It used to be that we knew the difference between our major political parties and what each one stood for. After 14 years of Conservative government we had record high taxes, spending and immigration. We also saw Net Zero policies that gave the state greater control over private activity, a steady stream of bans and nanny-state measures, and a significant clampdown on free speech. The Liberal Democrats supported many of these policies while in the coalition and have since pushed for even more restrictive ones in opposition. The Labour government that took office in 2024 doubled down on every one of these areas.
However, the Conservatives are now changing tack in many areas from the policies they pursued in office. Andy Burnham signals a change in style, rhetoric and, increasingly, some policy areas from the first two years of the Labour government. In local and devolved government we still see clear differences in the practices of the established parties. At the same time, Reform and Green administrations in local government often appear to align more with previous councils than they differ from them.
Join Hugo Timms, Staff Writer at Spiked Online, and a guest TBC, for a lively debate on the question: Are we run by a Uni-Party?
Politics in Pubs – London The Warwick, 25 Warwick Way Monday 21st September, 7pm.
We spoke with Chase Blount the Chairman of the Libertarian Conservatives.
“We aim to sway the membership’s opinion further towards free markets and individualist social policies”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us about your group?
We’re the Libertarian Conservative Interest Group, a grassroots, youth-led organisation aimed at promoting libertarian and classically liberal policies within the Conservative Party. We aim to sway the membership’s opinion further towards free markets and individualist social policies, as well as scrutinising the Conservatives when this might not be the case. We’re also a space for libertarian and classical liberal Conservative members to connect and socialise.
“We injected freedom into the state education sector by empowering academies, which significantly improved pupil outcomes…. We also scrapped Labour’s ID card scheme, something we libertarians will appreciate”
Many of us feel the Conservative Party wasn’t very libertarian over it’s 14years in government. What do you think were the highlights and lowlights of that period?
We agree – whilst we definitely did a better job in government than Labour or the Liberal Democrats would have ever done, mistakes were made. In particular, we often prioritised placating the electorate over implementing the bold, long-term decisions that Britain needed. Low points include a failure to reform planning and build again, the implementation of the Triple Lock, and much of the pandemic – especially the national debt ballooning, government infringements on our civil liberties and instances of corruption and sleaze. But we achieved notable successes in government too. We injected freedom into the state education sector by empowering academies, which significantly improved pupil outcomes. We raised the Personal Allowance for income tax, delivered same-sex marriage, and managed to cut National Insurance Contributions for working families. We also scrapped Labour’s ID card scheme, something we libertarians will appreciate.
What’s surprised you most in the past year of Labour government?
What’s surprised us the most has been the speed at which Labour broke their promises. We all remember how they pledged no new taxes in the run-up to the general election – then almost immediately upon entering government, they had discovered a £22 billion “black hole” and used it to justify £40 billion in higher taxes on the British people. Labour’s taxes on business are decimating our economy. Investment plans have been cancelled and layoffs expanded – so much so that job vacancies have fallen by 5.8% between May and July. The Conservatives must return to government and reverse these disastrous policies, or the British economy will continue to decline.
“Young people don’t want an unaffordable housing market or a higher tax burden due to an exploding national debt – and libertarianism has the solutions”
What would you like to see the Conservative Party focus on now from opposition?
As you may expect, we’d like to see the Conservatives take a much more libertarian direction. We must be bolder on the issue of housing and endorse significant planning reform, and fight Nimbyism within our own party. We also need to be upfront and honest about our entitlements, including pensions, to make those systems much more sustainable. These issues aren’t solely libertarian, they’re also pro-young people. Young people don’t want an unaffordable housing market or a higher tax burden due to an exploding national debt – and libertarianism has the solutions. That’s why the Libertarian Conservatives have received overwhelming support from Young Conservatives across the country.
How can people find out more about your group?
We operate social media accounts on X and Instagram, on which you can keep up to date with what we’re doing. If you’d like to join the Group as a member, we’re open to all Conservative members who share our values and principles. Please feel free to DM @liberty_tories on X or Instagram and we’ll add you to our members community on WhatsApp. We’d love to have you onboard!
