Thanks for this clear headed analysis. This part particularly resonated with me:
“The basis for a successful right-of-centre government needs to recognise the importance of those international economic institutions, understand that places like China don’t play by the rules, and appreciate that the scale of international migration is disrupting societies everywhere. At the same time, the idea that ‘nation’ is everything must be resisted and the ideas of open trade, free markets and enterprise are just as important to the success and identity of the west as faith, family values and the rule of law.”
I’d be interested to see whether a seriously restrictive immigration policy would wash away these remaining dichotomies like the role of labor unions. I could see either a Reagan/Thatcher or Bernie Sanders type being very popular so long as their rhetoric and actions led to a closed border.
I think if the Conservatives had done what they had said they would and keep immigration numbers much lower, and limited to 'high quality' inflows, people would be broadly happy with high levels of freedom in capital movements, trade and innovation. These simply do not need to be a package.
Thanks for this clear headed analysis. This part particularly resonated with me:
“The basis for a successful right-of-centre government needs to recognise the importance of those international economic institutions, understand that places like China don’t play by the rules, and appreciate that the scale of international migration is disrupting societies everywhere. At the same time, the idea that ‘nation’ is everything must be resisted and the ideas of open trade, free markets and enterprise are just as important to the success and identity of the west as faith, family values and the rule of law.”
I’d be interested to see whether a seriously restrictive immigration policy would wash away these remaining dichotomies like the role of labor unions. I could see either a Reagan/Thatcher or Bernie Sanders type being very popular so long as their rhetoric and actions led to a closed border.
I think if the Conservatives had done what they had said they would and keep immigration numbers much lower, and limited to 'high quality' inflows, people would be broadly happy with high levels of freedom in capital movements, trade and innovation. These simply do not need to be a package.