Dr Fox launches campaign with blend of Euroscepticism and compassionate conservatism

Liam Fox formally launches his leadership campaign today - at a mental health centre.  The choice of location and low key nature of the launch is said to be a very deliberate emphasis of the Shadow Foreign Secretary's commitment to a kinder, more socially just conservatism.

He announces two new endorsements for his leadership bid - Gary Streeter MP, who is already chairing Dr Fox's new Tory human rights group, and Desmond Swayne, Michael Howard's PPS and a member of the socially conservative Cornerstone Group.  Both are active members of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.  Dr Fox now has ten public endorsements but will be under pressure to reveal more of the forty MPs his campaign has claimed to have.  If those MPs do come forward they are likely to come from the Cornerstone Group.  Dr Fox's mix of social plus compassionate conservatism with Euroscepticism seems most likely to appeal to its members which number close to thirty.  He will hope for a broader following, however, by emphasising his close links with Republican America and his support for a foreign policy that emphasises the environment and human rights.

Three key quotes from Liam Fox's article in today's Daily Telegraph:

BRITAIN'S SOCIETY IS BROKEN: "In absolute and relative terms, Britons today enjoy prosperity far greater than that of previous generations. Yet Labour has been unable to translate this into social cohesion. The result is what I believe is increasingly becoming a broken society.  In fact, in many parts of Britain today, that social cohesion seems to be evaporating. The alarming decline in secure family life, of good order in our schools and on our streets is increasingly destabilising our society. There is no clear vision for dealing with these problems.  Britain is in danger of having a "lost generation" of young people - men in particular - failed by family and education, and now venting their frustrations on society as a whole.  Truancy rates are rocketing and more and more young people are becoming detached from the education process. More often than not they lack properly instilled values, and few have benefited from a secure family upbringing, and the stability brought from having male role models in either family or school.  We need to tackle the root causes of the social problems besetting our society - regardless of the taboos - and set ourselves back on the path to stability and strength."

EUROSCEPTICISM: "We must break free from the shackles of the utterly Euro-centric view that Britain has taken of the world in recent decades.  In June, I made it clear that I do not believe in "ever-closer union". Britain's destiny does not lie in a United States of Europe. Our vision is of a much looser association of sovereign states, characterised by the economic values I outlined earlier. If Europe fails to reform, the price will be very high. China and India are changing the world we live in, producing high-quality products at a fraction of the price that we can and building service sectors that are also sucking business away from us."

THE ENVIRONMENT: "We must take a lead in meeting head-on the challenge of global warming and the threat to our environment. This is a crucial issue for the younger generation in particular, and one that the Conservative Party must be at the forefront of addressing. The last Conservative government took a lead over key environmental issues such as reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity. We must be Conservative with a small "c" as well as a large one."

Comments

[Simon C]

Happy Day! I am delighted that Liam has now broken cover, and look forward to seeing how his campaign develops. There are some earlier hares ahead of the Fox, but he has every opportunity to catch them up. As many bloggers on this site have pointed out, unlike other contenders, he has the happy knack of being able to do his politics without building up an Anyone But Fox vote.

His contributions to the post-election debate so far have been insightful and original. Today's article is no exception. He sets out a vision for Britain and her place in the world, and his words are full of the Reaganite optimism which British Conservatism desperately needs to capture:

"We should not seek power for its own sake but for the opportunity it brings to shape our country's future.

This is what my leadership would be about: sound defence; keeping more of what you earn; less government interference in people's lives; a sense of family, community and respect for the law; Britain controlling its own destiny.

These are the things that we stand for. Only when we talk to the British people about their future, not our own, will the Conservatives be listened to again."

[James Hellyer]

Excellent news. It makes a change to see someone focussing on what they want to do for Britain, rather than dwelling on personalities or the past.

[Selsdon Man]

Dr Fox needs to set out how he will tackle the "broken society". What are the roles of the state and the voluntary sector?

A good start though!

[malcolm]

Whilst I agree with what Liam has to say,I am a little bit disappointed for two reasons.1 He has shown the same lack of detail as the other candidates so far,understandable, but I expected more from this thoughtful man.Secondly he has focused on those subjects which are so predictable for a Conservative, low taxes,defence,Europe etc.
I think Liam is going to have to take far more risks than this if his voice is going to be heard above of the din of better supported candidates.

[malcolm]

Further to my previous post I am delighted that Liam spoke about the enviroment(only candidate to do so?).This issue was completely overlooked at the last election by us which I thought was a tragedy.

[Editor]

Not only environment Malcolm but also mental health, domestic violence and human rights abuses in the third world...

[Simon C]

Malcolm,

The leadership launch speech is not the time to set out detailed policy poisitions - but to give an idea of your agenda for the country and the issues you want to tackle. Detailed speeches on those issues can follow later.

