Hmm.
http://news.sky.com/story/sir-jeremy...m-fox-11059514
Those people who voted leave thinking it would deliver lower immigration would be extremely disappointed in the IFT's vision: it's essentially a deregulated, low tax, zero trade barrier economy along the lines of Singapore, and evidently that vision is one shared at the upper echelons of government. Half of Singapore's population are immigrants, their economy relies on free movement of goods, services, capital and labour where possible.
This vision is actually pretty much what you would expect from Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, Daniel Hannan, etc. They are neo-liberal in the extreme. I have no idea what else anyone would've expected them to look for.
That aside it seems abundantly clear that we shouldn't be paying for celebration of the launch of a think tank. Daniel Hannan is not a part of HMG, but is certainly a member of the Conservative Party and a Conservative MEP.
Be interesting to see what happens.
What a fantastic choice we have in the UK. The Tory dog is having its tail wagged by those who want the UK to become Singapore, and they find the EU too socialist, restrictive, etc, the Labour leader wants Brexit because those awful neo-liberal EU types prevent his protectionism and state subsidy plans but seems to be slowly pushed towards a more moderate position.
Schrodinger's European Union. The libertarian-right think it's socialist and protectionist, the authoritarian-left think it's neo-liberal crony capitalist. We were promised Schrodinger's exit from the EU: all things were promised to all people depending on their own desires. The socialist case was made by some, the neo-liberal case by others, with those awful people in the middle that've become pretty much marginalised now in this new era of extremes wanting the UK to leave the political union but continue to pool sovereignty as a part of the EEA.
I'm hoping that the Conservative Party conference gets their internal power struggles sorted so that this process and, indeed, the entire Government, is no longer being run as a proxy war for control of that party and we get a clearer idea of what exactly the plans are. Right now I've no idea as Boris Johnson can't seem to keep it schtum and Liam Fox has a history of mentally masturbating over the idea of deregulation and a bonfire of workers' rights that he's reminded us of with his support for Hannan's think tank while Theresa May, echoed by Phillip Hammond, talks about a less turbulent approach.
I personally would probably benefit from the IFT's approach. Chances are 90%+ of this forum and the country wouldn't. Singapore is wealthy, and for those with means it's an incredible place. It's also horrifically unequal, and the Government have control over many things Hannan et al would leave to the private sector making things potentially worse here.