conservativehome--2020-07-14--Tony Devenish: The Greater London Authority is undermining localism

Tony Devenish is a member of the London Assembly for West Central .
Older ConservativeHome readers will remember when Neil Kinnock used his Party Conference speech to attacking the dysfunctional Liverpool City Council .
In recent years , a handful of other councils have failed to protect vulnerable children or to manage their budget prudently .
On each occasion , the Government of the day “ calls in the inspectors ” .
Usually parachuting in former senior local government officers .
There appears to be less precedent for what to do with failure from a regional devolved administration .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Blair/ Brown to Cameron/Osborne .
Long overdue attempts to stop running the entire United Kingdom from one square mile in SW1 .
I am delighted to see many devolved authorities flourishing under dynamic leadership , regardless of party political label .
Supported by their teams of local government staff .
Andrew Street in the West Midlands , Ben Houchen in Teesside , and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester , are just three positive examples .
It is profoundly painful for me to conclude that the Greater London Authority is in very real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is in danger of letting down Londoners at a time of a global health and economic emergency .
The foundation of the problem is the Greater London Authority Act ( 1999 ) which , like much of the “ soundbite ” agenda of Tony Blair , failed to adequately think through the consequences .
The GLA which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary has prospered despite “ cracks in the foundations ” .
Papered over by the professionalism of its local government staff ; its Assembly Members , most of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And especially by the “ larger than life ” personalities of the two senior politicians who each served London for eight years ’ as Mayor of London , Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson , supported by first-rate Deputy Mayors .
Most of whom were the calibre of a Cabinet Minister .
Success , let us be clear must have clear outcomes : Livingstone , Mayor from 2000 to 2008 , successfully improved the bus services , built council homes , clamped down on pigeons ( this may appear a niche point but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real health and tourism nuisance ) .
He trod the “ fine line ” of opposing the Government when necessary and working in a grown-up partnership to win the 2012 Olympics .
Johnson , Mayor from 2008 to 2012 , successfully cracked down on violent crime , helped make London the global epicentre for housing ; delivered the Olympics , and championed business and wealth creation .
This was when London faced the health , economic , and social consequences of potential increased unemployment .
Like Livingstone , Johnson “ batted for London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Mayor ’ s began the task of placing our Environment at the centre of successive national Government ’ s priorities .
So today it is very clear that the GLA is responsible for four key areas of public policy in London : crime , housing , transport , and our environment .
Much of grassroots delivery remains with the London Boroughs .
Since 2016 , something serious has gone wrong .
Khan ’ s major culpability is his failure to build a collegiate team in over four years .
City Hall is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many call it “ toxic ” .
Many people loathe Khan ’ s attitude that he simply is never wrong .
That is the private view of many London borough leaders – Labour as much as Conservative and Lib Dem .
It ’ s a view shared widely across local government staff and across a wide spectrum of other public and private stakeholders .
I have worked with the public sector for 31 years .
I have been an elected London Borough councillor for 15 years .
Many public sector staff do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But I have never seen the “ revolving door ” spin so fast as it has done since 2016 at the GLA .
Khan has lost numerous Deputy Mayors and advisers , including his first Deputy Mayors for both Housing and Transport plus his Commissioner for Transport .
The loss of dozens of senior staff is telling .
Khan ’ s outcomes can also be measured .
• Violent crime : before the lockdown crime figure dip – major crimes were at a ten year peak .
Khan is all but invisible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• House building has collapsed in London pre-Coronavirus .
One of the most transparent outcomes of the revolving door of GLA staff is over half of the nearly £5 billion of taxpayers money allocated to the GLA over three years ’ ago to build affordable housing has not been spent .
Rob Jenrick ’ s Ministerial letter on the London Plan , 13 March 2020 was so damning on Khan ’ s performance that for once even Khan was nearly apologetic in his response .
• Transport is beyond doubt Khan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Transport for London requiring a £1.6 billion bailout .
More will probably be required in October .
The reality is the four year record of mismanagement .
Crossrail is two years ’ behind schedule or is it three ?
Khan can not say .
Our economy is the loser .
• On the Environment , the third Mayor of London has prioritised expensive tax-raising anti-car projects over fast tracking electric buses .
The latter is one of the few imaginative policies to come out of City Hall since 2016 , thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of London candidate .
During our current health crisis , Khan as Mayor failed to show the leadership that Londoners took for granted under Livingstone or Johnson .
Khan avoided the London Assembly for six weeks earning the label “ the missing Mayor ” .
To quote one London Borough Leader ( not a Tory ) “ Sadiq Khan added little at the Gold Command London Emergency meetings .
He sat there , mostly silently , like a work placement intern ” .
London Councils in partnership with Government have performed well since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS and all our public services and our key workers .
But this shows why the failures of the GLA can no longer be tolerated .
Khan calls for social distancing yet rams through increases to the Congestion Charge which will make the tube and bus network crowded as people return to work .
He appeases the transport unions – which adds to the cost of running the oldest and most expensive underground rail network in the world .
Few believe Transport for London is an economic going concern .
Union “ absenteeism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times greater than any other public sector workforce just like their pre-Christmas near annual strikes .
Never a squeak out of Khan .
London needs a fully functioning transport network ( the arteries of our economy ) as we ease our way out of coronavirus so London remains the engine of the UK and global economy as we all get back to work .
Jobs , jobs , jobs has to be our mantra .
Faith groups , pensioners , residents , and businesses are contacting me in record numbers because City Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the Mayor and the Greater London Authority can not do their job , the Government and London Councils will have to call in the inspectors and wave goodbye to a superfluous City Hall .

Tony Devenish is a member of the London Assembly for West Central.
Older ConservativeHome readers will remember when Neil Kinnock used his Party Conference speech to attacking the dysfunctional Liverpool City Council. In recent years, a handful of other councils have failed to protect vulnerable children or to manage their budget prudently. On each occasion, the Government of the day “calls in the inspectors”. Usually parachuting in former senior local government officers.
There appears to be less precedent for what to do with failure from a regional devolved administration. As a proud localist I welcomed the reforms from Blair/ Brown to Cameron/Osborne. Long overdue attempts to stop running the entire United Kingdom from one square mile in SW1. I am delighted to see many devolved authorities flourishing under dynamic leadership, regardless of party political label. Supported by their teams of local government staff. Andrew Street in the West Midlands, Ben Houchen in Teesside, and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, are just three positive examples.
It is profoundly painful for me to conclude that the Greater London Authority is in very real danger of undermining localism. More importantly, it is in danger of letting down Londoners at a time of a global health and economic emergency.
The foundation of the problem is the Greater London Authority Act (1999) which, like much of the “soundbite” agenda of Tony Blair, failed to adequately think through the consequences. The GLA which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary has prospered despite “cracks in the foundations”. Papered over by the professionalism of its local government staff; its Assembly Members, most of whom are steeped in London Borough public service. And especially by the “larger than life” personalities of the two senior politicians who each served London for eight years’ as Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson, supported by first-rate Deputy Mayors. Most of whom were the calibre of a Cabinet Minister.
Success, let us be clear must have clear outcomes: Livingstone, Mayor from 2000 to 2008, successfully improved the bus services, built council homes, clamped down on pigeons (this may appear a niche point but these “flying rats” were a real health and tourism nuisance). He trod the “fine line” of opposing the Government when necessary and working in a grown-up partnership to win the 2012 Olympics.
Johnson, Mayor from 2008 to 2012, successfully cracked down on violent crime, helped make London the global epicentre for housing; delivered the Olympics, and championed business and wealth creation. This was when London faced the health, economic, and social consequences of potential increased unemployment. Like Livingstone, Johnson “batted for London” with No 11 Downing Street. Both Mayor’s began the task of placing our Environment at the centre of successive national Government’s priorities. So today it is very clear that the GLA is responsible for four key areas of public policy in London: crime, housing, transport, and our environment. Much of grassroots delivery remains with the London Boroughs.
Since 2016, something serious has gone wrong. Khan’s major culpability is his failure to build a collegiate team in over four years. City Hall is not a happy place. In fact, many call it “toxic”. Many people loathe Khan’s attitude that he simply is never wrong. That is the private view of many London borough leaders – Labour as much as Conservative and Lib Dem. It’s a view shared widely across local government staff and across a wide spectrum of other public and private stakeholders.
I have worked with the public sector for 31 years. I have been an elected London Borough councillor for 15 years. Many public sector staff do tend to change jobs with alarming frequency. But I have never seen the “revolving door” spin so fast as it has done since 2016 at the GLA. Khan has lost numerous Deputy Mayors and advisers, including his first Deputy Mayors for both Housing and Transport plus his Commissioner for Transport. The loss of dozens of senior staff is telling.
Khan’s outcomes can also be measured.
Violent crime : before the lockdown crime figure dip – major crimes were at a ten year peak. Khan is all but invisible when it comes to keeping Londoners safe.
House building has collapsed in London pre-Coronavirus. One of the most transparent outcomes of the revolving door of GLA staff is over half of the nearly £5 billion of taxpayers money allocated to the GLA over three years’ ago to build affordable housing has not been spent. Rob Jenrick’s Ministerial letter on the London Plan, 13 March 2020 was so damning on Khan’s performance that for once even Khan was nearly apologetic in his response.
Transport is beyond doubt Khan’s biggest failure. Khan blames Coronavirus for Transport for London requiring a £1.6 billion bailout. More will probably be required in October. The reality is the four year record of mismanagement. Crossrail is two years’ behind schedule or is it three? Khan cannot say. Our economy is the loser.
On the Environment, the third Mayor of London has prioritised expensive tax-raising anti-car projects over fast tracking electric buses. The latter is one of the few imaginative policies to come out of City Hall since 2016, thanks to Shaun Bailey AM , the Conservative Mayor of London candidate.
During our current health crisis, Khan as Mayor failed to show the leadership that Londoners took for granted under Livingstone or Johnson. Khan avoided the London Assembly for six weeks earning the label “the missing Mayor”. To quote one London Borough Leader (not a Tory) “Sadiq Khan added little at the Gold Command London Emergency meetings. He sat there, mostly silently, like a work placement intern”.
London Councils in partnership with Government have performed well since 23rd March. My thanks to London NHS and all our public services and our key workers. But this shows why the failures of the GLA can no longer be tolerated.
Khan calls for social distancing yet rams through increases to the Congestion Charge which will make the tube and bus network crowded as people return to work. He appeases the transport unions – which adds to the cost of running the oldest and most expensive underground rail network in the world. Few believe Transport for London is an economic going concern. Union “absenteeism” during Coronavirus has been proportionately three times greater than any other public sector workforce just like their pre-Christmas near annual strikes. Never a squeak out of Khan.
London needs a fully functioning transport network (the arteries of our economy) as we ease our way out of coronavirus so London remains the engine of the UK and global economy as we all get back to work. Jobs, jobs, jobs has to be our mantra. Faith groups, pensioners, residents, and businesses are contacting me in record numbers because City Hall simply does not “get it”. If the Mayor and the Greater London Authority cannot do their job, the Government and London Councils will have to call in the inspectors and wave goodbye to a superfluous City Hall.