We are joined by Mark Johnson, Conservative Councillor for Shirley North in Croydon and Brexiteer. We reminisce about the 2016 Referendum campaign and discuss his experiences as a Croydon councillor.
Bromley Council has recently passed a policy to enshrine free speech in its procedures, code of conduct and constitution. We spoke with the Chairman of the Executive, Resources and Contracts Committee at Bromley Council, Councillor Simon Fawthrop.
“We have seen multiple court cases where employees have been unduly penalised, or Council’s have supressed free speech”
Could you briefly introduce Bromley Council and the borough to our readers?
Bromley Council is the largest borough in Greater London, a mainly suburban borough in the south and east around Chislehurst, Orpington and Biggin Hill and more urban in the North towards Crystal Palace. The Borough has the longest road network in greater London and is about 50% greenbelt land. It is run by the Conservatives and currently solvent!
“Roy Chubby Brown isn’t to everyone’s tastes, for instance, but did the residents of Lancaster really need their council to save them from smutty humour”
Why did Bromley decided to become a Free Speech Council?
Essentially for two reasons, the initial reason was to protect employees from being persecuted for speaking freely, to allow them to whistle-blow without repercussions. We have seen multiple court cases where employees have been unduly penalised, or Council’s have supressed free speech, examples highlighted by the Free Speech Union (FSU) groan with examples of short-sighted intolerance and outright legal error.
Blue comedian Roy Chubby Brown isn’t to everyone’s tastes, for instance, but did the residents of Lancaster really need their council to save them from smutty humour by cancelling his show?
What of Basingstoke and Deane, which investigated an elected councillor under its code of conduct for use of the term ‘year zero’? (It’s allegedly offensive to the victims of Pol Pot, in case you were wondering.)
Was it really wise of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to support its employee’s injunction against citizen journalist Julian Saunders, only for a High Court judge to throw the case out with a reminder that, in this part of the world, journalists are free to speak and write?
And think again about visiting the Yorkshire town of Calderdale if you’re a broad reader – its library squirreled away books by gender-critical authors in a bid to suppress the fashionable heresy that men are men, and women are women.
“it will ultimately allow us to challenge other organisation to have the same high stands that we have when it comes to free speech”
The second reason is that political speech is under increasing pressure to only follow orthodox lines. Original and critical thinking, left field views and challenge are often frowned upon and subject to peer pressure to conform to the orthodoxy. The changes we have and are making, give additional protection to Councillors, recognising that we are representatives of our electorate and that codes of conduct in an HR style put unwarranted constraints on free speech. Why would residents elect someone who is not able to speak up for them? These changes reaffirm those extra freedoms and protect elected representatives, but it goes further, it will ultimately allow us to challenge other organisation to have the same high stands that we have when it comes to free speech.
“allowing employees to whistle-blow and speak freely is important to good governance”
Aren’t councils about potholes, bins, schools, and social services. What makes this something for the council to get involved in?
Yes, Councils are about all of those things and more, but Councils can be innovative and set a good example. Having a policy on licensing or planning or how a Council looks after their employees doesn’t prevent them doing all those other things. More importantly having a policy helps them do those things, allowing employees to whistle-blow and speak freely is important to good governance.
If other authorities want to become Free Speech Councils, where do they start?
If they want, they can contact me and I can give them the Bromley policy to copy, alternatively they can contact the Free Speech Union (FSU) and see if they can be of any assistance. The FSU were tremendous help to Bromley Council in progressing this policy and we couldn’t have done it without their help and guidance. For assistance below are links to copies of our policy and my comments when I introduced the policy at committee.
We are joined by Samuel Kasumu. A former Special Advisor to PM Boris Johnson and 2017 Tory candidate in Croydon North, Samuel was recently in the running to be the Tory candidate to take on Sadiq Khan in next year’s London Mayoral election. Samuel talks to us about his experiences in Downing Street, Tory politics and his recently published book “The Power of the Outsider”.
