Taking Liberties

I didn't expect to be moved by the sight of a statue, but - surprisingly - I was. On Thursday I travelled up to Edinburgh for the unveiling of a magnificent monument to the Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith, who lived and died in the city.

To mark the occasion, the Adam Smith Institute had decided to host a series of events (organiser: Brian Monteith). On Thursday evening, therefore, we assembled in The Caves, a collection of dark, atmospheric vaults under the ancient Cowgate, for a debate featuring former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth, former Labour Energy minister Brian Wilson, Alex Neil MSP, and the ASI's Dr Madsen Pirie.

Yesterday's programme included lunch at the City Chambers and a gala dinner in the University of Edinburgh's neo-classical Playfair Library Hall. By chance I found myself on table 2 with Madsen on one side and R Emmett Tyrrell, founder and editor-in-chief of the American Spectator (and one of two guest speakers), on the other.

Bob (or "Mr Tyrrell" as I felt obliged to call him) lives and works in Washington. Other guests on table 2 had come from California and New Orleans. The evening flew by and I was one of the last to leave, with my new American friends, shortly before midnight.

Highlight of the two days was of course the unveiling of the 10ft bronze statue in the High Street (aka the Royal Mile) opposite the Exchange Buildings (now the City Chambers) where Smith worked. Commissioned by the ASI, designed by Scotland's leading monumental sculptor Alexander Stoddart, and funded entirely by private subscription, it cost £250,000.

Today, standing on a huge stone plinth emblazoned with the words ‘ADAM SMITH’, the statue is a magnificent addition to the Royal Mile. I'm just delighted I was there to see it.

PS. The Scottish edition of today’s Daily Telegraph has a large picture of the statue on page 9 and I'm in it (at the back). At last, something I can show my grandchildren (should I ever have any)!

How funny. As I write (it's 5.20pm) there are 37 comments on Kerry McCarthy's blog re the smoking ban (see below) - with more to come, I'm sure. (To put this in perspective, most of her posts appear to attract no comments at all. Zero. Zilch.)

Interestingly, this has been achieved not from a grand office in London but by yours truly tapping away on my laptop in the lobby of the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh.

Why Edinburgh? Well, I'm here for the grand unveiling, tomorrow, of a statue of Adam Smith. It's taken several years for the idea to reach this stage, but it promises to be quite an occasion. As far as I know, people are coming from all over the world to mark the event.

The programme, organised by the Adam Smith Institute, begins tonight with a reception and debate ("This House would prefer to be led by the Invisible Hand") chaired by BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor.

Proposing the motion are my old boss Michael Forsyth (former Scottish Secretary, now Lord Forsyth of Drumlean) and Dr Madsen Pirie (ASI). Opposing the motion are Brian Wilson (former Labour Energy minister) and Alex Neil MSP (Scottish National Party).

The Adam Smith statue will be unveiled (in the High Street, near Parliament Square) tomorrow by Nobel economist Professor Vernon Lomax Smith. In the evening there is a gala Adam Smith dinner to look forward to.

Now, where did I put my Adam Smith cufflinks and tie?

The Office of Fair Trading has issued a statement alleging that certain tobacco manufacturers and retailers may have engaged in unlawful practices in relation to retail prices for tobacco products in the UK. It is suggested that deals between cigarette companies and supermarkets may have restricted the retailers' ability "to determine its selling price independently".

I can understand that the OFT (a government quango) doesn't like price-fixing, but if they really want to help the consumer I suggest they also look at the government's policy on tobacco taxation. In the UK, 80-89% of the cost of tobacco products is pocketed by the Treasury. I'm not an economist, but I can't believe that encourages competitive pricing.

What I really can't get my head around is the extraordinary response from ASH. According to the Financial Times, "Action on Smoking and Health, the anti-smoking pressure group, said it was concerned that cigarette prices were rising faster than justified by levels of taxation and inflation."

Since when did ASH become the voice and friend of the consumer?

Help! I'm confused. (Full story HERE and HERE.)