Videos

One Minute Fox

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox has created a series of "One Minute Fox" videos, covering a range of topical subjects.

Liam Fox is the Conservative Member of Parliament for North Somerset and was the Secretary of State for Defence 2010-2011.
Visit his website LiamFox.co.uk or follow him on twitter @LiamFoxMP

Back Zac

London is one of the most important cities in the world and who the people of London choose to be their Mayor sends a signal about how London sees itself and its ambitions for the future.
A successful mayor needs to be able to work with government for the benefit of all Londoners. Zac Goldsmith is a man of integrity and decency who understands what needs to be done to fix London’s housing crisis, improve the capacity and reliability of the transport system and to make London’s streets safer.
These things matter, not just for those who live in the city, but the millions of visitors that it attracts every year.
For a Mayor who can produce real results and speak for all of London, back Zac.

The Give Us Time Charity

When our service personnel are deployed overseas it is often their families who take the real strain. That is why I founded the charity give us time – to give something back to those service families who sacrifice so much.
The charity provides them with family holidays to places like this – the mountain resort of Bansko. We have been able to help hundreds to enjoy holidays from Cornwall to the Canaries and beyond.
The idea is simple. If you have a timeshare or a holiday home or a second home give us the weeks you are not using and we will put them to good use for those who deserve our thanks and support. Give us time. It couldn’t be easier or more rewarding. Find out more about us at Giveustime.co.uk and see what you can do to help.

What Do Stop the War Really Want?

Stop the War want the international community to
cease military activity against ISIS in Syria. Presumably,
they believe that they are not a threat to innocent
civilians in the region or beyond. None of us want to
see unnecessary conflict but let’s remind them of a few
home truths. ISIS are a violent bunch of murderous
fanatics who claim it is their duty to kill anyone who
does not agree with their hard line religious views.
They will kill other Moslems, Christians, Jews, or those
of any other religion they disagree with. We have seen
the proof of their intent on the beaches of Tunisia, in
the screams of the Jordanian pilot burned alive in a
cage and in the murder of an old man whose only
crime was to tend the archaeological site at Palmira.
Why don’t we see Stop the War’s anti-beheading
marches, their anti-mass rape marches or their anti-crucifixion marches? Why no anti-Isis campaign? Is it
because their values are twisted or is it just because
they are more anti-West at heart than anything else. What do they really want to stop?

The ISIS Challenge

The extended reach of Isis, as well as their regional activities, represents a huge international security challenge.
The aim has been to degrade and contain Isis, but clearly they are not contained.
We need to attack them on multiple fronts. We need to cut off their sources of funding. We need to counter their propaganda with a positive narrative about our values – and we have to take action against Isis bases in Syria. It is both militarily absurd and embarrassing for the U.K.’s allies to be carrying out this activity without us.
But we must be realistic, no military conflict is ever won from the air alone. We may still require an international coalition on the ground, similar to that which forced Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait – and it will all need to be done in parallel with a diplomatic effort to get a common front against a group which is an affront to civilisation.

The Poisonous Recipe For Jihadism

To know what to do about ISIS you first have to understand Jihadism and it's poisonous mindset. Islamic Jihad is part religious fundamentalism, and part violent anti-western political ideology. The recipe for it goes like this, first take an extreme version of the religion, the most rigid, the most hard-line, the most inflexible. Then dehumanize your opponents, remember that the enemy is not only non-Muslims but Muslims who don't agree with your specific version of the religion. They are heretics, they are apostates and you must get rid of them. Next understand that this is God's work, it is his divine will to see the killing of his enemies; and then understand that are you are God's instrument, you have been chosen for this work and you will be rewarded for carrying it out. Accept no borders, in fact don't accept any international law or agreement what so ever. Use all means necessary to carry out your task, including the indiscriminate use of violence, and if necessary the slaughter of the innocent. We have seen too much of this Jihad in recent times, we must remember that these people hate us not because of what we do, but because of who we are, what we stand for, our history and our values. When we grasp that we will get a beginning of understanding of what to do about the problem.