You can get hold of Samuel’s book Waterstones and Amazon:
YouTube Contents: 00:00 – Intro 01:40 – Conservative Candidate 06:20 – Croydon North & Steve Reed 10:05 – Downing Street Days 14:00 – Mayor of London 25:40 – New Book 31:55 – Website & Events 34:25 – Outro
You can find out more about Samuel on his website and on Twitter.
Did Brexit get done? Time will tell, first impressions suggest it’s not perfect but could be called done.
How do you hope the U.K. will use the new found freedoms? To shrink government interference and regulation in individual lives, leading to economic prosperity and greater individual freedom. I hope we will find a way to make CANZUK happen, or something like it, without giving up sovereignty.
What constitutional reform would you like to see happen next? A written constitution and bill of rights which reduces the power of the state, protects individual rights, reduces the tendency of democracy to become mob rule, and makes government more local and accountable.
What do you think is next for the EU? Continued slide to greater technocracy, more regulation, further loss of voice and liberty for individual citizens, expansionist outlook seeking to control more territory.
“Even “ Rejoiners” will become “ Rejoicers” as they see the real value of UK sovereignty”
Did Brexit get done? Yes at the end of the day we have taken back control of our laws, borders and money, though it is a worry that for some reason the UK/EU Trade Deal did not include 80% of our trade with the EU – financial services. One can only hope there is a good reason for this – but it is vital and a big concern. We inevitably had to make some concessions but even with the fish we will have virtual total control in five and a half years. As our economy booms, politically and practically I believe , the EU will not be able to hold us back by increasing tariffs. Even “ Rejoiners” will become “ Rejoicers” as they see the real value of UK sovereignty, freedom to do our own trade deals and controlling our population numbers to better plan future infrastructure – hospitals, school, transport etc and keep us safe from terrorist attacks.
How do you hope the U.K. will use the new found freedoms? It is not a perfect deal but with the return of sovereignty and democracy we are now in a position to make our own trade deals and boom as an independent entrepreneurial trading nation, outside of the declining undemocratic EU. Already we have made over 60 worldwide trade deals and we have carried out more vaccine injections that the whole of the EU put together. The EU will continue to decline and despite safeguards on tariffs that they have built in, they won’t be able to prevent the UK from booming. This will set an example to other EU sceptic member countries and they will be looking for the exit door too. Especially with the Franco/German push even further towards an EU super state that further diminishes local democracy and accountability.
What constitutional reform would you like to see happen next? Most urgent is Westminster and the role of the Speaker – so clearly not fit for purpose and so abused by Remainer Bercow during the Brexit process. Plus MPs must deliver on the Manifestos on which they were elected – not just choose their own personal approach, and ignoring the wishes of the majority of their constituents when they get to the House. Next important is reforming. reducing , possibly abolishing, the ridiculously huge , undemocratic House of Lords. Finally, new rules on the Honours system to stop cronyism and abuse. You don’t get an honour for just doing your job – e.g. an Ambassador.
What do you think is next for the EU? Very interesting and difficult to predict with Merkel and Macron not likely to be around by the end of the year. With the UK gone the Franco/German axis will try to dominate EU policy. If the UK does well and horrendous EU youth unemployment continues then some of the newer Eastern European members may look for an out or major reform.
“No matter how incompetent Croydon Labour were and how we as an opposition pointed it out, Tony Newman just blamed central government. Too many voters believed him”
Did Brexit get done? Yes, Brexit got done, and better than I had expected. Removing the ECJ from the equation was vital. What is now important is to move on and make the most of it. We have already wasted far too much time bickering.
How do you hope the U.K. will use the new found freedoms? I would start with replacing the Common Agricultural Policy by supporting our farmers to use the land in a more environmentally friendly and productive way. This was the most controversial policy when we joined and one which for me, who voted to stay in in 1975, found the most egregious. Reform was promised because it was so disadvantageous to the UK but it came very slowly indeed because it had been designed as a mechanism to subsidise French farmers. That failure was one of the things that changed my mind about the EU.
