Politics

The Red Tory debate: day 4

February 12, 2009
Red Toryism: merely an extension of liberalism
Red Toryism: merely an extension of liberalism

The "Red Tory" debate continues today, with David Green, director of Civitas, arguing that Phillip Blond's call for localism represents an outgrowth, rather than a rejection, of classic liberal ideas. Green also accuses Blond of mistaking liberalism for anarchy, and suggests that Blond should revisit the work of great liberal thinkers such as John Locke and Immanuel Kant.

Green's contribution to the debate comes hot on the heels of yesterday's response from Catherine Fieschi, which described "progressive conservatism" as an "ideological con," while earlier retorts from Rupert Darwell and Kieron O'Hara suggested respectively that Blond lacks an understanding of how markets operate and has misread Adam Smith.

Somehow it seems unlikely that the argument will end here....