The Wardman Wire

As promised last week I’ve ditched the classification into left & right and decided to break things down slightly differently into three sections - I’ll highlight any formal reports and publications issued, articles / briefings or blogposts from their own sites or in the MSM and finally public events or debates that might be of interest. If there are any significant personnel changes among the major players I’ll highlight those as well.

Reports & Publications…

• The Centre for Policy Studies published a paper by Tony Lodge, ‘Wind Chill’, on the limits of wind power in terms of plugging the UK’ energy gap.
• The Institute of Economic Affairs published ‘Sixty Years On - Who Cares for the NHS’, a fascinating paper on the risks politicians face proposing anything remotely radical about the NHS - “Elite opinion does not, as yet, warm to a free market in healthcare. Although aspects of a market-based system are accepted, ideas of ‘market failure’ loom large - especially amongst the political class. Nevertheless, the author shows how some groups of opinion formers are prepared to be more radical. These groups, she believes, may in time be effective in promoting a vision of a market in healthcare that is free from government interference and from the stifling power of government-granted professional monopolies”
• The IPPR published a paper by Jane Midgley on ‘How the UK should respond to food policy challenges’
• Two publications from the New Local Government Network worth highlighting. The first - “Healthy Places: Bonds that bind local government and primary care trusts” looks at the options for further devolution within the health service and how it could improve service delivery. The second - “Directly Elected, Direct Results” - calls for an expansion in the directly elected mayoral model with powers over local police, transport and health services. (joint venture with the IPPR)

Articles, briefings and blogs…

• A couple of worthwhile things from the Adam Smith Institute - Dr Eamonn Butler reports on the last ASI power lunch with Jeremy Hunt, the Conservatives Culture spokesman where the theme was ‘Policy for the Google Generation’ - “Technology, in other words, can enable us to decentralize public services and empower private or voluntary groups to deliver things better, quicker, and more locally. It enables millions of people to get involved in service delivery, where before it was run by an elite few”
• Senior Fellow at the ASI Dr Terence Kealey had an article in Wednesday’s Telegraph responding to criticisms of British universities made by Peter Williams, chief executive of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).
• On the Civitas Blog James Gubb profiles Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent’s book ‘Licensed to Hug’ - “The dramatic escalation of child protection measures has succeeded in poisoning the relationship between the generations and creating an atmosphere of suspicion that actually increases the risks to children”
• Director General of the IEA John Blundell had a piece in the Scotsman on ‘The simple way to attract more taxpayers and raise more tax revenue’
• Progress carried an unusually upbeat assessment of Labour’s electoral prospects.

Events & Meetings…

• The Adam Smith Institute are hosting a Westminster power lunch with Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, on 8th July. For more information or an invitation, contact Steve at steve@adamsmith.org or on 020 7222 4995
• Demos have a couple of interesting events coming up. On Mon 30th June at Demos they have a panel discussion on ‘Democracy: Crisis & Renewal’ - “In Europe and worldwide, political systems are facing a crisis of disaffection and disengagement. How we deal with this crisis will determine the fate of liberal democratic systems everywhere, and of the European Union in particular”. To attend e-mail seminars@demos.co.uk, with the title ‘Democracy’ and places are limited.
• Also from Demos at Church House in Westminster next Wednesday ‘Is it Time for Tax Justice?’ - an open discussion on justice in the tax system with Polly Toynbee, Peter Hain & Brendan Barber among others. As always space is limited but to attend email mailto:taxjustice@tuc.org.uk or call 020 7467 1204. I wonder how many bloggers who enjoy attacking Polly T from the safety of their keyboards will have the courage to go along to liven things up…?
• The Fabian Society have a round table policy seminar focusing on the big picture health policy themes for the next 30 years - attendees include Geoff Mulgan, Julian LeGrand and Mary Creagh MP. The event will take place at 8.30am on Monday 30th June in the Bazalgette Room at 1 Great George Street - contact Ed.Wallis@fabian-society.org.uk
• The IEA are having a Founders Day Party on Thursday 3rd July - celebrating the lives and accomplishments of the four men who founded and built the IEA: F A Hayek, Sir Antony Fisher, Lord Harris of High Cross and Dr Arthur Seldon CBE. Contact iea@iea.org.uk or 020 7799 8900 for details.
• The IPPR are hosting a seminar entitled “English Questions: Towards a new policy agenda for England.” next Wednesday exploring the key political and constitutional challenges facing England. For more information contact Holly Andrew at h.andrew@ippr.org or phone 020 7470 6129.
• The Policy Exchange is hosting a discussion on the rising cost of living and what the Government can do to address associated problems. It’s on 9th July next door to Clutha house and is chaired by the Times’ Danny Finkelstein, the main speaker is Oliver Letwin - contact events@policyexchange.org.uk for details.

As always please flag anything worthy I might have missed….