conservativehome--2020-07-15--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Trustees of the National Citizen Service –

Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Trustees of the National Citizen Service – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to make two Non-Executive Director ( NED ) appointments to NHS England .
NHS England leads the National Health Service in England and sets its priorities and direction .
It is responsible for arranging the provision of health services and for more than £150 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Non-Executive Directors is , as a team , to lead in developing the strategy for , and overseeing the work of NHS England by participating fully in the work of the board , both in the context of the board meetings themselves , and more widely .
Non-Executive Directors also play a part in representing NHS England externally , alongside the Chief Executive , the Chair and the wider Executive team.
” “ The Scottish National Investment Bank Act ( ‘ the Act ’ ) received Royal Assent in February 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a public limited company and public body accountable to Scottish Ministers who own and set its strategic missions .
The Act sets out how the Bank should operate in order to meet missions which will be set by Scottish Ministers as the sole-shareholder .
In response to these missions the Bank is required to develop an Investment Strategy which will help create and shape future markets , spark innovation and tackle socio-economic challenges in Scotland .
Additionally , the Bank will have a key role to play in Scotland ’ s emerging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 25 days per annum .
“ The TRA as a statutory body would perform an independent function , investigating and recommending to Ministers when to impose trade remedies measures in response to injury caused by unfair trading practices , such as dumping , subsidies , or unforeseen surges in imports .
Ministers would decide whether to agree the TRA ’ s recommendations .
The TRA will also carry out reviews of those existing EU measures transitioned into the UK system to ensure that they are specific to the UK market , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be responsible for providing support and assistance to DIT on trade… The TRA Board sets the strategic direction and priorities of the organisation , monitoring its performance against its objectives and holding the Chief Executive and executive team to account.
” Remuneration : £15,000 per annum ( additional £3,000 for the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee ) .
“ The chair is responsible for leading and managing the Panel .
They must lead development and implementation of a strategic vision for the Panel and ensure the reviews under their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should make to better safeguard and promote the welfare of children…Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to : provide strong strategic leadership ; chair high level meetings ; effectively manage team dynamics and maintain the confidence of others , including child safeguarding professionals , Ministers and the public .
The right candidate will also demonstrate a strong understanding of multi-agency child safeguarding arrangements , policy and frontline delivery.
” “ The Chair of the College of Policing is appointed by the Home Secretary to ensure the long-term success of the College .
Together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chair ( who must not have a background in operational policing ) will set the College ’ s strategic direction and aims against budgets and priorities .
They will provide the College Chief Executive and team of Executive Directors with the necessary leadership , support and monitoring that will help them to meet the College and Home Secretary ’ s goals .
The College plays a critical role in helping to increase the diversity within the police to reflect the communities they serve.
” “ The Secretary of State for International Trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking a strong , strategic leader who will continue to develop the Equality and Human Rights Commission ( EHRC ) and set the Commission ’ s overall direction to reflect its crucial role as an equality body and National Human Rights Institution .
This appointment fulfils the requirement of the Equality Act 2006 that the Secretary of State should appoint a Chair to the Commission .
Although the Commission is an independent organisation , the Chair is accountable to the above sponsoring Minister .
You will develop and maintain high-value relationships with Ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and abroad , opinion formers , industry and others , demonstrating judgment , integrity and resilience in the face of challenge.
” “ National Citizen Service ( NCS ) is a youth programme that runs across England and Northern Ireland .
We exist to engage , unite and empower young people , building their confidence so they can go out there and achieve their dreams , no matter where they ’ re from or what their background is .
Our programme is managed and supported by NCS Trust , our central team who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver the most impactful experience we can to as many young people as possible .
National Citizen Service is seeking three Trustees with experience and skills at a senior level in the following areas : experience and demonstrable senior leadership in the parliamentary/public sector ( 1 Trustee ) ; human resources specialist with commercial experience and a particular focus on people strategy , culture and coaching high performance teams ( 1 Trustee ) ; [ and ] an education leader with strong links to schools and young people ( 1 Trustee ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner role aims to promote police compliance with the rules on the collection and retention of DNA , fingerprints and surveillance cameras respectively .
The roles were created by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 ( POFA ) , which set out the regime for police use of DNA , fingerprints and the regulation of surveillance cameras .
We have decided to appoint a single person to both roles because of the confluence of existing and emerging regulatory issues around police use of automated facial recognition .
The post will cover the duties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camera Commissioner , while the Government is considering reforms in this area .
”

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
NHS England – Non-Executive Directors
“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to make two Non-Executive Director (NED) appointments to NHS England. NHS England leads the National Health Service in England and sets its priorities and direction. It is responsible for arranging the provision of health services and for more than £150 billion of funds. The primary role of Non-Executive Directors is, as a team, to lead in developing the strategy for, and overseeing the work of NHS England by participating fully in the work of the board, both in the context of the board meetings themselves, and more widely. Non-Executive Directors also play a part in representing NHS England externally, alongside the Chief Executive, the Chair and the wider Executive team.”
Time: 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: £7,883 (£13,137) per annum.
Closes: 16 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Scottish National Investment Bank – Non-Executive Directors
“The Scottish National Investment Bank Act (‘the Act’) received Royal Assent in February 2020, paving the way to establish the Bank as a public limited company and public body accountable to Scottish Ministers who own and set its strategic missions. The Act sets out how the Bank should operate in order to meet missions which will be set by Scottish Ministers as the sole-shareholder. In response to these missions the Bank is required to develop an Investment Strategy which will help create and shape future markets, spark innovation and tackle socio-economic challenges in Scotland. Additionally, the Bank will have a key role to play in Scotland’s emerging economy post Covid-19.”
Time: Up to 25 days per annum.
Remuneration: £21,250 per annum.
Closes: 24 July
– – – – – – – – – –
UK Trade Remedies Authority – Non-Executive Directors
“The TRA as a statutory body would perform an independent function, investigating and recommending to Ministers when to impose trade remedies measures in response to injury caused by unfair trading practices, such as dumping, subsidies, or unforeseen surges in imports. Ministers would decide whether to agree the TRA’s recommendations. The TRA will also carry out reviews of those existing EU measures transitioned into the UK system to ensure that they are specific to the UK market, in line with WTO rules. The TRA will also be responsible for providing support and assistance to DIT on trade… The TRA Board sets the strategic direction and priorities of the organisation, monitoring its performance against its objectives and holding the Chief Executive and executive team to account.”
Time: Approx. 15-20 per annum.
Remuneration: £15,000 per annum (additional £3,000 for the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee).
Closes: 24 July
– – – – – – – – – –
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel – Chair
“The chair is responsible for leading and managing the Panel. They must lead development and implementation of a strategic vision for the Panel and ensure the reviews under their supervision identify improvements safeguarding partners or others should make to better safeguard and promote the welfare of children…Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to: provide strong strategic leadership; chair high level meetings; effectively manage team dynamics and maintain the confidence of others, including child safeguarding professionals, Ministers and the public. The right candidate will also demonstrate a strong understanding of multi-agency child safeguarding arrangements, policy and frontline delivery.”
Time: 6-8 days per month.
Remuneration: £500 per diem.
Closes: 31 July
– – – – – – – – – –
College of Policing – Chair
“The Chair of the College of Policing is appointed by the Home Secretary to ensure the long-term success of the College. Together with the College Board of Directors, the Chair (who must not have a background in operational policing) will set the College’s strategic direction and aims against budgets and priorities. They will provide the College Chief Executive and team of Executive Directors with the necessary leadership, support and monitoring that will help them to meet the College and Home Secretary’s goals. The College plays a critical role in helping to increase the diversity within the police to reflect the communities they serve.”
Time: 1-2 days per week.
Remuneration: £135,000 pro rata.
Closes: 03 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Equality & Human Rights Commission – Chair
“The Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities is seeking a strong, strategic leader who will continue to develop the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and set the Commission’s overall direction to reflect its crucial role as an equality body and National Human Rights Institution. This appointment fulfils the requirement of the Equality Act 2006 that the Secretary of State should appoint a Chair to the Commission. Although the Commission is an independent organisation, the Chair is accountable to the above sponsoring Minister. You will develop and maintain high-value relationships with Ministers, influential partners, governments at home and abroad, opinion formers, industry and others, demonstrating judgment, integrity and resilience in the face of challenge.”
Time: 1-2 days per week.
Remuneration: £500 per diem.
Closes: 03 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – National Citizen Service Trustees
“National Citizen Service (NCS) is a youth programme that runs across England and Northern Ireland. We exist to engage, unite and empower young people, building their confidence so they can go out there and achieve their dreams, no matter where they’re from or what their background is. Our programme is managed and supported by NCS Trust, our central team who are constantly working to make sure we deliver the most impactful experience we can to as many young people as possible. National Citizen Service is seeking three Trustees with experience and skills at a senior level in the following areas: experience and demonstrable senior leadership in the parliamentary/public sector (1 Trustee); human resources specialist with commercial experience and a particular focus on people strategy, culture and coaching high performance teams (1 Trustee); [and] an education leader with strong links to schools and young people (1 Trustee).”
Time: 5-10 days per week.
Remuneration: “Reasonable expenses”.
Closes: 09 August
– – – – – – – – – –
Home Office – Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
“The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner role aims to promote police compliance with the rules on the collection and retention of DNA, fingerprints and surveillance cameras respectively. The roles were created by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (POFA), which set out the regime for police use of DNA, fingerprints and the regulation of surveillance cameras. We have decided to appoint a single person to both roles because of the confluence of existing and emerging regulatory issues around police use of automated facial recognition. The post will cover the duties of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, while the Government is considering reforms in this area.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: £125,000 per annum.
Closes: 09 August


