Articles and Speeches

Civil Liberties
24-02-04, Oxford Union Conservative Association.

"Good evening

As a businessman, a campaigner and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Windsor, I am delighted to be here at the Oxford Union Conservative Association,

So thank you Blair Gibbs for the kind invitation

Now your Association is symbolic It was formed to respond to the threat of ‘overt’ Socialism in the 1924

And today, I believe we must respond to the threat of ‘covert’ socialism in 2004

The hidden socialism we experience today is far more insidious and dangerous threat to us all

30 years ago, Lady Thatcher achieved a successful shift, to a national sense of self-determination, a shift to the right

From the mid-1990s, Labour’s propaganda machine, supported by the media and LibDems, has shifted the nations psyche to the left

The idea that Government can solve problems with new laws, controls and regulations from the centre, has gained credence

And ‘we’ must continue respond by rejecting this notion

In the collective ‘we’ I include, myself, you as individuals, the Conservative Party, the centre right think tanks, single issue pressure groups, and the Oxford Union Conservative Association and other political associations across the UK.

I believe in a democracy, the purpose of politicians, the Government and its institutions is to protect people from external threat

So that, as far as possible in a civilised society, we can enjoy our lives as we choose

Indeed, this is the very essence of a civilised society and tolerant society.

People want to control their lives.

People are happier when controlling their lives and

The economy and society benefits when people control their lives

Our freedom and control essentially stems from the choices we are able to make

If we choose what we do with our time, we have control.

If we choose how we spend our money, we have control and

If we choose which career we pursue, we have control

Wealth creation through enterprise is a consequence of these choices,

Because some people will naturally choose to create businesses, to trade and to take risks

Others will choose to work for them and to support them.

And lest we forget, it is freely operating enterprise that is the engine of the economy

It generates the jobs, the incomes and the taxes that make for a good society.

This evening, I will make 3 points and conclude.

Mr first point will be, in a democracy it is inevitable that government will encroach on our freedoms, unless we are determined to stop it.

Second, I will give examples of how encroachment shows itself.

And third, I will explain how I believe; control of our lives is more threatened today by ‘covert’ socialism, than the overt socialism in 1924.

First, in a democracy it is inevitable that government will gradually encroach on our freedom.

Since the formation of parliament in the 1300s, there has been a gradual erosion of our individual freedoms.

There were big challenges to face in the 1300s and over subsequent centuries

An increase in democratic parliamentary power, was desirable in the interests of protecting people,

Legal systems needed to evolve to protect people

Armies needed to be formed to defend people

People needed to be enfranchised, so they could vote and

Basic taxes were taken to pay for these basic needs

But human nature means that those with elected power will want to keep it.

To remain in elected office, one must “do” things or be seen to “do” things

Doing things for a politician, means creating new laws

Nowadays pressure groups, politicians and the media unite in demanding new laws, to tackle ever more minor issues

But there is little incentive to repeal laws

Unless a law is overwhelming unjust or there’s a groundswell of opinion against it, it will remain

So the same level of pressure to create law, does not exist in reverse

• Because they are ever more minor laws, the creation of an overwhelming injustice with a single law is unlikely

• Our laws are not judged on their outcomes, there is no mechanism for checking success against original aim Bad laws, ineffective laws, simply continue in force

• As human beings, it is our nature to adapt to what’s inflicted upon us, especially if we feel powerless to fight

After a period of time, minor laws become tolerated Today it is perhaps only the determined or crusading individual that might fight a minor law

And if successful, the law may be added to, updated or modified, rather than repealed

So the steady march of encroachment on our private freedoms

Likewise the steady march of encroachment on our business efficiency - the very engine of those private freedoms - continues unabated.

So over the months, years, decades and centuries, minor laws are added and reformed, added and reformed, and amassed

Until your reach a point where those very laws that were meant to protect us, begin – on the whole - to ensnare and entrap us

And leads neatly to my second point.

How does this encroachment show itself in our daily lives?

The easiest way to illustrate is with examples.

My background is firmly in the world of business and enterprise

Minor laws, lead to major bureaucracy in the business world.

Let me describe what I expect to be confronted with in the business post.

