en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/8644952 Comments by Nick_Hughes https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/04/alex-morton-conservatives-and-liberals-share-a-new-opponent-progressive-authoritarians.html#IDComment1061090461 I'm not confused at all...you have a polemical viewpoint there but modern, and even traditional, conservatism has always put pragmatism at its core. It's not just about complete free market capitalism (otherwise that would put conservatism in the realm of objectivism) and it never has been. Even under Thatcher Conservatism was allied to pragmatism, national identity and tradition. Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:40:48 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/04/alex-morton-conservatives-and-liberals-share-a-new-opponent-progressive-authoritarians.html#IDComment1061090461 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/04/alex-morton-conservatives-and-liberals-share-a-new-opponent-progressive-authoritarians.html#IDComment1061086485 Great piece. If you're an active Conservative party member you should be aware that there are growing numbers of old-style liberals who are fed up with progressive authoritarians and would be invaluable allies in both elections and in helping the party in the years ahead. People who would have once voted for Blair but who now see his ruined legacy as the beginning of the downward trend to nanny state intervention in everyday lives. What are we doing even pandering to the authoritarian Left? Why are we buying into the gender fluid theory nonsense? Why are we banning libertarian Canadians from entering the UK? Why is Mark Meechan a) being prosecuted for a sick joke and b) any enquiry to Conservative MPs on this issue come with the reply "we uphold the right to freedom of speech BUT......blah, blah, blah, hate speech". Democratic and classical liberal values are being undermined and the Conservatives are holding the remains. Labour never wanted it, the LibDems have turned their backs on it and only Conservatives are capable of preserving it but will we? If the Conservatives take a stand on free speech, defend it and stand firm against those in the media and academia who will sling insults at them then the support and votes will follow in greater numbers. Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:33:44 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/04/alex-morton-conservatives-and-liberals-share-a-new-opponent-progressive-authoritarians.html#IDComment1061086485 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2018/04/watch-atkins-we-want-to-stop-the-assumption-that-its-normal-to-carry-a-knife.html#IDComment1060706551 Now there's talk of banning the sale of knives. Bans...this is straight out of the New Labour playbook. We already have laws against the carrying of knives, what's the point of banning sales? Why are Conservatives going down the path of illiberalism, where the innocent are blamed for something they might do in the future? We saw this with handguns in the late 90s, where law abiding sports shooters got shafted. The crime is in the act not with the object. I wish the Conservatives would stop trying to emulate the more illiberal aspects of Labour under Blair and Brown. Mon, 9 Apr 2018 23:39:47 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2018/04/watch-atkins-we-want-to-stop-the-assumption-that-its-normal-to-carry-a-knife.html#IDComment1060706551 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2018/03/euan-trower-we-should-become-the-party-of-responsibility.html#IDComment1059917850 When I say libertarian I am using her description of herself. And anyway, please cite examples of her being alt-right. Considering she's declared she's not alt-right the burden of proof that she is one rests with you. You also have some other facts wrong: Tommy Robinson is not in the EDL anymore, he disassociated from them some years ago, has since worked with the Quilliam Foundation and even Douglas Murray, who has interviewed him a number of times, has said Robinson is not a fascist. So is Douglas Murray alt-right? Besides, even if they were that does not mean it is right to ban them from entering this country and talking. If Lauren Southern wants to meet Tommy Robinson at a private venue to conduct an interview then why should that be illegal? What crime is being committed? You seem to be someone who would criminalise opinions and is quick to throw insults without arguments to back them up. That is the hallmark of someone who hasn't got the courage of their convictions nor strong enough arguments to counter their views. Tue, 20 Mar 2018 19:31:48 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2018/03/euan-trower-we-should-become-the-party-of-responsibility.html#IDComment1059917850 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2018/03/euan-trower-we-should-become-the-party-of-responsibility.html#IDComment1059910786 This is a good article and welcome in light of three things that happened in the UK this week: First, the UK banned entry to a Canadian Libertarian commentator. The kind of person who would be good to have speak at a British campus, even if you didn't agree with her. Then, Sadiq Khan made a video about how tech companies and social media outlets should take more responsibility to censor nasty comments. He equated a comment about an unflattering comparison with Jose Mourinho with a death threat. And today a Scottish YouTuber has been jailed for making a crass joke about a dog doing a Nazi salute. All these things happened on our watch. We have to assert boldly that we are the party of free speech, of classical liberalism, personal responsibility and the protectors of individual rights because no other party will do that. Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:44:05 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2018/03/euan-trower-we-should-become-the-party-of-responsibility.html#IDComment1059910786 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/03/james-frayne-national-security-isnt-a-priority-for-most-voters-but-heres-why-it-could-matter-at-the-next-election.html#IDComment1059910475 The reason for emphasising security and sovereignty is that it helps define what it is that differentiates us from Putin's Russia. What values do we cherish that they don't that we feel we should protect? Unfortunately, there are cases where it's hard to tell the dividing line between the UK and Russia. This week, the UK have barred entrance into the country to a Canadian Libertarian political commentator and have jailed a Scottish YouTuber for a crass Nazi joke. Meanwhile, the Mayor of London calls for more restrictions on social media. So how does that help delineate between us and Putin's Russia? Liberalism, in the classic sense; the ideas of Burke, Locke, Paine and countless others has been left in Conservative hands. Labour never wanted it, the LibDems abandoned it and the other parties don't care for it. Only Conservatives are capable of keeping the ideas of freedom, liberty, personal choice and responsibility alive in this country. And what are we doing about it? Pandering to the Socialists. May sees too much with a security lens: Anti-Hate speech policies were bequeathed to us by Blair's Labour and she seems to think that they're useful to stop radical Islamists or Fascists but now they're being used by the police and courts to go after people with opinions and rude jokes. The government must abandon widening "hate speech" laws now and stick up for free speech because heaven help us if any other party becomes a government: It'll only get worse. Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:32:58 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2018/03/james-frayne-national-security-isnt-a-priority-for-most-voters-but-heres-why-it-could-matter-at-the-next-election.html#IDComment1059910475 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024678802 Not the same thing at all. The Conservative party had to modernise on a number of points; change is not always a bad thing. I would add that as the Conservatives were modernising they would answer why they were doing such a thing. Remain did not refer to Federalism or the Euro crisis at all. It was a wall of silence. Sat, 25 Jun 2016 20:29:05 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024678802 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024594632 What I found really distasteful was his comment that "victory has been achieved without a single bullet being fired". Stay classy, Nigel. Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:07:01 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024594632 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024572713 Your last phrase is precisely what cost Remain the vote. You treat the electorate with contempt, you deserve to be defeated. Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:19:04 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024572713 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024572460 Let's not heap too much praise on Nigel Farage. He didn't become a leading voice in the campaign until his silly boat stunt on the Thames which he followed up with that daft poster. As usual, he let others debate the nitty gritty and intellectual points and he's swanned in at the last phase of the campaign. His little speech this morning wasn't brilliant. He paid tribute to the "decent voters" who voted to leave forgetting that Remain has decent voters as well. Farage, UKIP and myself may have voted the same way; but he's still a wally who's full of wind. Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:15:02 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024572460 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024567075 I don't think Leave ran a particularly good campaign. They spent far too much time arguing the economic points with Remain, a fight on their weakest area. But Remain ran a shockingly bad campaign by comparison. From the top right down to the social media loudmouths. Even today the Remainers are complaining about "stupid racist voters" and that just goes to show how out of touch they were. I began this campaign as a cautious Remainer. I could see the economic benefits of the EU but I also had many concerns about Federalism, the anti-democratic structure of the EU and the complete lack of competence they show in