conservativehome--2020-07-15--The Conservatives risk obsession with China to the exclusion of other threats, including Russia and

The Conservatives risk obsession with China to the exclusion of other threats, including Russia and Islamist extremism

Fifteen years ago this month , the 7/7 atrocity took place .
Fifty-two innocents were killed and several hundred injured after Islamist terrorists exploded bombs on London ’ s transport network .
That horror was followed by the Glasgow airport attack , the murder of Lee Rigby , an assault on Westminster Bridge in which four people were killed , the attack on London Bridge during 2017 ’ s general election campaign , the Manchester arena bombing which caused 22 fatalities , and a mass of other plots and incidents .
Yet no group of Conservative politicians suddenly set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to promote debate and fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of radical Islamism ” .
Why ?
There are a mass of reasons , bound up as a rule by the difference between a trend within a great religion , and the actions of a nation state .
But this site can ’ t help but wonder whether the current Tory reaction to China as a security threat is disproportionate , given others , of which Islamist extremism abroad and here continues to be one .
For whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence on these islands , the Chinese company hasn ’ t detonated bombs on the underground , as far as we know .
Nor has it attempted murder in Salisbury by means of chemical weapons , like elements of the Russian state , if not that country ’ s government itself .
Don ’ t get us wrong .
We are all for the new China Research Group of Tory MPs , one of whose leading members , Neil O ’ Brien , is a ConservativeHome columnist , and has written for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on how China deals with its critics abroad by bullying , hostage taking , censorship , bribery .
But it seems to us that the great eye of the Conservative Party , as it swivels its gaze towards China , risks missing other threats that are closer to home – for all the security problems posed by Huawei , to which the Government ’ s response is reasonable , and all the implications of China ’ s tearing-up of its commitments to Hong Kong .
To put the matter at its most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our security , all of which are very different .
China is a strong power , but is a long way away .
Russia is a weaker one , but is a great deal nearer .
And Islamist extremism is already within .
James Wild wrote yesterday on this site about the current and delayed Strategic Defence and Security Review .
Its task must be to analyse these challenges , plus others , and draw up a coherent response .
It must do so in the context of the post-Brexit landscape both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our leading post-war ally , America .
For it may be that Donald Trump turns out to be rule rather than the exception , and that the United States continues to turn inwards , as it grapples with cultural divisions .
The NATO family is a troubled one , with Turkey and Hungary looking east to Russia .
We don ’ t want to be part of an EU army ; but our EU neighbours are defence partners .
While the Ministers , civil servants , defence chiefs and the security services draw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be advancing their own ideas , and not just in relation to China .
Forty-five MPs have served in the armed forces as regulars or reservists .
Forty-one of them are Tories .
And while defence and foreign affairs aren ’ t the same , the two overlap .
Furthermore , some Conservatives have become experts in the latter without serving in the armed forces at all .
We cite an obvious example : William Hague , former Foreign Secretary , now Chairman of the Royal United Services Institute .
The current chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tugendhat , a former military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff , is another .
But while it ’ s easy to come up with other Tory names in Parliament – Tobias Ellwood , Bob Seely , Crispin Blunt – it ’ s harder to cite those in the universities and academia .
ConservativeHome asked three people for a list of names – the chair of a Select Committee ; the head of a think-tank ; a former Defence Minister .
All were able to come up with non-Conservative experts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or at least of people who don ’ t identify as such : Michael Howard , Laurence Freedman .
John Bew , the Prime Minister ’ s Chief Foreign Affairs adviser , has written an acclaimed biography of Clement Attlee .
Jeremy Black , formerly of Exeter University , and who like Bew is also associated with Policy Exchange , is one of the Tory-ish exceptions .
Strategic Defence and Security Reviews have different priorities over time , as they must .
Russia was not considered a threat to our national security in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewed as one of several .
By the time of the 2018 National Security Capability Review , it was perhaps the most prominent .
Our proprietor and Isabel Oakeshott ’ s book on defence , White Flag , captures the mood of these recent years – opening as it does with an account of how the radar station at Saxa Vord , closed at the end of the Cold War , was officially re-opened in 2018 .
“ Whether the Kremlin discovered that hundreds of miles of airspace were rendered invisible to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vord , we can not say , ” write the authors .
But Russia has never somehow become embedded in our national infrastructure .
With China , the main challenge will be to “ wash that man right out my hair ” – in other words , to get it out of our physical and virtual networks .
That will take a time .
More broadly , it is our sixth largest export market and fourth biggest source of imports .
Although it is a very long way from being on Britain ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settle on a variant of the detente-style Soviet-era strategy , which implies a form of cool if not cold war .
Especially if it swallows up Hong Kong entirely , or tries to .
The balance between conventional and cyber defence is being ferociously contested in the review – and if Boris Johnson didn ’ t have the numbers in Parliament to support his previous Huawei policy , despite his 80 seat majority , he won ’ t have them for further substantial cuts in the army , if it comes to votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not so much its persistent probing of our borders , but of conflict somehow being blundered into in Eastern Europe , whether through conventional or other means .
Meanwhile , the killing of Osama Bin Laden and the pressure on ISIS can lure one into thinking that the Islamist threat is spent .
But the greater Middle East , the source of the problem , remains fundamentally weak , under-developed and unstable .
In crude terms , what is most needed to counter it here is not a military presence or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network of spies and informers .
Whether government is willing to put in the required grunt work , as the Conservative gaze turns to China and Tory MPs prepare to defend the army , is unclear .
We are not , repeat not , pro-China – that ’ s to say , pro that country ’ s Communist party .
But there is a danger of the Government becoming preoccupied with the dangers it poses at the expense of those from elsewhere .