What constitutional reform would you like to see happen next? A big problem is local government. That’s something that seems to work better in some other countries. Local people understand better than here which politician is responsible for delivering what and vote accordingly. In the UK the vast majority do not and as a consequence vote on national issues. That is in my opinion a major contributor to the mess that Labour has got us into in Croydon. No matter how incompetent Croydon Labour were and how we as an opposition pointed it out, Tony Newman just blamed central government. Too many voters believed him.
What do you think is next for the EU? I hope they do well but the signs are not good. They are refusing to learn the lessons of Brexit. Their solution to failure is always more EU. Criticism of that line is also very muted. The BBC isn’t the only national broadcaster that follows the EU-can-do-no-wrong line.
“The Brexit debacle proved that MPs, in this case remain leaning MPs , were not to be trusted and voted against the wishes of their voters, that cannot happen again”
Did Brexit get done? Yes, sort of. I think time had come to be pragmatic and move on. Despite the Labour party grudgingly voting for the deal, they are clearly positioning themselves to “improve” the deal which in their terms means weaken it and a Labour government would end in BRINO. The government need to prove the benefits before the 2024 election as we may find much of the good work undone. Leavers should learn the lesson of 2016 in that rather than celebrating the referendum result and taking our foot of the gas we needed to close it out. This isn’t the end of the matter.
How do you think the UK will use its new found freedom? This is an area where the current government and I part ways. They are classic neo liberals and will look to turn us into a global buyer of cheap goods whereas the strategy I favour is to rebuild our industries and positively favour UK produced goods and services, we need to put the needs of our own people first.
What constitutional reform would you like to see happen next? As a Social Democrat this is a big issue for us. The Brexit debacle proved that MPs, in this case remain leaning MPs, were not to be trusted and voted against the wishes of their voters, that cannot happen again. We would introduce proportional representation and abolish the House of Lords whilst we were at it. A personal beef of mine is that if MPs choose to swap parties mid-term then they should be asked to stand at a by-election. Whilst all of the switchers were punished in the 2019 election we had to put up with them for the previous 3 years.
What do you think is next for the EU? Tough to say, I don’t see anything happening quickly but the lack of British money and our steadying influence the differences between North, South and Eastern Europe will become more apparent. I really feel for those countries in the Euro as they are well and truly stuffed, our escape was made easier by not having to worry about currency. Watch youth unemployment in Southern Europe, that can no longer be exported to the UK.
We are joined by Alasdair Stewart, the former Chairman of the Croydon Conservative Federation, for a discussion of Scottish politics. We discuss the SNP Government’s response to Covid, the Highers Results scandal, minimum drinks pricing and the new Scottish Hate Crime Bill. We then consider the new Scottish Tory leader, the demise of the Labour Party and the prospects for the 2021 Holyrood Elections and a potential IndyRef2.
We discuss the reopening of pubs and gyms, the Mini-Budget, Croydon Council job cuts, the Purley Skyscraper and the BBC’s latest antics. We then have an interview with Jayde Edwards, a local Conservative Party activist who stood in the Fairfield ward by-election last November. We chat with Jayde about her campaign, issues affecting young people in Croydon, the Black Lives Matter movement and how she is inspiring more young people to get involved in politics locally.
Looking back what are your thoughts on the treatment you received from real and social media?
You wanted to “inspire young people, I also want to bring something new to Croydon – a new passion and a new energy”. We saw large crowds out to campaign for you. What’s the lasting effect of their politically engagement?
In your campaign you focused on “Westfield and the promise that was given to residents”, and “Knife crime and the lack of opportunities”. What are your views on where we are now on both of these issues?
What are your thoughts on the General election win and the more recently the impact of the lockdown?
Looking at your Twitter, you hold a more nuanced view than many on the Black Lives Matter movement. How do you think we best move forward?
We recently hosted a podcast with people of faith talking about how their faith impacts their politics. How do you feel you faith impacts your political view?
We are joined by Alasdair Stewart, the former Chairman of the Croydon Conservative Federation, as we discuss the media’s reaction to the COVID crisis and in particular their recent treatment of Dominic Cummings.
