One man's conversion
Sir: Like Patrick Cosgrave (16 April), I have enjoyed discussing the ideas of the 'new' Right with John Grigg over the lunch table. However, it is disappointing to see Grigg setting up an Aunt Sally for easy demolition. 'Economic liberalism' may be the philosophy to which many Conservatives have returned for guidance. But their approach is not particularly dogmatic and free trade is certainly not a very obvious part of the creed.
Grigg has the advantage over your readers in that he has seen the book which he cites, which has only been published in the United States so far. But if a lot of Conservatives are now re-reading their Hayek and Friedman and even their Adam Smith, it is because those great men warned where we were going and we did not listen. We now believe that the post-war consensus (call it socialist or collectivist or Butskellite or what you will) has run its course.
Politicians and civil servants cannot outguess the market, not in a democratic trad ing nation anyway. So they must be pre pared to show a greater degree of humility in future. Industrial enterprises may not be any great shakes at forecasting and plan ning, either. But at least they are quick to learn from their mistakes and cannot (until they achieve lame duck rescue status) appeal to the public purse. One has a nasty suspicion that modern governments, on the other hand, prefer to reinforce failure.
Grigg says politics does not constitute a religion. But without any ideology, politics becomes a crude demand for power for its own sake. In those circumstances, civil servants probably could run the country better than the politicians.
What exactly are the criteria by which John Grigg's 'next Tory government' would attempt all the worthy, aims which he out lines? He appears to rule out any reliance on theory does he then believe that Tory ministers are always men of ability and good will, able to steer the ship of state without any concept of where they are going?
Neville Beale Flat 48, Chelsea Towers, Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3
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