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The CPS demonstrates smaller government is better for society


Via the CPS, a report and video, explaining that small (though not that small) government is better for society: Tim Knox, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, commented: This paper shows that smaller government results in higher growth – making a mockery of the current austerity vs. growth division. This should give our politicians confidence to pursue a smaller state to achieve long-term, lasting prosperity. There is extensive evidence both in this report and from the 2020 Tax Commission, […]

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Poster of the week – 1929, “Socialism would mean inspectors all round”


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From the Conservative Poster Archive, poster 1929-31, “Socialism would mean inspectors all round”. Too true, unfortunately: see Harry Snook’s Crossing the Threshold – 266 ways the State can enter your home from the Centre for Policy Studies (PDF) and my related question in debate.

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Street Dreams


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Today, I visited Jade and Jay, co-founders of Street Dreams to discuss their work in Wycombe’s deprived communities. Too many people wrongly assume that Buckinghamshire is a utopia without social problems, but, as I have reported before, there is every reason to support good quality social action here. Jay and Jade explained how they help “disadvantaged, disengaged and disruptive young people to help them achieve a sustainable positive life”. We discussed a wide range of issues from drug dealing and […]

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The CPS on benefits, reform, big government and data


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I am an Associate Member of the Centre for Policy Studies and I always enjoy reading their pamphlets: they remind me I am not alone. I caught up with the following four yesterday on the train. The theme? Putting humanity back into our society. Click the images to download the pamphlets as PDFs. The Reality Gap – an analysis of the failure of big government demonstrates that more government means worse. Jill Kirby writes of voter disenchantment and indicates that, […]

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Newspeak 2009


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The Centre for Policy Studies has released The 2009 Lexicon, A guide to contemporary Newspeak.  Some random examples: Dialogue (meaningful): the pretence of genuine two-way conversation. Equality: sameness. Absence of diversity. Joined-up government: excuse for cross-departmental initiatives which will centralise and increase government intrusion into everyday life. Radical (of reform): minor technical/organisational adjustment. And so on. It is recommended reading and yet, rather like the cartoon Dilbert, overdoing it might be unwise.

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Recommended reading: “Freedom for Public Services”


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The latest publication from the Centre for Policy Studies arrived today: “Freedom for Public Services” by William Mason and Jonathan McMahon. Better services at lower cost, and more fulfilling jobs for public servants, are quite possible. As ever, this CPS report is intelligent, brief, clear and insightful. The sheer scale of central regulation is shocking even as one who has begun to study the situation. Consider for example the list of regulators for the NHS: The Healthcare Commission Strategic Health […]

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Dependence on the state


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Graham reminded me how many people are now dependent on our deeply indebted state. For example, 1 in 5 of the UK’s whole workforce is in the public sector. They are net recipients of tax income, as are their children, if they are the sole breadwinner or their partner is also on the public sector payroll. A while back, the CPS published Maurice Saatchi’s “Enemy of the People” covering this subject among others. It is prepared as a charge sheet: […]

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