We also consider the great news about the Nissan plant in Sunderland, Croydon Council’s dire financial position and some recent developments in the 2020 US Presidential campaign.
We then chat with Alasdair about his experiences in politics, his time as the Chairman of the Croydon Conservative Federation and his thoughts on politics in Croydon.
“I’m sure many people in Croydon can remember, the 23% increase in council tax that Croydon Labour had to push through the last time the council’s finances got into this kind of terrible state”
“in Croydon, is that when Labour win control of the council everyone feels they only listen to their voters in the north, that delivered them their seats, and similar complaints are leveled against the Conservatives when they were running the council when they would only focus on the south of the borough. Anything that motives the Elected Mayor to think of the whole borough would be good for local democracy”
Alasdair Stewart Interview
and from his interview:
“I’d seen the damage they had done to Scotland, whether it be the Heath Service, with Education or even with the government’s finances and I was quite frankly terrified of the idea of the SNP propping up a Labour administration in Westminster.”
“How disappointing it is when you’re speaking to people and they say how unhappy they are about how the council might be doing things, but then also say they aren’t going to vote”
“local members were not just incredibly positive for Brexit and wanting to leave, but also a proper Brexit”
“One of Croydon’s problems is the fact it is effectively a two party competition. It is incredibly partisan and entirely divided. With the Conservatives in the south primarily, Labour in the north and everyone fights over the centre”
“When they were in power the Conservatives, the Conservative Croydon administration built more council houses than this administration under Labour”
“We need some more voices for the ordinary British person, we know from recent elections the climate change warriors, and the lefty socialists are not representative of the country as a whole…. I would encourage more normal rational people to get involved, have a voice and share their voice”
John Broadfoot is a familiar face on the campaign trail in Croydon. John has been an active participant in many Conservative campaigns, was a regular campaigner with us during the EU referendum and subsequently delivering Leave Means Leave leaflets. A resident of Shirley, John worked for Shell UK OIL for 33 years and now runs the rugby charity SOS Kit Aid.
John thanks for taking the time to speak with us.
You have campaigned in a number of elections, what first got you involved in political campaigning?
I reached the age of 62 in early 2010 and suddenly realised that I didn’t want to spend my next ten years on this planet under a Labour Govt! Though I am a Capitalist at heart, sometimes I have Socialist Capitalist leanings when I read for example Amazon/Google /Apple are avoiding massive UK taxes. But socialists are always hopeless at running the economy and always run out of money, leaving huge debts/deficits that have to be repaid (Healey/Brown etc). So I decided I ought to play an active part in making sure this didn’t happen and the fact that Croydon Central was a real marginal made it all the more meaningful. I then got really interested in the Westminster bubble and how the world’s oldest democracy really works. Brexit proved that it is not at all fit for purpose when a majority Remainer Parliament can completely disregard the democratic votes of a Leave UK.
Do you have any interesting memories or stories from the campaign trail?
I found canvassing door to door very enjoyable and rewarding. It was very refreshing to see people quite happy to talk about issues though it was also disheartening to see many people not being interested in the future of their country at all. It should be compulsory to vote by law as in Australia.
I also remember being with Gavin Barwell at his by election count in 2015 when it was 5am in the morning, we were on our 5th exciting, nervous, recount , but emerged victorious with a huge majority of….. 165 – then exhaustion took over!!
“As an ardent Brexiteer it amazed me how seemingly intelligent people regardless of party so undervalued/missed the importance of basic democracy – having 100% UK laws made by 100% UK accountable MPs”
What struck you most about the EU Referendum campaign how did it differ from party politics you have been involved in?
