Monthly Archives: February 2011

                 On Thursday night I was asked to deliver a lecture on public policy to a  Cambridge University audience. I tackled two main issues, the successes and failures of UK economic policy 10980-2011, and  the topic of this blog.               I argued that in a democracy where a Parliament or elected officials are sovereign, you [...]

                 Parliament bared a few teeth yesterday. It passed its motion condemning the idea of votes for prisoners. There were many speeches against this proposal, and fewer in favour.               The government reminded Parliament that the UK is bound by its signature on the Human Rights Convention. This falls to be adjudicated by the [...]

                 I do not have strong views on votes for prisoners. I have received practically no comments on the subject from  my constituents. I do want more civil liberties restored, but votes for prisoners was not on my list.               I do have very strong views on the need for Parliament to re establish [...]

               The business world is making a bad fist of presenting its case. We are back in the usual territory. The public mood says profits are bad. Senior business people are fat cats. Bonuses are wicked forbidden  fruit. Oil companies are making huge profits out of high prices. Banks are beyond the pale.               [...]

                   The government is mired in criticisms from the public sector. Only the state, they claim, can care for us. Only the traditional public sector  can look after our woods, educate our children and provide us with health care. Any attempt at reform will make things worse, they say.                 They are attacking the idea [...]

                   The opponents of Free schools are complaining that the government has allocated £50 million of capital to such schools. They are seeking to suggest that the government will end up spending much more than £50 million. Is this true, and does it matter?                   The government has ruled out allowing for profit companies to [...]

                     It seems likely that the economic recovery will resume this quarter, after the poor figures for Quarter 4 2010. Manufacturing continues to advance. The latest service sector surveys show improvement in January.                    Growth is, however, likely to remain relatively slow overall, thanks to the impact of rapid inflation on people’s spending power [...]

                  Amidst all the discussion of British values yesterday, and during the maybe democratic revolutions in  the Middle East, we should ask ourselves about the underlying theories and values of the UK establishment.                Sometimes those who argue strongly for toleration and civil liberties are the ones who are harshest in seeking to censor or [...]

              Let me surprise my readers. I think one of the best things the left has done over the last couple of decades is persuade  more people in the UK that racism is unacceptable. The UK is a more tolerant and better place today.          If   The Prime Minister’s speech is to succeed, [...]