**
------------------------------------------------------------
* TALKING POINT, WITH MARK LITTLEWOOD
* RISHI'S REALITY CHECK?
* iN THE MEDIA
* THINK TENT 2021
* YOU'RE INVITED

The party conference season has again underscored the vital mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs in our efforts to bring some rational, free market thinking to the public debate.

In terms of public spending, there is an urgent need to communicate the basic concept of a trade off. With the sky high deficit and growing national debt and the economy around its taxable limit, it is disappointing that those who want to spend more in one area are so silent in explaining what savings they’re willing to make in another.

The ending of the temporary £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit is a classic example of this. Those who are arguing that the rise should be rendered permanent don’t seem to be simultaneously advocating for a commensurate reduction in spending on the NHS or education or any other area.

Many of us were in Manchester last week to run a full programme of events in our Think Tent marquee, which we run with the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA). Our aim was to encourage a more free market way of thinking among delegates at the Conservative conference. Topics covered included trade, university education, gambling regulation, the future of the high street and threats to free expression in modern Britain. Queues to attend these debates and discussions often stretched round the block (as you can see here ([link removed]) ) – and there was an enthusiastic reception for policy ideas which transfer powers away from the centralised state and towards the individual.

A real highlight was the opportunity to interview Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor. My opposite number at the TPA, John O’Connell, opened by pressing Rishi on tax, spending and waste. I pressed him on the huge liabilities the state has incurred, the historically large overall size of government spending, and the need to more seriously pursue economic growth through lower taxes and less burdensome regulation. You can watch the whole session here. My own interrogation of the Chancellor begins at 22:30 ([link removed]) .

Returning from Manchester, my abiding thought is that we need to reiterate the free market case continually in digestible and comprehensible language. There are lots of people who broadly agree with a market-led approach to public policy, but we have a vital role in educating and informing them so they have more confidence in spreading the message.

My thanks to all of you who assist us in this crucial task.

Mark Littlewood
Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs

RISHI'S REALITY CHECK?

[link removed]

Rishi takes to the floor... Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his speech to delegates in Manchester on Monday. Ahead of the speech, IEA Director General Mark Littlewood questioned whether the government has a long-term economic plan in his fortnightly column for The Times ([link removed]) .

He noted that “the party needs to decide whether to just manage its way through events from day to day or try to construct a new policy platform”.

Later that day, Mark discussed the government's economic strategy with Steve Baker MP. Steve told Mark, “If we are going to be prosperous and free, we cannot do that by advancing socialism … let’s do capitalism, not socialism.” The event was covered the national press, including in The Telegraph ([link removed]) .

IEA Director of Communications Annabel Denham responded to the Chancellor's speech on BBC Politics Live ([link removed]) .

When asked whether the Conservatives can claim to be the party of low tax, Annabel said, “I'm not even sure the Conservatives are even trying to claim to be the party of low tax anymore”. You can catch up here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

And in her weekly column for The Spectator ([link removed]) , Annabel argued that there is a clear contradiction between the Chancellor's free market rhetoric and the government's constant interference in the labour market.

[link removed]

Round 2... Mark Littlewood's interview with Rishi Sunak was covered across the press, including in The Spectator ([link removed]) . Mark pressed the Chancellor on whether the current size of the state, as a proportion of GDP, was too large. Mr Sunak conceded he would prefer the state to be closer to 20 per cent of GDP rather than the 40 per cent it currently stands at.

The Chancellor's comments were reported by the Guardian ([link removed]) , Guido Fawkes ([link removed]) and the Independent ([link removed]) . You can watch the whole interview back here ([link removed]) .
iN THE MEDIA

[link removed]

High wage economy... Boris Johnson used his keynote speech to announce his plan for a 'low tax, high wage economy', urging businesses to end their reliance on cheap foreign labour.

IEA spokespeople appeared across the media to give their verdict on the plan to boost wages. Mark Littlewood noted that “unnecessarily restricting the supply of labour may lead to wage increases, but these will be passed on in price increases... it will not create a genuinely high-wage economy, merely the illusion of one".

Mark’s comments were quoted in The Times ([link removed]) , Daily Mail ([link removed]) , Sky News ([link removed]) and regional press ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

Following the speech, IEA Director of Communications Annabel Denham, Economics Fellow Julian Jessop and Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon appeared on national television to discuss the Prime Minister's economic strategy – or lack of it.

On Channel 4 News, Annabel argued that higher wages would be reflected in higher prices for consumers, and on BBC Newsnight ([link removed]) , Julian warned that “artificially creating labour shortages isn’t a great way to boost productivity".

Over on GB News ([link removed]) , Christopher argued that it may be difficult to convince British workers to pick up the slack in the labour market, even if pay does increase in jobs such as HGV driving. He also discussed the Prime Minister's 'high wage economy' plan on the Daily Mail podcast ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

Build back never... Long-awaited planning reform was also put on ice in the lead up to the conference. IEA Head of Political Economy Dr Kristian Niemietz argued that the decision to once again cave into pressure from anti-housing NIMBY obstructionists "betrayed a generation". You can read his opinion piece in The Telegraph ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

Off the rails... Transport Secretary Grant Shapps suggested that the second phase of the HS2 project will be abandoned. In a column for The Telegraph ([link removed]) , Mark argued that Mr Shapps should go one step further and scrap the project entirely.

