During my very enjoyable first two months as co-editor of ConservativeHome, I've read a huge number of news stories from the papers as part of the ritual preparation of the morning newslinks for the front page.
And it has struck me more than ever before the extent to which this Government is on a mission to make the state ever bigger and all the more nannying and interventionist.
This morning brought three prime examples:
- "The 'nanny state' guide to giving children of five alcohol": A Daily Mail story about how the Government is going to issue parents with guidance about how much alcohol children can safely drink.
- "Private firm may track all email and calls": A story in the Guardian suggesting that a company will be asked to run a communications database that will keep track of everyone's calls, emails, texts and internet use.
- "Labour considers car speed-limiters": An Independent story about a proposal to fit speed-limiting devices in cars.
What is the likelihood of seeing any of the following headlines on stories in 2009:
- "People must be free to make their own mistakes, says Harman"
- "Minister rules out a ban"
- "Britain is over-regulated, admits Brown"
- "Jacqui Smith: A new law is unnecessary"
- "The state has too much power, says Blunkett"
Pretty unlikely, I fear.
Whenever the Government does set about increasing the excesses of the state, Conservative spokesmen are usually quick to question the need for more regulation and intervention - and rightly so.
I just hope that when they are in a position of power that they will indeed roll back the frontiers of the state and resist the temptation to deliver what is demanded by the "something must be done" brigade.