Putin and Syria

Russia’s military build-up and increased presence in Syria seems to have taken some western commentators by surprise, but it shouldn’t have, because Putin has a clear track record of acting decisively if he believes the West is weak or lacks a coherent strategy. It’s true that Russia is concerned about the rise of Islamist fundamentalism and the effect it might have on his own security but there are other Russian reasons for the actions in Syria. The first is to distract attention from Ukraine where Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and continued aggression against its neighbour has attracted punitive sanctions. The second is to support his long term regional ally President Assad, who has allowed Russia to build a large Mediterranean naval base at Tartus. And you can bet that it won’t only be ISIS targets that Russia hits, but all of Assad’s enemies in the Syrian civil war. The third reason is to contrast Russian resolve with the lack of strategic direction in the West especially the United States. Russia actions and their presence in Syria will not end anytime soon, and they’re unlikely to end well.

English Votes For English Laws

Scottish devolution left us with an imbalanced constitution. At the moment, Scottish MPs are able to vote on issues affecting English constituencies that are devolved in Scotland.

Not only can English MPs not vote on those issues affecting Scotland, but neither can the Scottish MPs because it is the domain of the Scottish Parliament. This is absurd and undemocratic. This settlement needs to be rebalanced. English votes for English laws is a way of achieving this. A majority of English MPs will be required in future for any law that affects only England. The union has always been an asymmetrical one and England will probably have to accept an element of that if it is to continue. It is time, however, for a constitution that is fair to English voters. In a union based on consensus, that matters.

Access to Justice

This year we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. One of the elements at its heart is the concept of access to justice. Not just for the wealthy but for all. Access to justice is what underpins a society that is democratic and equitable.
Without access to justice, people cannot properly exercise their rights or to hold those in authority to account. They cannot challenge wrongdoing or discrimination.
That is why it was so welcome to hear the Justice Secretary talking about the need for reform. The lives of too many people are put on hold by a failing system with too many delays and obstacles. It’s time for a justice and courts system fit for the Britain of the 21st century.

The Threats to the British Economy Part 2

There are threats to Britain’s economy that we can do little about. The global economy is slowing down, largely due to the reduction in the Chinese rate of growth, which is now at its lowest level in more than 20 years. We also face the risk of the continuing crisis in the Eurozone, an important export market, which refuses to face up to the adherent instability in the single currency. But our biggest risk, and the one we can do something about, is the election of a Labour government. Labour have learned nothing since delivering their great recession. They would spend more, tax more and borrow more from the next generation. Leopards do not change their spots and socialist do not change their economics. We must not trust them with our economy again.

The Threats to the British Economy Part 1

This government set itself a mission to get people off the dole queues left by Labour in their great recession. It set out to get people out of welfare dependency and into the world of work. We have been spectacularly successful in doing this, and have created 1.8 5 million jobs over the past five years, on average, 1000 jobs a day. This is the envy of most Western economies and something our European partners can only dream of. It is an achievement of truly historic proportions, unprecedented in its scale since World War II. Low inflation, low interest rates and low mortgage rates are generating real increases in the standard of living. These achievements are a hard won and must be protected.

Rising Tides

When I wrote 'Rising Tides' I wanted to really explore the complex nature of globalisation and how we are much more interdependent and interconnected than we have ever been in the past. I wanted to write how we had to change our thinking, to deal with the opportunities and the threats that globalisation brings. How the different risks of failing states , of transnational terrorism, of the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism, global financial imbalances and the competition for commodities all affect our stability.
I wanted to provide some context and some history to the story; so for example I'm not sure how many people in London know that the first attack on the London Underground was way back in 1883 by an Irish nationalist called William Lomansley. Or how the fact that in the world we live in today 48% of all the people alive on our planet get their drinking water from a river that arises from the Tibetan Plateau, which explains why of course China is so interested in Tibet. I didn't want to write for experts, but I wanted to write in a way that people found more accessible. people have said to me "well its not really what we expected you to write."
On balance I think I'll take that as a compliment.