Fifteen years ago this month, the 7/7 atrocity took place. Fifty-two innocents were killed and several hundred injured after Islamist terrorists exploded bombs on London’s transport network.
That horror was followed by the Glasgow airport attack, the murder of Lee Rigby, an assault on Westminster Bridge in which four people were killed, the attack on London Bridge during 2017’s general election campaign, the Manchester arena bombing which caused 22 fatalities, and a mass of other plots and incidents.
Yet no group of Conservative politicians suddenly set up an Islamism Research Group during this period “to promote debate and fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of radical Islamism”. Why?
There are a mass of reasons, bound up as a rule by the difference between a trend within a great religion, and the actions of a nation state. But this site can’t help but wonder whether the current Tory reaction to China as a security threat is disproportionate, given others, of which Islamist extremism abroad and here continues to be one.
For whatever one may say about Huawei’s presence on these islands, the Chinese company hasn’t detonated bombs on the underground, as far as we know. Nor has it attempted murder in Salisbury by means of chemical weapons, like elements of the Russian state, if not that country’s government itself.
Don’t get us wrong. We are all for the new China Research Group of Tory MPs, one of whose leading members, Neil O’Brien, is a ConservativeHome columnist, and has written for us about why it was set up, and on how China deals with its critics abroad by bullying, hostage taking, censorship, bribery.
But it seems to us that the great eye of the Conservative Party, as it swivels its gaze towards China, risks missing other threats that are closer to home – for all the security problems posed by Huawei, to which the Government’s response is reasonable, and all the implications of China’s tearing-up of its commitments to Hong Kong.
To put the matter at its most simple, there are three main threats to our security, all of which are very different. China is a strong power, but is a long way away. Russia is a weaker one, but is a great deal nearer. And Islamist extremism is already within.
James Wild wrote yesterday on this site about the current and delayed Strategic Defence and Security Review. Its task must be to analyse these challenges, plus others, and draw up a coherent response. It must do so in the context of the post-Brexit landscape both in the rest of Europe and in our leading post-war ally, America.
For it may be that Donald Trump turns out to be rule rather than the exception, and that the United States continues to turn inwards, as it grapples with cultural divisions. The NATO family is a troubled one, with Turkey and Hungary looking east to Russia. We don’t want to be part of an EU army; but our EU neighbours are defence partners.
While the Ministers, civil servants, defence chiefs and the security services draw up a plan, Conservative MPs will be advancing their own ideas, and not just in relation to China. Forty-five MPs have served in the armed forces as regulars or reservists. Forty-one of them are Tories.
And while defence and foreign affairs aren’t the same, the two overlap. Furthermore, some Conservatives have become experts in the latter without serving in the armed forces at all. We cite an obvious example: William Hague, former Foreign Secretary, now Chairman of the Royal United Services Institute.
The current chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat, a former military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, is another. But while it’s easy to come up with other Tory names in Parliament – Tobias Ellwood, Bob Seely, Crispin Blunt – it’s harder to cite those in the universities and academia.
ConservativeHome asked three people for a list of names – the chair of a Select Committee; the head of a think-tank; a former Defence Minister. All were able to come up with non-Conservative experts, living and dead, easily enough, or at least of people who don’t identify as such: Michael Howard, Laurence Freedman.
John Bew, the Prime Minister’s Chief Foreign Affairs adviser, has written an acclaimed biography of Clement Attlee. Jeremy Black, formerly of Exeter University, and who like Bew is also associated with Policy Exchange, is one of the Tory-ish exceptions.
Strategic Defence and Security Reviews have different priorities over time, as they must. Russia was not considered a threat to our national security in 2010. By 2015, it was viewed as one of several. By the time of the 2018 National Security Capability Review, it was perhaps the most prominent.
Our proprietor and Isabel Oakeshott’s book on defence, White Flag, captures the mood of these recent years – opening as it does with an account of how the radar station at Saxa Vord, closed at the end of the Cold War, was officially re-opened in 2018.
“Whether the Kremlin discovered that hundreds of miles of airspace were rendered invisible to the UK’s armed forces after Saxa Vord, we cannot say,” write the authors. But Russia has never somehow become embedded in our national infrastructure.
With China, the main challenge will be to “wash that man right out my hair” – in other words, to get it out of our physical and virtual networks. That will take a time. More broadly, it is our sixth largest export market and fourth biggest source of imports.
Although it is a very long way from being on Britain’s doorstep, the Government will presumably settle on a variant of the detente-style Soviet-era strategy, which implies a form of cool if not cold war. Especially if it swallows up Hong Kong entirely, or tries to.
The balance between conventional and cyber defence is being ferociously contested in the review – and if Boris Johnson didn’t have the numbers in Parliament to support his previous Huawei policy, despite his 80 seat majority, he won’t have them for further substantial cuts in the army, if it comes to votes.
With Russia, the biggest risk is not so much its persistent probing of our borders, but of conflict somehow being blundered into in Eastern Europe, whether through conventional or other means. Meanwhile, the killing of Osama Bin Laden and the pressure on ISIS can lure one into thinking that the Islamist threat is spent.
But the greater Middle East, the source of the problem, remains fundamentally weak, under-developed and unstable.
In crude terms, what is most needed to counter it here is not a military presence or even a cyber one so much as a network of spies and informers. Whether government is willing to put in the required grunt work, as the Conservative gaze turns to China and Tory MPs prepare to defend the army, is unclear.
We are not, repeat not, pro-China – that’s to say, pro that country’s Communist party. But there is a danger of the Government becoming preoccupied with the dangers it poses at the expense of those from elsewhere.


conservativehome--2020-07-15--Luke Evans: We must protect our shop workers from violent crime. Not ask them to police the wearing

Luke Evans: We must protect our shop workers from violent crime. Not ask them to police the wearing of face masks.

Dr Luke Evans is a member of the Health Select Committee , and is MP for Bosworth .
Last Friday , a shop worker in my constituency was walking across the car park of the Co-op branch where he works after taking his break .
The employee at the Markfield store saw a man acting suspiciously in the car park so asked if he could help him ?
At that point the man became ‘ very angry and verbally aggressive ’ and started shouting abuse at the employee .
Without any provocation , the individual in question physically assaulted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsequently rolled him on to his side stealing the employee ’ s phone , before climbing into his car and making his escape .
The Central England Co-operative Society have rightly decided to take a firm stance in respect of the incident , they are seeking both to ensure that their employee recovers from the ordeal , but are also doing everything in their power to ensure the perpetrator is tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law .
The details of this incident are shocking , they are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest edition of the British Retail Consortium Retail Crime Survey reveals that there are 424 violent or abusive incidents against retail employees every day – an increase of nine per cent on the previous year ; the use of knives is becoming an increasingly concerning factor ; and over 70 per cent of respondents described the police response to retail crime as ‘ poor ’ or ‘ very poor ’ .
It ’ s very easy to forget all of the events of Covid-19 pandemic , especially the astonishing contribution made to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the early days as most of us were advised to stay at home , we have to remember that , alongside NHS and care workers , it was shop assistants who continued to go to work , putting their own lives at risk , to ensure we could all continue to put food on the table .
In a very real sense , our shop workers have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic .
Incidents like the one which happened last week in my constituency should not happen .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Norris ’ Private Member ’ s Bill calling upon certain offences against retail workers in the course of their employment , such as malicious wounding , to be classed as aggravated offences .
But I would suggest that those protections are needed now more than ever .
This virus has a habit of exploiting weaknesses in our society , and I am about to use it to highlight another .
For not only do we have the year on year increasing level of aggression against shopworkers we also now have their potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing of face coverings in shops and supermarkets from 24 July .
In the same way as we must now wear face coverings on public transport , it is the police who will be able to enforce non-compliance in shops .
But whilst we have to make clear that protecting our shop assistants is a priority , demanding that they act as quasi-police officers themselves never should be .
Shop assistants asking customers to put on a face covering will unavoidably put themselves at greater risk of being attacked .
With what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police forces to act quickly and robustly in order to educate , change behaviour but most importantly protect those shop workers who were prepared to place everything on the line for us just four short months ago .
There is an ongoing debate about enforcing mask wearing , and I see both sides .
The mandatory wearing of face coverings isn ’ t primarily about protecting yourself , but about protecting others , and shop workers must be included at the very top of that list .
It ’ s quite possible that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infections .
I have heard multiple witnesses from Asia , in my role on the Health Select Committee , stating that one of the reasons countries in Asia have fared better is due to the culture adaption of virus reducing behaviour , learned through SARS , MERS and now Covid-19 – and mask wearing is an important part of that .
I see mask-wearing as a symptom , a time-limited intervention to deal with a specific problem .
What we mustn ’ t forget however is those who will suffer because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read and possibly the high street as the advent of masks may deter shoppers .
But the wider point is simply this : frontline workers deserve to be protected , be it from assault or a virus – and we shouldn ’ t forget or negate that .

Dr Luke Evans is a member of the Health Select Committee, and is MP for Bosworth.
Last Friday, a shop worker in my constituency was walking across the car park of the Co-op branch where he works after taking his break. The employee at the Markfield store saw a man acting suspiciously in the car park so asked if he could help him?
At that point the man became ‘very angry and verbally aggressive’ and started shouting abuse at the employee.
Without any provocation, the individual in question physically assaulted the shop worker knocking him unconscious, and subsequently rolled him on to his side stealing the employee’s phone, before climbing into his car and making his escape.
The Central England Co-operative Society have rightly decided to take a firm stance in respect of the incident, they are seeking both to ensure that their employee recovers from the ordeal, but are also doing everything in their power to ensure the perpetrator is tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The details of this incident are shocking, they are also – sadly – not particularly surprising.
The latest edition of the British Retail Consortium Retail Crime Survey reveals that there are 424 violent or abusive incidents against retail employees every day – an increase of nine per cent on the previous year; the use of knives is becoming an increasingly concerning factor; and over 70 per cent of respondents described the police response to retail crime as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.
It’s very easy to forget all of the events of Covid-19 pandemic, especially the astonishing contribution made to the national effort made by shop workers.
In the early days as most of us were advised to stay at home, we have to remember that, alongside NHS and care workers, it was shop assistants who continued to go to work, putting their own lives at risk, to ensure we could all continue to put food on the table.
In a very real sense, our shop workers have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic.
Incidents like the one which happened last week in my constituency should not happen. I’m supportive of the principle behind Alex Norris’ Private Member’s Bill calling upon certain offences against retail workers in the course of their employment, such as malicious wounding, to be classed as aggravated offences.
But I would suggest that those protections are needed now more than ever.
This virus has a habit of exploiting weaknesses in our society, and I am about to use it to highlight another.
For not only do we have the year on year increasing level of aggression against shopworkers we also now have their potential role in enforcing the mandatory and controversial wearing of face coverings in shops and supermarkets from 24 July.
In the same way as we must now wear face coverings on public transport, it is the police who will be able to enforce non-compliance in shops. But whilst we have to make clear that protecting our shop assistants is a priority, demanding that they act as quasi-police officers themselves never should be.
Shop assistants asking customers to put on a face covering will unavoidably put themselves at greater risk of being attacked.
With what is very clear legislation we must expect local police forces to act quickly and robustly in order to educate, change behaviour but most importantly protect those shop workers who were prepared to place everything on the line for us just four short months ago.
There is an ongoing debate about enforcing mask wearing, and I see both sides.
The mandatory wearing of face coverings isn’t primarily about protecting yourself, but about protecting others, and shop workers must be included at the very top of that list. It’s quite possible that there will be a second wave of coronavirus infections. I have heard multiple witnesses from Asia, in my role on the Health Select Committee, stating that one of the reasons countries in Asia have fared better is due to the culture adaption of virus reducing behaviour, learned through SARS, MERS and now Covid-19 – and mask wearing is an important part of that.
I see mask-wearing as a symptom, a time-limited intervention to deal with a specific problem. What we mustn’t forget however is those who will suffer because of this introduction; the deaf who lip read and possibly the high street as the advent of masks may deter shoppers.
But the wider point is simply this: frontline workers deserve to be protected, be it from assault or a virus – and we shouldn’t forget or negate that.