dealing with crises. I put these concerns to the Remain camp; I spoke with official Remain campaigners as well as friends who were posting a lot of social media about the referendum in favour of Remain and no one, not one single person allied to Remain would address these issues. Instead, there was a steady stream of insults fired off at potential leave supporters calling them racists and stupid, there was a parade of millionaires and financial experts who just trotted out a fair-weather view of the EU without acknowledging the Euro crisis, the imposition of unelected governments in Greece and Italy and the rising unemployment in the Mediterranean states and finally there was no mention of the 5 President's Report or the aim of complete unity by 2025. I don't think I was lured to vote Leave as much as I was pushed away by Remain. I suspect many thought the same way as well. I also think Juncker probably added 100,000 votes for Leave by openly displaying his intransigence and contempt for the public. People are worried about uncontrolled migration so what does he do? Open up the Schengen area to Turkey. On the eve of the referendum vote, he says "no negotiations, no re-negotiations and no reforms". If anyone should resign, it should be him and not the Prime Minister. Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:53:42 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/boris-gove-and-above-all-cummings-the-foundations-of-vote-leaves-victory.html#IDComment1024567075 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006359248 There's a thin line between putting the counter argument across and trolling. Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:06:32 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006359248 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006279995 The UK is far too keen on banning things: Things we fear, things we distrust, things we don't like. In the case of Islamist extremist preachers or neo-Nazi leaders it's because they have records in inciting violence. They advocate using violence towards certain groups and going against the law to carry out violence. Trump, on the other hand, isn't telling people to go out and kill or hurt Moslems, or Mexicans. He wants a ban on them entering the USA. The only amount of violence that would come about from a visit to the UK by him is people wanting to attack him for his views. As extreme, repellent and unworkable his views are, he won't get on a podium and tell people to go out and kill minorities. I don't think what he's said is just cause for a ban on him entering the UK. Besides, the best way to challenge his views is not to ban him, it's to debate and put up a better argument than his. Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:57:08 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006279995 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006279522 Why are you here? Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:51:04 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2015/12/freedoms-trump-card.html#IDComment1006279522 http://www.conservativehome.com/video/2015/12/watch-trumps-call-for-a-total-shutdown-of-muslims-entering-the-united-states.html#IDComment1006087424 I used to do sports target shooting plus some living history and re-enactment. Those were two reasonable reasons for having a firearms permit and to pursue shooting as a hobby. Then the 1997 legislation was passed and I was labelled a "gun nutter" by people who were, largely, ignorant of sports shooting. It's not swaggering, it's more akin to a sports and leisure pastime like archery but with a different weapon. I resent the implication that anyone who owned a firearm somehow wants to "swagger around" with it. The law was very strict about where and how you could use firearms, they had to be stored in very secure strongboxes, you'd get periodic checks from the police and where I was the shooting community were law abiding and responsible citizens. Tue, 8 Dec 2015 17:24:15 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/video/2015/12/watch-trumps-call-for-a-total-shutdown-of-muslims-entering-the-united-states.html#IDComment1006087424 http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2015/12/my-evening-with-mcdonnell-and-momentum-and-yes-its-all-about-deselections.html#IDComment1006003015 Don't feed the troll Mon, 7 Dec 2015 20:38:04 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2015/12/my-evening-with-mcdonnell-and-momentum-and-yes-its-all-about-deselections.html#IDComment1006003015 http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2015/12/corbyns-seven-serious-errors-of-leadership.html#IDComment1005507436 What about his inability to understand what a cabinet, in his case a shadow cabinet, is for? He's a party leader but he doesn't lead. He makes pronouncements, he goes behind his cabinet's backs, he retreats to his long term safe havens (union meetings, fringe groups, left wing youth) to make major announcements without having to bother with his colleagues who all have briefs and tasks to do. Consequently, they don't know what tasks they should be doing as they're likely to find out what their leader wants from watching the