Heseltine may think Nigel Farage is basically Hitler but the glorious irony is that the economic policies of Reform trace directly to his ideas on growth and regeneration
If the state had a glowing track record of success in intervening, directing, supporting and promoting economic growth in an active way I’d be all ears. But, as you say, it doesn’t. It can set the conditions, hold the ring; it has unique convening power; and under certain limited circumstances it has a role as an economic back-stop, a lender of last resort. But it doesn’t create wealth.
A fine paean to free-market liberalism, much needed.
But this bit almost concedes the field once again to the Heseltines of this world.
"It is true that Conservatives are not liberals, that we have a belief in the national interest that trumps the most ardent of laissez faire programmes."
I think what you are saying here is the true proposition that the economic sphere is necessarily a subset of the political. And that of course doesn't preclude economic liberalism.
The left however will latch onto the lazy view that free markets, unless they are managed and directed, will somehow slew off into a kind of "crisis of capitalism".
If the state had a glowing track record of success in intervening, directing, supporting and promoting economic growth in an active way I’d be all ears. But, as you say, it doesn’t. It can set the conditions, hold the ring; it has unique convening power; and under certain limited circumstances it has a role as an economic back-stop, a lender of last resort. But it doesn’t create wealth.
Nice enough man Heseltine, but he’s extremely impressed by himself and has invariably been wrong about everything, always.
My preferred Tory Wet by bar was Ken Clarke. He used to ride the same bus as me.
A fine paean to free-market liberalism, much needed.
But this bit almost concedes the field once again to the Heseltines of this world.
"It is true that Conservatives are not liberals, that we have a belief in the national interest that trumps the most ardent of laissez faire programmes."
I think what you are saying here is the true proposition that the economic sphere is necessarily a subset of the political. And that of course doesn't preclude economic liberalism.
The left however will latch onto the lazy view that free markets, unless they are managed and directed, will somehow slew off into a kind of "crisis of capitalism".
Where did you find that archive photo of Alan B’astard??
Not sure. I had it for a picture quiz I did about 2 years ago.