conservativehome--2020-07-15--Darren Grimes: Today, it’s Conservatives who are the real rebels – against woke conformity and the c

Darren Grimes: Today, it’s Conservatives who are the real rebels – against woke conformity and the cancel culture

Darren Grimes is a political commentator and is content creator at Reasoned UK .
I ’ m often emailed by very kind folk who think I am acting bravely .
I ’ ve always questioned this ; after all , I am merely offering my opinions .
But what they ’ re getting at is that ordinary conservatives are told their ideas and values are reactionary , prejudiced , sexist or racist , and to stand up against the trend , for the views of the common sense majority , is now considered brave to do .
Some might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly be the rebels , when the Conservative Party recently won a Commons majority of 80 , the party ’ s largest since 1987 ?
It may also seem odd to describe conservatism as rebellious when rebels , by definition , want change , and conservatives seek to conserve .
But while self-described conservative political parties across the West win elections , they are losing the institutions that act as the scaffold of our culture .
Consider the Left ’ s dominance of our media ; social media giants playing the role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the boardrooms of corporations seeking affirmation from those media and cultural gatekeepers – always a good demonstration of their enlightened values at dinner parties and Davos drinks receptions .
The reason why conservatism is rebellious today is that the dominant cultural view is one that seeks to uproot our past , and what we stand for – making it revolutionary to stand against this view .
In this culture war propagated by our generously funded universities and the BBC , it ’ s clear that the Left ’ s online battalion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squarely at those who dare argue against it .
There ’ s also a world of difference in small-c conservatism and the big C Conservative Party .
The Left is winning , despite being formally out power ; in education , the arts , among the regulators and within all of their powerful functions over everyday life , because our politicians seem more concerned with looking good to Twitter over actually being good .
It is perhaps understandable ; it takes real guts to put your head above the political parapet – the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J.K. Rowling with her defence of sex-segregated spaces and biological truth .
AAccording to Populus , approximately two-thirds of British people thought that a male-born person , with a penis , who self-identifies as a woman , should not be allowed to use female-only changing rooms .
For suggesting that this view is justifable , Rowling is dismissed by those that her work made stars of as “ rather conservative ” .
So even what can be read as moderate conservatism is enough to warrant Rowling ’ s cancellation .
A school has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its houses after her after the online furore .
For ordinary folk , to be conservative requires balls of steel .
No platforming is a regular occurrence in our supposedly world-class universities : I have been contacted by students who report that it is almost impossible for some societies to secure venue bookings to host democratically elected MPs with centre-right views .
Imagine that .
Those who represent our country are now not able to engage in discussion with our nation ’ s young .
The invitation will be issued , accepted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like clockwork , left-wing students will apply pressure to the university societies and diversity teams to work their no-platforming magic .
Is all lost for Britain ’ s young ?
Eric Kaufmann , Professor of Politics at Birkbeck University , presents limited data that shows that Britain ’ s youngest voters , the Zoomers , seem to be diverging from voters aged between 22 and 39 .
He posited the idea that the chilling effect of political correctness could explain why the ‘ Jordan Peterson generation ’ is quite so conservative .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Conservatives are going to have to do a lot more to reverse the leftward drift of the culture if they hope to remain competitive in a generation ’ s time.
” In a brilliant interview last weekend , Ricky Gervais depressingly argued that The Office wouldn ’ t get the green light in today ’ s climate .
He made the case that free speech protects everyone , and explained that the evolving definition of what constitutes hate speech is detrimental to society , when our speech is already policed via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and criminal laws .
And he delivered the wonderfully pithy line : “ If you ’ re mildly conservative [ on Twitter ] , you ’ re Hitler !
” If only our Conservative politicians could defend our values in such a robust fashion .
If we look at reforms since 2010 , with Tory-led or Conservative majority governments , there ’ s precious little in the way of public appointments or reforms that show the Conservative Party ’ s ideological commitment in this area .
Remember what happened to the late and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the big C party , there is much we can all do .
Online cancel culture depends on social anxiety and fear , which creates this atmosphere of self-censorship for what are ordinary and widely-held views .
Under-represented voices in the mainstream media , arts and academia agree with you , your politics and your value system .
The more of us that come out of the closet – the political one – the more tolerant and reflective our culture will become .
Producing better quality discourse and a more rigorous discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , racist or homophobic views are , rightly , called out for being so today .
But so are those unfairly accused of being so by those that disagree with them .
We may have moved on from the Middle Ages : it is not the man who is executed anymore , but his character on Twitter .
Free discussion is being shut down .
Activists must be reminded that how you challenge uncomfortable views is , as is evidenced throughout history , through more speech , not less .
We must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avenues to discussion and debate .
Our ancestors were much braver than we are today .
But all is not yet lost , come out and join the reasoned fightback against this madness .

Darren Grimes is a political commentator and is content creator at Reasoned UK.
I’m often emailed by very kind folk who think I am acting bravely. I’ve always questioned this; after all, I am merely offering my opinions. But what they’re getting at is that ordinary conservatives are told their ideas and values are reactionary, prejudiced, sexist or racist, and to stand up against the trend, for the views of the common sense majority, is now considered brave to do.
Some might be wondering how on earth we conservatives can possibly be the rebels, when the Conservative Party recently won a Commons majority of 80, the party’s largest since 1987? It may also seem odd to describe conservatism as rebellious when rebels, by definition, want change, and conservatives seek to conserve.
But while self-described conservative political parties across the West win elections, they are losing the institutions that act as the scaffold of our culture. Consider the Left’s dominance of our media; social media giants playing the role of custodians of an openly left-wing environment, and the boardrooms of corporations seeking affirmation from those media and cultural gatekeepers – always a good demonstration of their enlightened values at dinner parties and Davos drinks receptions.
The reason why conservatism is rebellious today is that the dominant cultural view is one that seeks to uproot our past, and what we stand for – making it revolutionary to stand against this view. In this culture war propagated by our generously funded universities and the BBC, it’s clear that the Left’s online battalion of outrage mobs and cancellation notices are aimed squarely at those who dare argue against it.
There’s also a world of difference in small-c conservatism and the big C Conservative Party. The Left is winning, despite being formally out power; in education, the arts, among the regulators and within all of their powerful functions over everyday life, because our politicians seem more concerned with looking good to Twitter over actually being good.
It is perhaps understandable; it takes real guts to put your head above the political parapet – the most high profile curreny example is being J.K. Rowling with her defence of sex-segregated spaces and biological truth.
AAccording to Populus, approximately two-thirds of British people thought that a male-born person, with a penis, who self-identifies as a woman, should not be allowed to use female-only changing rooms. For suggesting that this view is justifable, Rowling is dismissed by those that her work made stars of as “rather conservative”. So even what can be read as moderate conservatism is enough to warrant Rowling’s cancellation. A school has since dropped its plans to name one of its houses after her after the online furore.
For ordinary folk, to be conservative requires balls of steel. No platforming is a regular occurrence in our supposedly world-class universities: I have been contacted by students who report that it is almost impossible for some societies to secure venue bookings to host democratically elected MPs with centre-right views.
Imagine that. Those who represent our country are now not able to engage in discussion with our nation’s young. The invitation will be issued, accepted, a venue secured – and then, like clockwork, left-wing students will apply pressure to the university societies and diversity teams to work their no-platforming magic.
Is all lost for Britain’s young? Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck University, presents limited data that shows that Britain’s youngest voters, the Zoomers, seem to be diverging from voters aged between 22 and 39. He posited the idea that the chilling effect of political correctness could explain why the ‘Jordan Peterson generation’ is quite so conservative. However, the issues a warning: “The Conservatives are going to have to do a lot more to reverse the leftward drift of the culture if they hope to remain competitive in a generation’s time.”
In a brilliant interview last weekend, Ricky Gervais depressingly argued that The Office wouldn’t get the green light in today’s climate. He made the case that free speech protects everyone, and explained that the evolving definition of what constitutes hate speech is detrimental to society, when our speech is already policed via libel, slander, watershed, advertising and criminal laws. And he delivered the wonderfully pithy line: “If you’re mildly conservative [on Twitter], you’re Hitler!” If only our Conservative politicians could defend our values in such a robust fashion.
If we look at reforms since 2010, with Tory-led or Conservative majority governments, there’s precious little in the way of public appointments or reforms that show the Conservative Party’s ideological commitment in this area. Remember what happened to the late and great Roger Scruton? But with or without the big C party, there is much we can all do.
Online cancel culture depends on social anxiety and fear, which creates this atmosphere of self-censorship for what are ordinary and widely-held views. Under-represented voices in the mainstream media, arts and academia agree with you, your politics and your value system. The more of us that come out of the closet – the political one – the more tolerant and reflective our culture will become. Producing better quality discourse and a more rigorous discussion of ideas.
Those with genuinely sexist, racist or homophobic views are, rightly, called out for being so today. But so are those unfairly accused of being so by those that disagree with them. We may have moved on from the Middle Ages: it is not the man who is executed anymore, but his character on Twitter. Free discussion is being shut down. Activists must be reminded that how you challenge uncomfortable views is, as is evidenced throughout history, through more speech, not less. We must be opening up, not shutting down, avenues to discussion and debate.
Our ancestors were much braver than we are today. But all is not yet lost, come out and join the reasoned fightback against this madness.


