Conferences

The Coalition has prioritized its policy of cutting the deficit. The cuts, say protagonists, are necessary to return  growth and confidence to the economy. Critics, however fear that cutting too far and too fast will damage hopes of recovery, and urge higher levels of spending to stimulate growth.

In the last lecture of Politeia’s current series, "How to Cut Public Spending", Professor Tim Congdon* suggested that the emphasis on fiscal policy is misplaced.

American and British experience over the last 30 years shows  that  reductions in the budget deficit have not prompted a withdrawal of demand from the economy. Indeed, cuts in the budget deficit have  been accompanied by above-trend growth in demand and output. He  will also suggest that the widely feared danger of 'a liquidity trap' once money market rates have been reduced to zero is illusory.

* Professor Tim Congdon is founder of International Monetary Research Ltd. He has was a member of the Treasury Panel of Independent Forecasters (the so-called “wise men”) between 1992 and 1997. Professor Congdon’s new book is Money in a Free Society, in which he takes issue with U.S. economists Larry Summers and Paul Krugman. 

As the Coalition proceeds with its policy to close one third of the magistrates’ courts, Politeia’s autumn conference will review the case for closure and whether the policy is sensible. Today magistrates hear 95 per cent of criminal cases with around 30,000 magistrates giving their services voluntarily, as they have for six hundred years.

 

The Ministry of Justice alleges savings (of around £41.5m) and claims the system of justice will be streamlined and modernized.  Critics warn that justice will suffer and costs will rise. The policy of closure will reduce access to justice and bring a bigger state with more officials and higher costs. Besides, it undermines the constitutional principle of an independ­ent judiciary. Who is right, the ministry or its critics?

 

Speaking at Politeia’s autumn conference on Wednesday, 19th October, were:

• Stanley Brodie, QC - author of The Cost to Justice: Government Policy and the Magistrates Courts
• Imran Ahmad, Political Advisor to Andy Slaughter MP - Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister
• Sir Ivan Lawrence, QC - former Chairman, Home Affairs Select Committee (1992-1997)
• John Thornhill - Chairman, The Magistrates’ Association

For many people today, one important role for the armed forces is to support civilian authorities in time of crisis - industrial action, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and high profile international events like the Olympics. Indeed, in the wake of the recent riots, questions have been raised about whether the army should have been called in to keep order. When and how should the armed forces support civil authorities? What can they achieve?

On the evening of Monday, 17th October, Nick Harvey MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, gave Politeia's Autumn Address to discuss these issues.