Douglas Carswell's Blog

An idea to fix broken Britain

Government departments are being scoured for answers. Instructions have gone out across Whitehall for ministers to come up with solutions to mend our "broken society".

No doubt meetings will be held. Memos drafted. Action urged. We'll be told that more public officials need to perform yet more vital tasks at ever greater public expense.

So here's an alternative idea for any Sir Humphrey's who might happen to be reading this blog: do less.

After half a century of interventionist government, perhaps it is what you're doing, rather what you aren't doing, that's the problem?

Take a look at all those meddle some things you do at public expense - and see if you can stop doing some of it.

Let folk have more control over what they do and how they do it. Let them keep more of their money. Leave them to decide stuff for themselves - even if it might be bad for them.

If you quit infantilising society, more people will take responsibility and behave as adults. Give folk responsibility, and they'll behave responsibly.

This radical idea doesn't need more taxpayer money - and unlike all those other headline grabbing initiatives and kooky fads Whitehall likes to come up with, it'll work.

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