even though in the pubs in the town two miles away it is less that £2.00 and, probably, that the same lager in a supermarket is, say, £1. The reason is that I understand that there are overheads which supermarkets do not have, there are only 2 pubs in my immediate vicinity and the clientèle has dwindled since the smoking ban. But, of course, my custom at the pub has also dwindled by over 50% since the ban. I find pubs rather boring places these days.
One last thing -THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHEAP ALCOHOL - duties have seen to that. The only cheap alcohol is that which is in the brains of Chief Constables and Politicians and the Righteous.
Peter -
Yes, I take your point - at least so as as 'regular' drinkers and those on a low income are concerned.
I was referring, really, to occasional drinkers (for want of a better word) such as myself, who rarely go to the pub more than once a week (if that), and then consume no more than a couple of pints anyway.
For such drinkers as THESE - and they must constitute a sizeable proportion of the total pub clientele - who happen to smoke and be in work, I still believe that the ban on smoking is a greater deterrent than the admittedly outrageous level of excise duty on beer etc.
It certainly is among my friends and colleagues.
But, for those REALLY interested in saving our wonderful pubs, then the answer is what it has always been: a relaxation of the Ban, AND a reduction in excise duty.
In the current economic climate, I wonder how much chance there is of the latter, though ?
Its not only pub goers that have suffered since the smoking ban.
Cafe's and restaurants have seen a massive decline in old age pensioners too.
Pre smoking ban there would be a great number of regular old dears who would amble into town just to get out of the house for a few hours, meet their friends or just go to their favourite restaurant at whatever time of the day to have a cup of tea and a scone followed by a relaxing fag.
It was the highlight of their day and kept them mobile and made them feel a part of daily life.
But since this cursed smoking ban came into operation and the fast food turnover regime, there has been an exodus of this age group from the towns, because of a combination of the old familar and permanent staff being replaced by foreign staff, mostly who dont speak very good english, and the fast turnover of clearing tables.
Whereas before, the old staff knew them and they could stay as long as they wished.
I have often wondered over the years where these poor pensioners have disappeared to.
I guess looking out their lonley windows or just shuffling to their local shops for a packet of fags, if they can afford it, or possibly they have just given up!
Well said, Ann.
Oh - and while we're at - anyone in 'government' SERIOUSLY concerned about our freedoms-under-the-Law AND the abuse of power by The Authorities can bloody well COMMAND HM Customs and Excise to stop STEALING fags from innocent day-trippers to the Continent.
'Legal limit of 3200 cigarettes' my arse..........
In addition, they can STOP interrogating people as to their reason(s) for leaving these shores.
Because:
a) It's none of their fucking business, and
b) Anyone intending to visit a terrorist training camp in Kazakhstan (via Adinkerke) is VERY likely to tell fibs about his intentions, anyway.
Yep - lots to do, Nick !
Lots............................
As a Conservative, I find it quite amusing that the latest line of attack has now suddenly shifted away from the Tories, and onto Old Nick himself.
Even this Facebook thing is calling on him; "Nick Clegg: Include an Amendment to the Smoking Ban in the Repeal Bill"
Everybody keeps mentioning Old Nick now as if he is the Lone Ranger. I know I shouldn't be saying this, but he is only part of a team you know (otherwise known as the Government).
Anyone with any knowledge of the ban, which should include practically everyone on here, will no doubt remember that Old Nick voted for a total ban, along with something like 90% of his Party, so what chance does anyone actually think they will have in persuading him personally, to do any amending?
The only way to get this issue onto the Repeal Bill, is to push "smoker-friendly" Conservative MPs (and there are a considerable amount of them) into openly calling for this under the guise that it will help the economy get moving again, whilst giving people back their lost freedom of choice that the Labour Government took away from them.
Peter T.
You are right. We are just little voices in the wilderness. In the short term, we will not be heard. Only Conservative politicians have the history of opposing the Smoking Ban.
It seems to be very strange to me that the Hunting Ban can be so important when it affects so few people, comparatively speaking.