conservativehome--2020-07-15--Robert Halfon: Helping our friends and allies the Kurds, beacons of pluralism and democracy in the M

Robert Halfon: Helping our friends and allies the Kurds, beacons of pluralism and democracy in the Middle East

Robert Halfon is MP for Harlow , a former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman , Chair of the Education Select Committee and President of Conservative Workers and Trade Unionists .
He is also is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq .
Solidarity articles usually focus on why the world should help others , but this column starts with how our friends and allies in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq help the world .
The Kurds were , and still are , decisive in opposing ISIS , which detests everything they stand for .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim of Saddam Hussein ’ s genocide and now , is literally now holding the line against ISIS barbarism , is surrounded by enemies and is a vital ally of the free world .
These are just a few reasons why I care so deeply about this region ’ s future .
As a people who know persecution and exile all too well , Kurdistan has generously hosted over a million refugees and displaced people in the last decade .
After decades of isolation , it craves connections to the developed world in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This small country of six million people , twice the size of Wales , has over 30 universities .
I have had the privilege of visiting two of them , during my six visits to Kurdistan since 2010 , and have seen the outstanding higher education they offer alongside the aspiration of students to get on the ladder of opportunity .
That is why the Kurdistan Region All-Party Parliamentary Group ( which I chair ) argues that the UK should recognise Kurdistani academic qualifications so students can pay to continue their education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also encouraging UK aid for projects to alleviate mental illness , which is the bitter fruit of decades of genocide and war .
Kurdistanis are going to need great resilience for a painful reform process that needs tough-minded technical expertise from us and others as well as great efforts to overcome deep-seated internal divisions .
Furthermore , they have to deal with Baghdad ’ s often hostile and hectoring stances .
Baghdad leaders have regularly turned federal budgets on and off in centralist efforts to unconstitutionally constrain Kurdistan .
Many Iraqi Kurdistanis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Major and Tony Blair are revered for helping save them from the genocides under Saddam Hussein in 1991 and 2003 .
The Kurdistan Regional Government ( KRG ) embraced parliamentary democracy after its 1991 uprising .
KRG MPs tell me that they are anxious to develop a system of Select Committees , similar to the British House of Commons .
But Iraqi Kurdistan is still saddled with typical problems of the Middle East .
That includes underdeveloped institutions and civil society , big state employment rolls , political patronage , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their fortunes ebb and flow for myself on my visits .
Covid-19 , however , is a huge game-changer .
Decisive action initially limited deaths , but a second spike is sadly claiming even more lives .
The Coronavirus has also slashed oil prices and revenues that account for over 90 percent of Kurdistani and Iraqi incomes .
This further widened Kurdistan ’ s spending deficit and deepened its debt .
Public salaries have been reduced , more for higher than lower paid employees , but payments are now five months in arrears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volatility is an enduring problem and highlights the need for radical economic diversification to boost light industry , agriculture , and mass tourism after Covid .
There ’ s untapped potential in Kurdistan ’ s hills , mountains , ski resorts , and plains .
It could become more self-sufficient in food .
Tourism from the Middle East was flourishing before the pandemic .
However , the KRG would hugely benefit from many more western visitors to this safe and stable nation .
Take my word for it : you will be bowled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countryside , its extraordinary heritage and the hospitality of the cities .
Solar power , wind power , and turning natural gas into electricity are feasible goals .
Large Kurdistani gas reserves could eventually help both Iraq and Europe diversify their supplies , long a UK and EU policy goal .
Kurdistani ministers are also developing a law on exploiting its minerals sector .
Baghdad has barely helped the Kurdistan Regional Government look after a million displaced Sunni Arabs from Mosul .
An Iraqi parliamentary committee is mean-mindedly demanding the return of weaponry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled from Daesh in Mosul in 2014 .
The Peshmerga used the kit against Daesh and much of it is spent .
The Kurdistanis are , however , yet again seeking to make Iraq work , with commendable imagination and pragmatism , and have senior positions in the new Iraqi government , whose Prime Minister seems to be keen on a deal .
Baghdad needs to adopt a Better Together approach so that it and Kurdistanis can build a reliable and institutionalised relationship based on the constitution rather than whim .
The historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be abandoned .
It is high time Baghdad proved that it wants the Kurds to remain as equals or let them go their own way .
It ’ s also high time that the UN used its good offices to broker agreements .
This matters to us all .
The awkward relationship between Baghdad and Erbil means there is a swathe of ungoverned territory between their armies where Daesh is regrouping .
Increasing military co-operation and using the competent Peshmerga can stop Daesh gaining footholds that will then cost more in lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable compact between Erbil and Baghdad is vital to UK interests and our policy of supporting a strong KRG within a strong unified Iraq .
As if that ’ s not enough , a wave of Turkish bombings against the PKK has killed Kurdistani civilians , made many villages uninhabitable , and disrupted the economy .
The KRG rightly says that neither Turkey nor the PKK should infringe its territorial integrity .
But a political solution is the key .
The Kurdistan Region has been pummeled by multiple economic , political , security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade and suffered much more in the previous century .
Geopolitical volatility , see-sawing oil revenues , and regional power-plays are the norm for a people at the heart of the Middle East vortex .
Our friends in Kurdistan deserve more attention in our developing foreign and security policy as the Middle East matters massively to global peace and economics as well as emerging rivalries between the democratic and authoritarian worlds .
The world needs Kurdistan to survive and thrive as a decent and progressive beacon of hope in the Middle East .

