Monday
"The Tories are free-marketeers – they have a mechanism to get rid of their leader on a wet weekend. Labour are central planners, so adopt protectionist policies."
- Fraser Nelson, over the Spectator's Coffee House blog. His quote makes a fair bit of sense, even if you, like yours truly, wonder about the free market credentials of David Cameron's Conservative Party.
The Tories are free-marketeers in much the same way that giraffes wear trousers.
Posted by Perry de Havilland at May 5, 2008 04:53 PM
Off-topic, but how about this as a contender for next QOTD:
We have no oil and gas. We don't have high tech. Our centers of development, are far, far behind others. We will never be an extraordinary tourist attraction. Poland is quite a mediocre country in some regards. The only natural resource that we have, and with which we can compete, is freedom.
Donald Tusk, Polish Prime Minister.
Hat tip: Iain Dale(Link)
Posted by Alcoholiday at May 5, 2008 08:50 PM
There are some supporters of the free market in the Conservative party (full disclosure - I am a member and have been since I was 15 years of age, many years ago).
However, I also see no evidence that David Cameron is a support of smaller government - either in size (taxes and government spending) or scope (regulations).
Posted by Paul Marks at May 5, 2008 09:09 PM
Be fair Paul. It's gonna be difficult for any party leader to favour smaller government. In order to get to where he is David had to promise a lot to his supporters and the only currency he can pay them off in is power, (or the appearence of power).
To do that he needs lots of ministries with big budgets so that his pals can swan around with all the perks they (think they) deserve.
Posted by Kevin B at May 5, 2008 11:53 PM
However, I also see no evidence that David Cameron is a support of smaller government - either in size (taxes and government spending) or scope (regulations).
He has frequently said publically that he believes we need more government and the only constraint on that extension is that, for electral reasons, the growth in government should be slower than the growth in the total economy. When I wrote to him (as my MP) to ask if he accepted the corrolary of this being that a shrinking economy should result in a reduction in government, he informed me that he generally approved of motherhood and was partial to apple pie.
I guess the economic stagnation caused by excessive government interference will thus become a self limiting factor over the growth of government, but I'm sure the same effect could be achieved more efficiently with better (ie less) government.
Posted by MarkE at May 6, 2008 04:19 PM
I find it impossible to defend Mr Cameron (the leader of the political party of which I have been a member all my adult life - indeed for some years before I became an adult) so I will not try to defend him.
Posted by Paul Marks at May 7, 2008 07:11 PM