The Smoking Ban affects millions. What is an interesting thought is that many millions of people who enjoy tobacco may not be directly affected by the ban, but are vaguely irritated by it - no specific inconvenience to them (because they do not go to pubs), other than a vague uncertainty. Nudge, nudge.
Yes. When the proposition that the Hunting Ban should be repealed comes to the fore, then those Tories who opposed the Smoking Ban should say that they want the Smoking Ban repealed as well. Why? Because both bans are based upon crap science. It is as simple as that. There is no other way.
Peter -
The odd thing is that whenever I switch on the telly or Radio 4 to catch the 'news', it's more likely to be Nick C doing the talking than Dave C.
Perhaps they've swapped jobs - and not told anyone.
Perhaps Dave still feels a tinge of embarrassment at failing to win an 'unloseable' election.
He should.
Personally, I blame all those 'Guardian' readers who failed to 'come-back' to the Conservative Party (like non-smokers to pubs).
Lets he honest: WHO looks more like The Winner: Nick or Dave ?
And WHO looks more like The Boss ?
Don't worry, though: I'm sure the novelty will soon fade.
And at least the Party Conferences should be interesting (for once)..................
Junican -
Of course, you're quite right about the 'crap science'.
But the major 'political' difference between the Smoking Ban and the Hunting Ban is that the opponents of the latter are nowhere near as well-funded, well-organised, and all-powerful as the Health Lobby.
A few acned anarchists from the Hunt Sabs Association and some old ladies in woolly hats constitute the Conference League of Organised Protest in comparison................
The difference between the hunting ban and the smoking ban is one simple word, "health".
The reason the hunting ban ever came into existence was pure "classwar". So many people mistakenly see hunting as a "toffs" sport, and Labour being the beast that it is was keen to hit the so called Tory Toffs where it hurt, and to be seen as declaring war on those with more money than others.
As anybody with any sense, and a reasonable knowledge of the countryside and its traditions will know, just the opposite is the truth. Sure there are a number of the more well off in our society who like to ride with the hounds, but I can assure you, there are many, many more, ordinary farming folk, who also ride, and are keen to rid their lands of vermin that decimate their livestock.
Now having rid our country of Labour and its constant classwar, we are once again at liberty to defend the rights of ordinary decent folk who just want to go about a pursuit that they been doing for hundreds of years, with no damage other than to vermin.
But when we come to the smoking ban, things are not quite that easy are they? For as we all know, Labour's propaganda machine, armed with our money over the past 3 years, has painted the smoker, not as a Tory Toff, for they could hardly do that could they, with all the millions of ordinary folk who smoke, as well as others who possibly could be classed as Toffs, if such a stupid word should ever be deployed. No, the smoker has been painted as an "unclean" person, just like carriers of the plague were in 1665, or lepers were up until the last century. Don't let your children near a smoker cries the righteous of the left, the puritans of our modern day, the spongers of our society. For all children will surely did a slow and agonising death if they even touch the door handle in the house of a smoker.
Sounds silly and exaggerated doesn't it? But the horrible truth is, that is isn't exaggerated at all. The logic of their wisdom is, of course, but the way the public have been taken in by these ridiculous stories and lies, is not exaggerated at all. It has taken these spongers and liars over 3 years to get their point across to the public, and there is no way we, or anybody else is going to turn that around overnight.
This is what I mean when I say it is easy to overturn the hunting ban, no "kiddies" are harmed there, but amending the smoking ban! Good God, I think the public would rather let Ian Brady out first. It's not going to happen overnight, the public need educating first, and that is going to take some time.
Oh well, it's nearlly 12.55 and this is the last post I will be able to do for a while, as I am off for 3 weeks. I might try to look in on my Blackberry, but it's quite costly to roam on that from abroad.
I'm not actually off unto Monday morning, but we have had to put all the furniture from our living room and our bedroom into my office, as we are having decrators in while we are away, and at the moment I am working in what seems like a 6 inch space.
"having decorators in................"