Robert Halfon is MP for Harlow, a former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman, Chair of the Education Select Committee and President of Conservative Workers and Trade Unionists. He is also is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Solidarity articles usually focus on why the world should help others, but this column starts with how our friends and allies in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq help the world.
Against considerable odds, Kurdistanis proudly promote religious pluralism and liberal democracy.
The Kurds were, and still are, decisive in opposing ISIS, which detests everything they stand for. It is an extraordinary nation, that was a victim of Saddam Hussein’s genocide and now, is literally now holding the line against ISIS barbarism, is surrounded by enemies and is a vital ally of the free world. These are just a few reasons why I care so deeply about this region’s future.
As a people who know persecution and exile all too well, Kurdistan has generously hosted over a million refugees and displaced people in the last decade.
After decades of isolation, it craves connections to the developed world in trade, science, education and health. This small country of six million people, twice the size of Wales, has over 30 universities. I have had the privilege of visiting two of them, during my six visits to Kurdistan since 2010, and have seen the outstanding higher education they offer alongside the aspiration of students to get on the ladder of opportunity.
That is why the Kurdistan Region All-Party Parliamentary Group (which I chair) argues that the UK should recognise Kurdistani academic qualifications so students can pay to continue their education here and develop academic links. We are also encouraging UK aid for projects to alleviate mental illness, which is the bitter fruit of decades of genocide and war.
Kurdistanis are going to need great resilience for a painful reform process that needs tough-minded technical expertise from us and others as well as great efforts to overcome deep-seated internal divisions. Furthermore, they have to deal with Baghdad’s often hostile and hectoring stances. Baghdad leaders have regularly turned federal budgets on and off in centralist efforts to unconstitutionally constrain Kurdistan.
Many Iraqi Kurdistanis spent years in the UK, and John Major and Tony Blair are revered for helping save them from the genocides under Saddam Hussein in 1991 and 2003.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) embraced parliamentary democracy after its 1991 uprising. KRG MPs tell me that they are anxious to develop a system of Select Committees, similar to the British House of Commons.
But Iraqi Kurdistan is still saddled with typical problems of the Middle East. That includes underdeveloped institutions and civil society, big state employment rolls, political patronage, and a small private sector.
I have seen their fortunes ebb and flow for myself on my visits. Covid-19, however, is a huge game-changer. Decisive action initially limited deaths, but a second spike is sadly claiming even more lives.
The Coronavirus has also slashed oil prices and revenues that account for over 90 percent of Kurdistani and Iraqi incomes. This further widened Kurdistan’s spending deficit and deepened its debt. Public salaries have been reduced, more for higher than lower paid employees, but payments are now five months in arrears.
Oil prices may recover but their volatility is an enduring problem and highlights the need for radical economic diversification to boost light industry, agriculture, and mass tourism after Covid. There’s untapped potential in Kurdistan’s hills, mountains, ski resorts, and plains. It could become more self-sufficient in food.
Tourism from the Middle East was flourishing before the pandemic. However, the KRG would hugely benefit from many more western visitors to this safe and stable nation. Take my word for it: you will be bowled over by the stunning beauty of the countryside, its extraordinary heritage and the hospitality of the cities.
Solar power, wind power, and turning natural gas into electricity are feasible goals. Large Kurdistani gas reserves could eventually help both Iraq and Europe diversify their supplies, long a UK and EU policy goal. Kurdistani ministers are also developing a law on exploiting its minerals sector.
Baghdad has barely helped the Kurdistan Regional Government look after a million displaced Sunni Arabs from Mosul. An Iraqi parliamentary committee is mean-mindedly demanding the return of weaponry abandoned by the Iraqi Army when it fled from Daesh in Mosul in 2014. The Peshmerga used the kit against Daesh and much of it is spent.
The Kurdistanis are, however, yet again seeking to make Iraq work, with commendable imagination and pragmatism, and have senior positions in the new Iraqi government, whose Prime Minister seems to be keen on a deal.
Baghdad needs to adopt a Better Together approach so that it and Kurdistanis can build a reliable and institutionalised relationship based on the constitution rather than whim.
The historical reflex of kicking Kurdistanis for short-term popularity should be abandoned. It is high time Baghdad proved that it wants the Kurds to remain as equals or let them go their own way. It’s also high time that the UN used its good offices to broker agreements.
This matters to us all. The awkward relationship between Baghdad and Erbil means there is a swathe of ungoverned territory between their armies where Daesh is regrouping. Increasing military co-operation and using the competent Peshmerga can stop Daesh gaining footholds that will then cost more in lives and defence spending to regain.
A reliable compact between Erbil and Baghdad is vital to UK interests and our policy of supporting a strong KRG within a strong unified Iraq.
As if that’s not enough, a wave of Turkish bombings against the PKK has killed Kurdistani civilians, made many villages uninhabitable, and disrupted the economy. The KRG rightly says that neither Turkey nor the PKK should infringe its territorial integrity. But a political solution is the key.
The Kurdistan Region has been pummeled by multiple economic, political, security, and humanitarian crises in the last decade and suffered much more in the previous century. Geopolitical volatility, see-sawing oil revenues, and regional power-plays are the norm for a people at the heart of the Middle East vortex.
Our friends in Kurdistan deserve more attention in our developing foreign and security policy as the Middle East matters massively to global peace and economics as well as emerging rivalries between the democratic and authoritarian worlds.
The world needs Kurdistan to survive and thrive as a decent and progressive beacon of hope in the Middle East.


conservativehome--2020-07-15--Ged Mirfin: Real identity politics is about a sense of place

Cllr Ged Martin is a councillor on Ribble Valley Borough Council and the Deputy Chairman ( Political Campaigning ) of Ribble Valley Conservative Association .
Local Government reorganisation by stealth , under the cover of devolution – which is allegedly about the transfer of powers and resources from central government to local people , communities , and businesses , as enshrined in The Localism Act of 2011 – is an administrative sleight of hand .
The fallacy of political prestidigitation is that once your audience sees how you carry out the trick , then you will never be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to come to the show because they have seen it all before .
If large scale local government reorganisation is carried out under the guise of delivering devolution , this threatens to sully the reputation of the Secretary of State responsible for guiding the White Paper through Parliament , in the same way that has tarred the historical reputation of Peter Walker .
This would be like the Labour Party abandoning its historical relationship with the trade unions .
In the Conservatives case , it would be the equivalent of cutting off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the very core of political debate – but for many people it is local identity .
A significant distrust of politicians and institutions has grown up in this country fuelled by a sense among large numbers of the general public that they no longer have a voice in the national and in this case the local conversation .
Really big decisions affecting people ’ s lives like the proposed creation of unitary authorities ( this has already been mentioned in east Lancashire which has sparked a petition signed by 14 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ribble Valley in days of the petition being launched ) require active public consultation , not decisions forced upon them .
A new localism – a new local identity based on a sense of place – citizens ’ unique experiences of their place in the particular environments where they live and work has emerged and is growing stronger .
This “ new localism ” has been strengthened by the same economic and cultural forces that brought about the current populist movement , particularly evident during the EU referendum and during the period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as powerfully felt in Conservative voting rural areas as it is in the formerly Labour voting urban areas in Red Wall Constituencies .
Place identity concerns the meaning and significance of places for their inhabitants and users , and how these meanings contribute to individuals ’ conceptualizations of self .
It also relates to the context of history ( statues and historical reference points – buildings and monuments ) and the politics of representation are important to those who live in particular areas – in some cases most of their adult lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to admire , to respect , and in some cases to show love and affection for the place where you reside .
When you meet strangers on holiday and they ask you where you live , likely as not , you will communicate a powerful emotive attachment and not a little pride in where you live .
When that sense of identity is threatened by what appears like arbitrary re-organisation , the likely reaction is a feeling of dislocation and loss of identity .
The phenomenon which we call ‘ local loss ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the challenge to local identity is much stronger amongst the Conservative Voting older generation but also amongst non-university educated workers whose employment has been secured within local networks and who are likely to work for local businesses who presence is familiar to and recognised by members of their peer to peer networks across towns and villages , particularly in rural areas .
Disruption of such networks will not be regarded as a progressive act , likely to shake-up levels of government to overcome perceived decision-making inertia .
Instead the loss of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to confused policy-making .
In the short-term , this will lead to kind of the preferencing and privileging of areas thought to be the reason for abandoning the policy in the first place .
The public reaction is likely to be marked by extreme electoral dislocation with a public backlash against even more remote and inaccessible power structures than county councils represented in the first place .
We could potentially be looking at the inauguration of an era of populist and unpredictable politics at the local level which will be far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simplification of government structures envisaged .
Imagine a raft of councils with Nigel Farage-type populist leaders in the Derek Hatton or Ken Livingstone mode and central Government reaction when such authorities use their independence to implement devolved powers it really doesn ’ t like .
Forced reorganisation means that some districts will lose out at the expense of others within the new frameworks .
Will more deprived areas lose out to more high growth and prosperous areas ?
Or will the less well performing areas hold back the high growth areas using them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their problems of social deprivation including burgeoning social care budgets ?
The problem with top-down re-organisation including forced re-organisation of district councils is that someone gets excluded paradoxically by being included in a community they don ’ t want to be part of .
In sociological speak , that perpetuate oppression by creating segregated spaces for marginalized communities , in this case marginalised affluent communities being bled dry by deprived communities to solve their long-term social care problems .
Feelings of security and freedom enable community transformation .
As soon as this local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This goes beyond emotional bonds between person and place .
This is the origins of the psychology of distrust and we all saw the incredibly powerful impact of what happened during Brexit and the election of Trump .
Political elites take note .
Re-organise local government boundaries without meaningful public consultation at your peril .