news. He's an outsider, a perpetual malcontent. Always was, always will be. He's spent years being out of kilter with his Labour colleagues and now has to lead them. He's incapable of leadership, because he's never had to exercise leadership skills before. He has his "principles" and he expects everyone in Labour to abide by them, instead of recognising, understanding and working with people who don't share all of them. So he's done the only thing he can do: Surround himself with like minded people, build up a fanbase that isn't bothered by things such as voter accountability, get his young, left and stupid fanbase to denounce anyone who disagrees with him and allow a completely unaccountable group to police his party. He's hoping social media will cause a drip, drip, drip effect on bombing, ISIS, Syria, Trident, anti-austerity, punitive taxation to get average voters to side with him. It won't work; his 1 million anti-capitalist protesters are about as good as it's going to get for him. Wed, 2 Dec 2015 10:06:48 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2015/12/corbyns-seven-serious-errors-of-leadership.html#IDComment1005507436 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/11/dan-pitt-whats-at-the-core-of-conservatism-markets-aspiration-opportunity-no-at-its-beating-heart-is-love-love-love.html#IDComment1003753656 Well...it's often hard to find the love on a Conservative Home comments section. It's a shame people can't see past either Mr Pitt's moustache or the word "love". This chimes with something Boris Johnson said during his most recent conference speech: The left seek to divide and have targets of hate. Conservatism is more about building on the positives and praising the ties that bind us as a nation. For the Left to work, they need an enemy to rail against. Marxism, Communism and even the Labour movement were born out of being against the system, society as it stood and against the individual. It may think it's being progressive, compassionate and fair but in the end it's always about bringing something down, controlling it and cutting the tall poppies down so to speak. Mr Pitts has put forward the point that Conservatism is about loving the things that make life important. What does Labour and the Left love? At best they seek a kind of fairness, which isn't fair to some. Sun, 15 Nov 2015 22:55:14 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/11/dan-pitt-whats-at-the-core-of-conservatism-markets-aspiration-opportunity-no-at-its-beating-heart-is-love-love-love.html#IDComment1003753656 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/10/kate-andrews-sunday-trading-restrictions-are-arbitrary-harmful-to-employees-and-unfair-to-consumers.html#IDComment1000707071 Absolutely. Kate Andrews' points are all easily rebutted. For every consumer who finds 6 hours on a Sunday not long enough to go shopping, there's someone who has to provide them with a service. That person might be giving up precious family time because the pressure is on to go to work to satisfy the need to shop. We have internet shopping, we have late night mid-week shopping, Saturdays and 6 hours on a Sunday if you need a big retail store. That's plenty of time and opportunity. What Kate Andrews and people here who agree with her have failed to mention, or understand, is that the biggest money earners on weekends and Sundays is the leisure industry; whether that is entertainment, sport, heritage, catering and recreation. Those industries count on increased business that comes when a large section of the workforce, and in particular families, have a shared day or two off. Ms Andrews talks about the benefits of one parent being at work and the other looking after the children. Surely having both parents for one day out of the week is better? And what good is it having a weekday off if your partner's at work and your children are at school? I've been asking this question all week of those who want to make Sunday just like any other shopping day and no one's been able to answer it: What shopping trip do you need that takes longer than 6 hours? Why muck up the system we have now for some woolly theory about the "freedom" of trading hours? Thu, 22 Oct 2015 21:59:13 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/10/kate-andrews-sunday-trading-restrictions-are-arbitrary-harmful-to-employees-and-unfair-to-consumers.html#IDComment1000707071 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/10/david-burrowes-mp-why-sunday-is-still-worth-keeping-special.html#IDComment1000326026 Has anyone here come up with any decent reason why shopping on Sunday should be all day other than some notion of "freedom" (which is only freedom for some)? I mean, has anyone come up with statistics that show how it would improve the economy or society in general? No. I didn't think so. Call me when you can provide data and show how it would lead to better lives all round. But if you talk about some freedom principle then count me out because it isn't really freedom. Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:55:18 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/10/david-burrowes-mp-why-sunday-is-still-worth-keeping-special.html#IDComment1000326026