Browse > Home / Archive: February 2011

| Subcribe via RSS



Conservatives expose themselves on local TV

By Tom Papworth
February 4th, 2011 at 12:57 pm | 1 Comment | Posted in Uncategorized

One of the best things about the return of the Conservatives to government is that it helps us understand what they really stand for, rather than what they claim to stand for.

For example, it is a one of the great ironies of modern political history that both the Conservatives and Labour claim that the Conservatives are a free market party, when they are, of course, nothing of the sort.

Take Jeremy Hunt’s announcement that he wants to create a new TV network that would support local television in its infancy…

[To read the full article and provide comments, visit the Adam Smith Institute blog, where it first appeared]

The Culture Secretary gets into the spirit of his new role by re-enacting a famous scene from Basic Instinct.

'

Land of the Free????

By Angela Harbutt
February 4th, 2011 at 12:38 am | 8 Comments | Posted in US Politics

I always thought of America as the place where personal choice and individual freedom where held in high esteem. Where informed discussion was preferred to berating and banning. Where politeness won out over prohibition. Where they chose discourse over directives.

Well that was then and this is now. In New York anyway. The very epitomy of the Land of the Free got that bit more Soviet today when Michael Bloomberg -Mayor of New York – extended the ban on smoking to  all of city’s 14 miles of beaches, marinas and boardwalks and some 1700 parks (including Central Park) as well as many”other” public places such as  Times Square.

“This summer, New Yorkers who go to our parks and beaches for some fresh air and fun will be able to breathe even cleaner air and sit on a beach not littered with cigarette butts,”said Mr Bloomberg. “Breathe even cleaner air” (I love the “even” in that sentence) – that’s if you can see the air for the car fumes of course… (no they lost the congestion charge battle some time ago).

Still, the few tourists they will have left following the introduction don’t have to be too concerned just yet.. It has also been announced the smoking ban will be self-enforced, with residents rather than police warning others not to smoke in public places. And should an over eager policeman decide he will fine you, a delightfully named “quality-of-life summon” will be handed down to a violator of the smoking ban, similar to what the city does for public urination (!) with a fine of about $50. But no “on-the-spot” fines here as the fear of corruption is too great! Go figure…..

So where can you smoke in New York? City sidewalks (obviously) and private businesses where smoking is presently allowed, e.g. rooftop bars and private apartments of course – though watch this space as many want to see a ban on smoking in private residences introduced here too. What will it be I wonder? Secret surveillance cameras in their bathrooms? or just good old ratting on neighbours.

There is much controversy about this ban as you might expect. Over half the city say they are against it, and the phone-ins across the city are awash with people asking why ban smoking in public parks (where there is ample space to get away from the smoke) but allow it on the pavements where people are squeezed in six to a dozen.

Well, welcome to the world of soviet planning folks…no rhyme nor reason…

It has been suggested that this ban is more about the cost of cleaning up the cigarette butts than it is about the “cleaner air”.  And they may be right. In 2010, New York taxpayers worked until April 23, ranking it 3rd highest in the nation, 2 weeks after the national Tax Freedom Day (April 9). …Who knows….

Tags: ,

Bullseye

By Andy Mayer
February 1st, 2011 at 12:30 am | 2 Comments | Posted in Uncategorized

It’s the news all fans of the liberal centre-ground have been waiting for. According to the latest YouGov study… Labour have gone left (-39), the Conservatives right (+47), and the Liberal Democrats are finally recognised once again as a centre-party (+1). The problem though, as the UK polling report notes, it is not a very big party, more an expression of support from a centrist rump.

It is though a good footnote to the progressive coalition debate. It is harder to argue the party is a more natural fit with Labour, easier to highlight a distinct position on the map, and easier to prove value to current and future coalition partners who generally tack to the centre when trying to win.