Cllr Ged Martin is a councillor on Ribble Valley Borough Council and the Deputy Chairman (Political Campaigning) of Ribble Valley Conservative Association.
Local Government reorganisation by stealth, under the cover of devolution – which is allegedly about the transfer of powers and resources from central government to local people, communities, and businesses, as enshrined in The Localism Act of 2011 – is an administrative sleight of hand. The fallacy of political prestidigitation is that once your audience sees how you carry out the trick, then you will never be able to do it again, and no-one will want to come to the show because they have seen it all before. If large scale local government reorganisation is carried out under the guise of delivering devolution, this threatens to sully the reputation of the Secretary of State responsible for guiding the White Paper through Parliament, in the same way that has tarred the historical reputation of Peter Walker.
This would be like the Labour Party abandoning its historical relationship with the trade unions. In the Conservatives case, it would be the equivalent of cutting off their right leg.
Identity is now at the very core of political debate – but for many people it is local identity. A significant distrust of politicians and institutions has grown up in this country fuelled by a sense among large numbers of the general public that they no longer have a voice in the national and in this case the local conversation. Really big decisions affecting people’s lives like the proposed creation of unitary authorities (this has already been mentioned in east Lancashire which has sparked a petition signed by 14 per cent of the total voting population of the Ribble Valley in days of the petition being launched) require active public consultation, not decisions forced upon them.
A new localism – a new local identity based on a sense of place – citizens’ unique experiences of their place in the particular environments where they live and work has emerged and is growing stronger. This “new localism” has been strengthened by the same economic and cultural forces that brought about the current populist movement, particularly evident during the EU referendum and during the period of Parliamentary stalemate which followed. It is just as powerfully felt in Conservative voting rural areas as it is in the formerly Labour voting urban areas in Red Wall Constituencies.
Place identity concerns the meaning and significance of places for their inhabitants and users, and how these meanings contribute to individuals’ conceptualizations of self. It also relates to the context of history (statues and historical reference points – buildings and monuments) and the politics of representation are important to those who live in particular areas – in some cases most of their adult lives. Being familiar is to approve, to admire, to respect, and in some cases to show love and affection for the place where you reside.
When you meet strangers on holiday and they ask you where you live, likely as not, you will communicate a powerful emotive attachment and not a little pride in where you live.
When that sense of identity is threatened by what appears like arbitrary re-organisation, the likely reaction is a feeling of dislocation and loss of identity. The phenomenon which we call ‘local loss’ – the fear of hyper local change, the challenge to local identity is much stronger amongst the Conservative Voting older generation but also amongst non-university educated workers whose employment has been secured within local networks and who are likely to work for local businesses who presence is familiar to and recognised by members of their peer to peer networks across towns and villages, particularly in rural areas.
Disruption of such networks will not be regarded as a progressive act, likely to shake-up levels of government to overcome perceived decision-making inertia. Instead the loss of local benchmarks and reference points is likely to lead to confused policy-making.
In the short-term, this will lead to kind of the preferencing and privileging of areas thought to be the reason for abandoning the policy in the first place. The public reaction is likely to be marked by extreme electoral dislocation with a public backlash against even more remote and inaccessible power structures than county councils represented in the first place.
We could potentially be looking at the inauguration of an era of populist and unpredictable politics at the local level which will be far more difficult and uncertain to control than the simplification of government structures envisaged. Imagine a raft of councils with Nigel Farage-type populist leaders in the Derek Hatton or Ken Livingstone mode and central Government reaction when such authorities use their independence to implement devolved powers it really doesn’t like.
Forced reorganisation means that some districts will lose out at the expense of others within the new frameworks. Will more deprived areas lose out to more high growth and prosperous areas? Or will the less well performing areas hold back the high growth areas using them as “cash cows” to resolve their problems of social deprivation including burgeoning social care budgets?
The problem with top-down re-organisation including forced re-organisation of district councils is that someone gets excluded paradoxically by being included in a community they don’t want to be part of. In sociological speak, that perpetuate oppression by creating segregated spaces for marginalized communities, in this case marginalised affluent communities being bled dry by deprived communities to solve their long-term social care problems.
Feelings of security and freedom enable community transformation. As soon as this local identity is challenged we are in trouble. This goes beyond emotional bonds between person and place. This is the origins of the psychology of distrust and we all saw the incredibly powerful impact of what happened during Brexit and the election of Trump. Political elites take note.
Re-organise local government boundaries without meaningful public consultation at your peril.


conservativehome--2020-07-16--Johnson will have to abandon his libertarian instincts to tackle the obesity crisis

After Boris Johnson fell dangerously ill with Coronavirus , it was widely reported that he ’ d had a Damascene conversion on sin taxes .
Although he ’ s well known for his libertarian instincts , he told Times Radio that it was “ absolutely true ” he ’ d shifted his thinking on the obesity epidemic , regretting that in some of his “ embarrassing former articles ” he had “ taken a sort of very libertarian stance ” .
This led many to believe he might now back sugar taxes .
However , today The Sun reports that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While this news will no doubt please libertarians around the country , it still seems that the Prime Minister will take radical action to tackle the crisis , with Number 10 reportedly considering calorie counts on all restaurant and takeaway menus , increasing bariatric surgery , as well as questioning whether to ban buy-one–get-one-free deals on junk food , as part of a war against obesity .
Many of these moves aren ’ t exactly “ people pleasing ” , but as with much of the Coronavirus , the Government has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the prospect of a second wave .
As overweight people are at increased risk of death and serious ill-health from the virus ; with the UK currently having the second highest obesity rate in Europe , practical considerations have overridden philosophical ones .
Given that the Government is reportedly planning fairly dramatic steps , what people will wonder , however , is why not go for broke and ramp up sugar tax too ( if The Sun story is correct ) .
Not least because there ’ s the economic aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Government needing to raise taxes fast .
Some of the wariness around sugar taxes might be due to muddled scientific evidence .
Since the Soft Drinks Industry Levy ( SDIL ) was introduced in 2018 , there have been fairly conflicting conclusions over whether it works – in the UK and elsewhere .
There ’ s also the libertarian resistance the Government receives when it considers sin taxes .
Critics object on the ground that it reduces people ’ s right to choose what they want to consume , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Johnson is said to be keen to avoid .
Whatever the case , it seems to me that the Conservatives can not shy away any more from being bolder in nudging consumer behaviour – when it comes to the obesity crisis .
Indeed , what will stifle the Conservatives ’ ability to make any decent progress on fighting the obesity crisis is a desire to be “ freedom fighters ” when it comes to consumption .
Coronavirus has rather crushed the romanticism of this idea – and even before then it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to food has always been overly idealistic , and has been challenged by science quite considerably over the last few years , which increasingly shows that some people struggle more than others in consumption habits .
Some of this is outlined by Tom Chivers for UnHerd ; the piece outlines how heritability can influence what people want to drink and eat .
Obesity has a heritability of 70 to 80 per cent , so this is why some find it much harder than others to cope in a society where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sugar tax being oppressive , our society has been pushy in the opposite direction to the one libertarians object to ; it nudges people towards overeating and drinking , with two-for-one cocktail deals , meal deals and other offers always prominently positioned out and about .
It ’ s this encouragement factor that ’ s the problem , and it could be reversed with quite minimal tactics ; the positioning of food in shops ( healthier snacks near the counter ) , and other subtle techniques .
The Government is also right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bands , which seem dramatic – but can improve people ’ s quality of life and the coping ability of the NHS in enormous ways .
On the economic recovery , Rishi Sunak recently said that we needed to be “ creative ” in how we spur growth , before he introduced his “ Eat Out to Help Out Plan ” .
And this is the attitude that Johnson should take to solving this health crisis , although it will test his philosophical principles as much as the lockdown .

After Boris Johnson fell dangerously ill with Coronavirus, it was widely reported that he’d had a Damascene conversion on sin taxes.
Although he’s well known for his libertarian instincts, he told Times Radio that it was “absolutely true” he’d shifted his thinking on the obesity epidemic, regretting that in some of his “embarrassing former articles” he had “taken a sort of very libertarian stance”.
This led many to believe he might now back sugar taxes. However, today The Sun reports that Johnson has no plans to use them.
While this news will no doubt please libertarians around the country, it still seems that the Prime Minister will take radical action to tackle the crisis, with Number 10 reportedly considering calorie counts on all restaurant and takeaway menus, increasing bariatric surgery, as well as questioning whether to ban buy-one–get-one-free deals on junk food, as part of a war against obesity.
Many of these moves aren’t exactly “people pleasing”, but as with much of the Coronavirus, the Government has had to become increasingly interventionist, particularly due to the prospect of a second wave.
As overweight people are at increased risk of death and serious ill-health from the virus; with the UK currently having the second highest obesity rate in Europe, practical considerations have overridden philosophical ones.
Given that the Government is reportedly planning fairly dramatic steps, what people will wonder, however, is why not go for broke and ramp up sugar tax too (if The Sun story is correct). Not least because there’s the economic aspect of the Coronavirus crisis to manage, too, with the Government needing to raise taxes fast.
Some of the wariness around sugar taxes might be due to muddled scientific evidence. Since the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) was introduced in 2018, there have been fairly conflicting conclusions over whether it works – in the UK and elsewhere.
There’s also the libertarian resistance the Government receives when it considers sin taxes. Critics object on the ground that it reduces people’s right to choose what they want to consume, and impacts people on low incomes – something which Johnson is said to be keen to avoid.
Whatever the case, it seems to me that the Conservatives cannot shy away any more from being bolder in nudging consumer behaviour – when it comes to the obesity crisis.
Indeed, what will stifle the Conservatives’ ability to make any decent progress on fighting the obesity crisis is a desire to be “freedom fighters” when it comes to consumption. Coronavirus has rather crushed the romanticism of this idea – and even before then it was unrealistic.
The idea of personal responsibility when it comes to food has always been overly idealistic, and has been challenged by science quite considerably over the last few years, which increasingly shows that some people struggle more than others in consumption habits.
Some of this is outlined by Tom Chivers for UnHerd; the piece outlines how heritability can influence what people want to drink and eat. Obesity has a heritability of 70 to 80 per cent, so this is why some find it much harder than others to cope in a society where food is advertised everywhere.
Far from the sugar tax being oppressive, our society has been pushy in the opposite direction to the one libertarians object to; it nudges people towards overeating and drinking, with two-for-one cocktail deals, meal deals and other offers always prominently positioned out and about.
It’s this encouragement factor that’s the problem, and it could be reversed with quite minimal tactics; the positioning of food in shops (healthier snacks near the counter), and other subtle techniques. The Government is also right to also consider steps such as gastric bands, which seem dramatic – but can improve people’s quality of life and the coping ability of the NHS in enormous ways.
On the economic recovery, Rishi Sunak recently said that we needed to be “creative” in how we spur growth, before he introduced his “Eat Out to Help Out Plan”. And this is the attitude that Johnson should take to solving this health crisis, although it will test his philosophical principles as much as the lockdown.


conservativehome--2020-07-16--WATCH: “This goes way beyond irritating wokery, this is a fundamental attack on the Enlightenment”

This clip is an extract from our latest ConservativeHome Live event – to ensure you get advance notice of our @ @ @ @ @ for our mailing list here .

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