Freedom vs equality
From Helen Johns
Sir: If David Miliband’s observation that we humans are ‘interdependent’ and co-operate with others to achieve our ends is the ne plus ultra of British political philosophy, then God help us (‘Cameron has substance — but it’s nonsense’, 14 October). He is also wrong to imply that New Labour has neutralised the trade-off between freedom and equality. This trade-off will always exist, because the reduction of inequalities requires the diversion of resources and the limitation of individual freedom of choice.
For example, as a Londoner I enjoy far poorer air quality than a resident of the Isle of Mull. Would the Secretary of State for the Environment argue that this inequality, which exists through neither merit nor need nor desert, should be ‘curtailed’? This would require such a hugely unnecessary, wasteful and dictatorial disruption of people’s lives that, on balance, we live with the inequality.
This is an extreme example, but it illustrates that Mr Miliband is complacent to make claims of an internally consistent resolution to this recurrent dilemma. Furthermore, if the Conservative party does not follow New Labour’s lead into pseudo-intellectualising about ‘superstructures of tactical advantage’ while neglecting to do mundane things like build prisons, it will be to its credit, not its detriment.
Helen Johns London SE1
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