Mark wrote: "The sorry tale of HS2 is not just another predictable story of state projects spiralling upwards. It also shows how centrally planned predictions of the country’s future needs and habits can be rendered swiftly obsolete".
THINK TENT 2021

After last year's virtual proceedings, Think Tent was back this week at Conservative Party Conference with a jam-packed programme of events, covering issues from free speech to free trade, regulation to railways.

Highlights included our exclusive drinks reception on the Sunday night, attended by ministers, journalists, fellow think tankers and other high profile guests, and with a special appearance from the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP.

IEA Head of Media Emily Carver hosted a lively debate on whether university is still worth it, with IEA Head of Education Dr Steve Davies and Chair of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon MP on the panel.

Following the publication of the Free Market Forum's '30 ideas for 2030' ([link removed]) last month, co-chair of the Free Market Forum Greg Smith MP joined the ThinkTent to set out a positive vision for where Britain could be by the end of the decade.

IEA Director General Annabel Denham chaired a discussion on 'a conservative approach to gambling regulation' with IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon and Blackpool South MP Scott Benton on the panel.

Later IEA Director General Mark Littlewood was joined by President of the CBI Lord Bilimoria, Public Affairs Director for Pernod Ricard Anishka Jelicich, Australian High Commissioner to the UK The Hon George Brandis, and Shanker Singham, CEO of Competere to discuss what the UK's strategic and trade tilt toward the Indo-Pacific means for business.

Our marquee has become a staple of the fringe scene at Conservative Party Conference. Here's what a couple of our audience members had to say:

“Think Tent is definitely my spiritual home at conference. The best and most entertaining events."

“Mark did a fantastic job with putting some difficult but important questions to Rishi, backed up with insight and analysis that you simply won't see on mainstream news interviews."

All of our events were recorded and will be available to watch on the IEA YouTube channel ([link removed]) in the coming days and weeks. Our full Think Tent schedule is available here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

You can also listen to a round-up of both the Labour and Conservative party conferences on the IEA podcast this week, with host IEA Communications and Marketing Assistant Kieran Neild-Ali, IEA Chief Operating Officer Andy Mayer and Duncan Simpson, Research Director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Listen here ([link removed]) .
IEA PATREON

Thank you to all of you who have already signed up to become an IEA Online Patron. Becoming a Patron grants you VIP access to our latest videos, priority invites to our virtual events, and the opportunity to engage directly with IEA Director General Mark Littlewood and the IEA team. For just a small donation you can get all these benefits and more.

[link removed]

To visit the page and find out more about the IEA’s Patreon, follow the link here ([link removed]) or watch our trailer here ([link removed]) .
YOU'RE INVITED

[link removed]

*IEA Book Launch with Dr Jamie Whyte

At 6pm tomorrow, Monday 11th October, the IEA Book Club ([link removed]) will host a launch event for our latest book. 'Why Free Speech Matters' is authored by IEA Fellow Dr Jamie Whyte, and has been published as part of the IEA’s Cultural Affairs programme. The event will be chaired by Mark Littlewood, and the book will be available to download on the Publications page ([link removed]) of our website tomorrow.

In his book, Jamie explores the importance of – as well as contemporary threats to – free speech. He also issues a rallying cry to those who care about free speech to come to its defence.

IEA Book Club events are usually reserved for members, but we will be opening this launch event to the public. To register, please contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call 020 7799 8906. To find out more about the IEA Book Club, please follow the link here ([link removed]) .

On Thursday 14th October, from 12:30-1.30pm (Central European Summer Time), EPICENTER and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation will be hosting a webinar: Liberalising Europe by raising the barriers to trade to mark the launch of the EPICENTER's new Discussion Paper on attitudes towards free trade in Southern Europe.

The event will be hosted by EPICENTER Director Adam Bartha, with panellists: Piotr Rydzkowski, Head of the Policy Unit in DG Trade at the European Commission; Carlo Stagnaro, Research Director at Insituto Bruno Leoni (Italy); Constantinos Saravakos, Senior Researcher at KEFiM (Greece); and Antonio O'Mullony, Senior Researcher at Civismo (Spain)

For more information and to register, click here ([link removed]) .

[link removed]

The University of Buckingham is running a course on international trade with the Initiative for Free Trade, which is led by Lord Daniel Hannan. The course also acts as a taster course for the forthcoming Masters-level programme in Professional Studies in International Trade at the University. Online attendance is free. The event will take place on 13th October. You can sign up here ([link removed]) .

============================================================

With a little help from our friends....
** ([link removed])

As an educational charity, the work we do is entirely funded by donations. If you are able to help please click ** here ([link removed])
or contact ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?body=Dear%20Angela%2C)
. Thank you.

And why not get Amazon to donate too?

All you have to do is to start shopping on ** [link removed] ([link removed])
and pick the Institute of Economic Affairs Limited as your chosen charity. The IEA will then receive 0.5% of your spending on most items. Everything else remains the same (and at no additional cost to you).
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])

You are receiving this email from the Institute of Economic Affairs
** Unsubscribe ([link removed])
from this list.

© 2021 Institute of Economic Affairs
Institute of Economic Affairs 2 Lord North Street London, London SW1P 3LB United Kingdom

Registered in England 755502, Charity No. CC/235 351, Limited by Guarantee

** Forward ([link removed])
this email to a friend

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Institute of Economic Affairs . 2 Lord North Street . London, London SW1P 3LB . United Kingdom