• A letter from the ONS demanding statistical information

• A 20 page annual return for my income

• A demand for an inspection from the vat office

• A demand for an inspection from the Inland Revenue

• A heap of literature from the council telling me how I must recycle company waste

• A heap of literature from the health and safety executive, telling me over 100s of pages how we write our policies

• 57 pages of flexible work guidelines.

• 200 pages of working time directive information.

Each imposition is fairly minor in its own right, 1 day, 5 days, 10 days to deal with

But add them together and there is a massive burden

Perhaps 10% of my workforce employed ticking boxes

And of course tens of thousands of civil servants

On the business front, from personal experience over 15 years, I can tell you this is out of control

So what of personal freedoms?

The tax disc on the car is a good example.

If you have a car, then you must renew your tax disc each year.

The aim was to raise money from road users for road repairs.

But the money does not go for road repairs.

It is not a charge and it is not a hypothecated tax.

It is an unnecessary and wasteful activity involving filling forms, locating and posting off certificates, writing cheques, sticking things on car windscreens in little plastic wallets.

Hundreds of millions of hours taken from us and wasted each year

And thousands of staff wasting time at the DVLA and in post offices

Everyone sensible realises you can simply add perhaps 3p to the price of petrol as a ‘charge’

The original aim is achieved without the waste and imposition on our time.

But it is in no politician’s interest to repeal that particular law

Whoever proposes the change will risk their political career.

The judgement they must make is do they want to risk this ‘small’ battle.

• Opposition politicians will take tear into them apart

• a small group of rural users will be up in arms because they travel further in their cars than city folk

• The civil service union will be horrified at the idea of job losses

This could wreck their career, and yet it is in the interests of all motorists and exchequer to do this.

A final example, which involves harm to vulnerable members of society

Someone close to me suffers from Parkinson’s disease. She can hardly move, she can hardly write and she is in a constant state of tremor and pain.

But to register for disability benefits she must fill in an enormouse and intrusive form!

The government agency has used its powers to gradually extend, modify and refine the information it wants

Again, it is in no politician’s interest to protect this small and vulnerable group

It is unlikely that they will have their voices heard

They are resigned to be being bullied and mistreated by these minor laws

And if they are heard, the law will be added to, updated or modified rather than the benefits system fundamentally reviewed

The list of examples is endless.

My point is this

There is little or no pressure for a politician to tackle a minor law.

The risks outweigh the rewards

So these minor laws accumulate and evolve into a mass of minor regulations, controls and form-filling bureaucracy

If the primary purpose of Government is to protect people and promote their happiness, then we must look at this ever creeping encroachment.

My third and final point this evening. I believe, control of our lives is more threatened today by covert socialism, than the overt socialism in 1924

Earlier this century you could see the enemy

They wore uniforms, they told you they knew what was best for you, they forced you to work in damp factories and drink cold soup

Whereas today socialism – the idea that it is better if a big state tells you what to do – has transformed, but not died, and this to me is more dangerous.

At the heart of Labour and Liberal Democrat thinking, there is a small group of people

A group of people who believe they know what is best for everyone.

For you, for me, for poor people, for disabled people, and for people from ethnic minorities

They believe that everything is solvable, by controlling and regulating us more and more minor laws from central Government, and increasingly from the European Union

Well I agree with Edmund Burke, there is no mind or group of minds great enough to plan people lives.

That would be extreme intellectual arrogance

It feels like George Orwell’s 1984, where the ministry of truth spins lies Government propaganda tells us:

• If you care about victims of crime you will welcome paying an extra £5 on speeding tickets to help.

• If you choose to drive your car, rather than take a dirty train, you are a bad person

• You must go to University or you have failed, even if you’d rather be a plumber or craftsman

Well political correctness is a form of thought control.

In response, I do not advocate anarchy or rebellion I advocate a redressing of the balance with a Conservative agenda

An agenda and policies that put people first

In my view a Government’s role is to provide basic law and order, protection and information so we are better able to make our choices

Let me close by saying this

The definition of democracy is people power

Governments have eroded our power over the centuries

This current Government continues to do so at a far quicker pace

Now I take nothing for granted, I am working hard to secure victory in Windsor

If I elected in Windsor, I make you this commitment

I will do all I can, to roll-back minor laws, regulations and intrusions into our lives

You have your lives ahead of you I want you to be free, to live your own British dream

I am determined you have control of your lives, and not this current Government.

Thank you"