Liam's themes are not as limited as you suggest - our broken society is at the heart of his campaign, hence his decision to launch at a Mental Health Centre away from Westminster. He emphasises the environment. On foreign policy (which is after all his current portfolio) he re-stressed the need to stop obssessing about the EU and the need to look East to India and China.

[James Maskell]

The leadership contest is hotting up, from a mental health centre...well if your a Tory theres no better place to start!

In all seriousness Im very curious to see what he has to offer the Party. One of the things coming from the papers which will get a few votes especially from the younger members of the party is his down to earth nature...weve all seen the articles about him with a pretty girl on his lap and a beer in his hand enjoying himself. Hes normal.

At the moment I havent really picked a candidate I personally like above all others, but Fox does have the basics that I like. Conservative but with a realist tone to his comments. Hes not ideologically driven but he does have a basis for his views.

Does Des Swayne's endorsement indicate that Fox is the choice of the Cornerstone Group? Perhaps the Editor could enlighten us!

[James Hellyer]

Does it tell us what Michael Howard is thinking?

[Selsdon Man]

Sorry James, but Liam Fox is more ideological than the others. His speeches often references to Friedman and Hayek - the "liberals" that social conservatives like Lord Griffiths and Edward Leigh despise. The influence was Keith Joseph and other leading free marketeers who influenced Conservative students in the 70s and 80s.

[Samuel Coates]

Having said that though..

"Dr Fox now has ten public endorsements but will be under pressure to reveal more of the forty MPs his campaign has claimed to have."
+
"Dr Fox's mix of social plus compassionate conservatism with Euroscepticism seems most likely to appeal to its members which number close to thirty.".
= Hint?

[Simon C]

The Doc's team has a campaign office, and a website too:

http://www.drliamfox.com/

[James Hellyer]

That's my support registered.

[Editor]

Selsdon Man: I know Lord Griffiths and Edward Leigh. I think both would find much to admire in the teachings of Hayek and Friedman but they would not share all of their beliefs. They certainly don't despise their beliefs - and certainly not them as people, as you stated.

[Selsdon Man]

From Brian Griffith's Wilberforce lecture

"Hayek made it very clear that morals had evolved in an impersonal natural way and he was especially dismissive of those who believed that ethical rules were immutable and eternal. As there is no revealed morality, each individual is free to choose the standards by which they live and the only authority ultimately is the appeal to the reason and judgement of the individual. One may value the wisdom embodied in tradition but in the final analysis Hayek, Mandeville and Hume are as secular in their thinking as any of the continental philosophers from who they wish to distance themselves. "

"Liberalism is also a powerful influence in the economic field. Conservatism in Britain today is closely identified with the market economy. Yet a Conservative defence of the market needs to be distanced from that form of secular liberalism which underpins the defence of free markets by economists such as Friedman, Becker and most of all Hayek."

"there is at the heart of Hayek's philosophy a fundamental weakness, which can only be addressed by a belief in values for which, independently of religion, he has no source."

Despise may have been the wrong word to use but Lord Griffiths is very critical of Hayek, and to a lesser extent, Friedman. His speech does associate Hayek with libertariansim and concludes his speech.

"The danger we face today is to be seduced in the name of tolerance by a libertarian social philosophy, which contains no objective standards of morality, which will lead through the abuse of freedom and neglect of responsibility, to a multiplicity of social problems, and which ultimately, and this is the real irony, will require a more authoritarian framework for society to redress the chaos which such a society will inevitably produce. Conservatism has always stood against libertarianism, as the negation of everything it stands for. If the Conservative party were to become libertarian it would in my judgement be the end of the Conservative party as we have known it. "

This is the passage that Leigh quoted in his pamphlet. The problem with it is that it confuses libertarianism with libertinism - as does David Willetts. Many "Libertarians" are social conservatives.

The key issue is the role of state of enforcing or delivering the morality sought by Griffiths and Leigh. They appear to favour such a strong role for the State. I would be surprised if Dr Liam Fox does.

[Selsdon Man]

I should add that the key issue is Christianity. Griffiths and Leigh believe that you must have religious belief to have morals. The Scottish Enlightenment thinkers believed that individual autonomy and reason, rather than religion, is the basis for morality.

In his speech to Politeia, Dr Fox said "we need a Conservative Party whose instincts are economically conservative and socially liberal in tune with the diversity and aspirations of Britain in the 21st century"... "Freedom is not a slogan. Freedom is not just a means to an end. Freedom is our essence. Freedom is our core. Let Freedom reign.”

That speech, in my opinion, comes from the Scottish Enlightenment tradition.

[Simon C]

Selsdon,

In his Telegraph article on Britishness in the summer, Liam identified Christianity as the main cultural influence on the British way of life. He went on to recognise the contribution that the Scottish enlightenment has made to conservative thinking.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/02/nbrit102.xml

For myself, I see no necessary link between Christianity and belief in a strong state role in enforcing morality. We cannot, after all, legislate ourselves into the Kingdom of heaven. The state's role is to create the conditions in which people can quietly build productive (and, as a believer, Godly) lives for themselves their families and their communities. It will need to lend a helping hand to those who cannot help themselves. But not to the extent of sapping individual responsibility and dignity.