Blimey, Peter - wish I could afford to pay someone else to do my decorating for me !
Sadly, I lack the (er) 'disposable income'.
Must be my tobacco addiction......................
Me wishes I could have the decorators in too, nearly poisoned with the smell of paint for the past week, hubby is the decorator in our household, cant have a shower this morning as he's starting on the bathroom.
But the fact that we're quids in on the saving we made of 1000E and 1500 respectively on the 21 cartons and 25 cartons of fags respectively, we brought back from our hol in Athens takes the sting out of it.
3200 allowed cigs from abroad my arse!
Peter is quite right, the hunting ban is just a class war thing by the wanabees and leftie do gooder wankers.
Whereas the smoking ban is an entrenched brainwashing Labour/EU operation left over from the wild days of the false economy when every country thought they could be Switzerland with the body image of athletes who were all non smoking winners.
Maybe the ol fags will become fashionable again now that the gyms are going into receivership, bottled water nearly a thing of the past and the to-go food looks too damn stupid when queuing for the dole!
Lets all work on the reeducation of the masses.
Ann -
Know what I'm looking for ?
An ASHTRAY (any type will do) SOMEWHERE in one of the unfeasibly made-over palaces (the ones with tennis court-size kitchens and a Wow Factor in the wet-room) being shown to Derek and Doreen (on a limited budget of £850,000) on Another Bloody Programme About Dream Properties Somewhere Nice (probably Channel 4).
THAT would be a heartwarming sign.
It's the only reason I watch these days.......
Ha, Ha, Martin, not a chance I'm afraid these days, when we're all forced to view fantasy people in surreal TV programmes, unless of course Derek and Doreen have wised up like the rest of the cute hoor investers and melted their paper money into gold.
Maybe gold ashtrays will become a fashion statement in the made over palaces 'going forward'.
However as the latest trend in ireland is knocking down unsold ghost estates and reverting them back to agricultural land the Dereks and Doreens seem to have switched their viewing to the surreal 'celebrity chef' programmes.
'going forward'.................
Love it !
We must all do our bit to purge the language of Shakespeare and Yeats of such atrocities.
And trust that WE may at least succeed on one battle-front where poor old Bernard Levin failed on another - in his struggle against the utterly pointless ongoingness of 'ongoing' (one of America's less attractive exports).
If you haven't yet read it, beg, borrow, or filch from your local Information Resource Centre (previously known as 'The Library') Don Watson's excellent 'Gobbledygook' - an amusing analysis of the dead language of public discourse.
It's the natural language of choice for our Masters - and the perfect tool for bludgeoning the Dereks and Doreens of this world into a meek acceptance of their agenda.
Especially when used in conjunction with that other old favourite: the Endless Repetition of A Dumb Idea ("SHS Kills !", "The War On Terror", "Lowers Your Cholesterol Level" etc etc etc ).
In fact, it may well be that:
"This is the way the world ends,
Not with a bang, but a Fashion Statement."*
Or the supine credulity of Derek and Doreen that They-must-know-what-They're-talking-about-or-else-They-wouldn't-say-it-would-They ?
Again, and again, and again.
In today's climate of moral uncertainty, the existence (and growth) of Freedom depends above all on people's nurturing their innate ability to think for themselves.
And re-discover the exhilirating magic locked inside one simple little word:
WHY ?
*(Apologies to Mr Eliot)
Ann -
Should read:
'ExhilArating'.
Doh...............
Thanks for that Martin, although I'm up to the eyeballs in gobbledegook speak from govt/media level to the extent that I'm beginning to think I live on a planet where a different form of english is spoken.
Mind you I think the nation may be copping on at last too, as there was a govt minister on TV last night trying to justify her inaction about another health scandal and the audience laughed her into silence when she tried to gobbledegook them with weasel words, one man even had to be restrained.
Maybe the revelotion seeds are beginning to grow and who knows, we may see the return of the friendly ashtray once again!!
Should be revolution! see? the gobbledegook is in my brain!