As an ardent Brexiteer it amazed me how seemingly intelligent people regardless of party so undervalued/missed the importance of basic democracy – having 100% UK laws made by 100% UK accountable MPs. Remainers were quite happy apparently to have many UK laws made by unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. What happened if an unelected Trump like figure ran the EU – you would be powerless – you cannot remove someone you didn’t vote for. Control of your population numbers is logistical not political. You cannot plan future long-term infrastructure like hospitals, roads, schools etc if you don’t know your future population numbers. With freedom of movement you cannot plan properly because you have no idea of these future numbers. When you build a boat a vital component is knowing how many people it will carry. I could not comprehend how Intelligent people do not realise the importance of democracy and population control – neither of which are political they are basic human rights. One size does not fit all but you can still have very, very close cooperation on the environment, security, sciences, education etc – you don’t need to be married!
What are your hopes now for Brexit?
Providing we get a proper exit and a future trade agreement with the EU, the UK will positively boom outside of the EU – making its own trade deals with the 90% of world trade outside of the declining EU. Democracy will return to the UK ,as the EU becomes increasingly more federal, which will inevitably decline as people on the continent realise that one size does not fit all and that countries like Greece and Germany are just too different to run as one. They will see a democratic UK booming outside of the EU and will want to exit too.
One area we differ on is the threat of Global Warming. As believers in free speech, we want to give you the chance to say what you think the country should be doing now on environmental policy?
The virus will pass and we will be better equipped in the future for sure but the biggest threat to the world without question is global warming – climate change. We need a global approach to climate change but as two of the world’s biggest most powerful countries are dictatorships you will never get a global approach. Plus you have an American President in Trump who is a complete climate change denier. Who will be the first USA President on a four year term telling USA voters that they must switch off their air conditioning and drive smaller cars long term. USA is 3-4% of the world’s population but burn 25% of the world’s energy. Can you imagine when India/China want energy parity ? India would have an additional 200 million cars to match USA ownership. So the UK can only do what is within its control and we are showing world leadership.
“but for SOS all this unwanted kit would end up needlessly in scarce UK/Irish landfill sites. SOS has distributed over £6 million pounds worth of kit to a quarter of a million disadvantaged youngsters in 44 countries around the world”
You set-up your rugby charity following a trip to Romania. What drove you to do this, and can you tell us a bit about the charity?
One half of the world throws away things that the other disadvantaged half wants/needs. SOS Kit Aid collects good condition second hand/new rugby kit no longer wanted by UK schools, rugby clubs, kit manufacturers and other sporting bodies like the RFU/WRU etc. This is because kit is grown out of, sponsors are frequently changed, kit manufacturers have unsold outdated old stock – yet the kit is in great condition and but for SOS all this unwanted kit would end up needlessly in scarce UK/Irish landfill sites. SOS has distributed over £6 million pounds worth of kit to a quarter of a million disadvantaged youngsters in 44 countries around the world. We have saved 250 tonnes of kit being disposed of and we have saved over 750 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions because new kit does not need to be manufactured – our SOS kit replaces it. SOS has proudly won three environmental awards and four social inclusion awards.
What do you see as the future work of SOS KIT AID?
Our SOS blueprint has been tried and tested over 18 years and we know would work for all other sports, plus other items like furniture, cycles, computers, books etc. The International Olympic Committee have recognised this and are considering launching it across all Olympic sports. We estimate over a million pounds worth of rugby kit is thrown away every year – we are still hardly touching the surface!
How can people help out?
Simply by volunteering via our website www.soskitaid.com. If you have commercial storage available free of charge or can offer low cost/free transport -please contact us !
“carry out the promises of their manifesto on which they were elected and not just whatever they fancy once they have been elected – it’s called democracy and the power of the people!”
Lastly we have a fairly new government, one you helped campaign for. What do you hope to see from Boris over the next few years?
Simply organise a successful, exciting, Brexit that enables a free ,democratic, entrepreneurial UK to thrive throughout the world and restore accountability/democracy back to the UK. But also to work incredibly closely with our close European partners. Much reform needed to Westminster – both the House of Lords and the House of Commons – both too dated and currently not fit for purpose. Ensure that MPs know they are delegates who do the bidding of their constituency/party voters , carry out the promises of their manifesto on which they were elected and not just whatever they fancy once they have been elected – it’s called democracy and the power of the people!