There is a role for the state - but it is not always about "strong enforcement".

For what it's worth I think Liam subscribes to something similar to that as well, at least from reading his Broken Society speech.

[Selsdon Man]

I agree with you Simon - it is the people like the Cornerstone Group who want to use state power to impose a religious society, e.g. through subsidy of faith schools.

I come from a strong Christian family. My mother is the secretary to our Minister and my father is a senior elder in our Church. We believe in separating church from state.

[Simon C]

Selsdon,

I don't see faith schools as imposing a religious society on anyone - but providing choice to parents about how their children are educated. So far as Church schools are concerned, many parents of no faith & other faiths welcome the chance to send their children to them.

We part company on this point. (This is meant to register a disagreement - but I won't have time today to argue it out! Faith schools have already been blogged vigorously on this site & I am sure will be again)

[blablency]

Fake Oakleys A lot of people, these days, recognize the significance of checking. Cheap Oakleys You may want to buy a smoking pipe simply because you find it fascinating or someone might have inspired you to try it for ultimate pleasure of smoking. Whatever may be the reason, buying a good pipe that suits you best could be quite an exercise. You can find pipes of best brands and great craftsman at a premium smoke shop Sacramento. In such quality shops, you may find many people spending lot of time to select the perfect pipe and you might wonder about what they must be checking?Well, the best and first suggestion for buying a pipe for the first time is to follow your instant instinct. Have a look at lot of pipes and pick few that appeal to you to be trendy and match your style. In your selection of pipes, consider the comfort ability, perfunctory and financial aspects.Comfortable gripThe best pipe is the pipe that has a comfortable grip in your hands and in the mouth as well. Remember that a Sacramento smoke shop might have plenty of beautiful looking pipes but a pipe is a lot more than a mere show piece and you are buying a pipe for pleasurable smoking experience. Something that is uncomfortable can never be enjoyed.Perfunctory considerationsLook for a clean, finished look that has all the parts properly aligned. It is very obvious that a lighter pipe would be easier to handle. So look for a pipe at a smoke shop in Sacramento that is lighter in weight and smooth in finish. Also look for the drift holes, texture and fills to be adequately in shape.Financial aspectsNo doubt that a good pipe has a great value and would serve you for long. Selecting the pipe correctly, can give you a pleasurable smoking experience for a long-long time. The price of pipes may range between $20 and $1000 or may be even more but each price category would have some of the finest pipes for your selection. Despite those good looks and superfine finish, the best pipe would still be the one that you can easily afford. It is suggested not to buy a cheap pipe for the first time experience. A cheap pipe would surely have some quality compromises that may spoil your overall experience of pipe to pull you back from the incredible smoking experience from a quality pipe.

Fake Oakleys

[blablency]

Towing Albuquerque services will always be helpful. They supply all guidelines and useful information for your process of towing. Such services look after all the necessary requirements that really must be met before the vehicle starts towing. sales tax holidays The majority of staffing agencies goes while keeping focused on your particular industry of the marketplace, but all functions in the same manner - by supplying an email finder service that will fit the labour desires in their corporate or small enterprise clients with professional personnel which have the abilities that meet those needs. In the end, staffing agencies deal with the hr requirements and needs of the customers, keeping and running a large number of cv's of job hunters and applicants.A staffing agency would first acquire number of requirements made available from the firm in addition to a description within the job position that they need filled. With all the description in front of you, the staffing agency would utilize the information and make up a job posting, that would then narrow through prospective applicants to search for the right match for the employer as well as the worker.The most important target for staffing agencies should be to match each applicant that has a job. To get this done, agencies will first interview prospective candidates to reach know which applicants plus the type of job we can be most befitted for both in long- and short-term positions. To find out a candidate's opportunity to be employed in a specialized position, the company might ask the candidate to take an established skills test, maybe a typing test, for their initial interview. Verifying a candidate's ability using a wide range of assessments offers a staffing agency an advantage in matching the proper applicant to his/her dream job all of which will normally have a database of job seekers' resumes for future chances.Following assessment tests, the staffing agency might then conserve the candidate set up an interview using a potential employer as soon as the agency has determined they matched the right applicant with an open position. There are two options if your employer is picking a candidate. The business either can hire the candidate for a short-term basis or hire him/her directly to have a permanent position.If the employer only wants to hire drug abuse with a temporary basis, they will likely spend staffing agency directly, who then would spend the money for employees in an agreed-upon salary before employees is recruited permanently. Most staffing agencies itemizes their service an one-time fee that the client are going to pay following agreed-upon time set by both parties.

sales tax holidays Fake Oakleys