Defence Budget - The First Duty of Government

The defence of the country and its people is the first duty of government. It is not a discretionary function whose scale should be determined by the relative popularity of demands for spending in other areas. We live in a dangerous world. We have seen the rise of Isis and their barbarity, the extent of transnational terrorism and the emergence of an aggressive and expansionist Russia. In defence, we often have to plan and spend for things that we hope that we will never need to use but where we would be in danger if we did not. Sadly, history teaches us that if you want peace, you need to be prepared for conflict.

No Public Funds For Political Parties

I can think of three reasons why we shouldn’t have public funding of political parties.
The first is that we need less, not more, public spending. We are still spending more than the government raises in taxes. We need to reduce our deficit and start paying off our debts.
Secondly, even if we had the money there are better priorities such as defence, health care or education.
Thirdly, in a free democracy, taxpayers should not be asked to support political parties, who, if they had sufficient support should be able to fund their own campaigning. Here’s a real case for a free market.

Russia's Lessons

The understandable desire to see Russia develop as a positive global player has allowed wishful thinking to take the place of critical analysis on far too many occasions.

Putin watched the reaction of the West while he bullied Ukraine over Russian gas and he saw that we did nothing. He sent his troops into Georgia. Again we did nothing. Russia launched a major cyber attack on Estonia, a NATO member, and still we did not act. So, when the Russian-backed Assad regime used chemical weapons against its own people, and President Obama’s ‘red lines’ over Syria evaporated overnight, Putin drew the obvious conclusions.

Appeasement has poor track record. We would do very well to remember that.

Let's Call Treason By Its Real Name

We're constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats; especially organised crime, pedophilia and terrorism. For our intelligence services to operate effectively, and to protect us from these threats they need to be able to do things in secret. Secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our national interests.
When Edward Snowden stole files and took them to China and then Russia, some 58,000 files came from GCHQ. Information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain over the last decade and longer. It was not freedom fighting.
We should treason by It's name. And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions.

Weaponising the NHS is Disgusting

Ed Miliband's comment that he intends to "weaponise" the NHS is hugely instructive. Never before has a Labour leader had the nerve or stupidity to make such a claim.
There was no semblance, not even a hint about caring for patients, or getting the best health outcomes for the country.
I trained as a doctor in the NHS, and worked both as a hospital doctor and a GP in different parts of the country with very different patient populations. I did so because I believe medicine is an important vocation. the same thing that drives numerous doctors, nurses and other health workers today.
Labour does not own the NHS, and the views of Miliband will disgust and demoralise the many health professionals who do not regard themselves as being part of a party political battle, but who work hard for the benefit of those in their care.

Our Security - Everyone's Responsibility

In dealing with the threats of extremists, we must understand the value of intelligence and the increased opportunities that the Internet, social media and other elements of the information technology revolution can bring the terrorists.
In 1993, there were only 130 websites in the world. By the end of 2012 there were 654 million – a lot of haystacks in which terrorist needles can hide. It would be easy for policymakers if there was one Internet for the terrorists and one for the rest of us, but it is simply not the case. That is why our security services need to be given access to the data they need to help keep us safe.

After Paris

The recent brutal killings of journalists in Paris has shown the world the true face of the Islamist extremists. uncompromising, vicious, violent and repressive. For them the act of drawing a cartoon they dislike is sufficient excuse for slaughter. The demonstrations of international solidarity in Paris were I think a tonic to the cynicism of our time. Freedom of expression must be resolutely defended , if we are to be able to live in a genuinely free societies. But the right to free expression comes with its own responsibilities. Tolerance, restraint and respect towards others, are all elements of a society that's not just a free one, but a civilised one. And that is always worth remebering.

Mental Health

One in three of us will come into contact with mental health problems in our lifetime, either personally or through a family member. From Post Natal depression through to Alzheimer's to Bi-Polar Disorder. Mental health problems can be hugely destructive to both individuals and families alike, if not adequately dealt with.
Yet this whole area of medicine remains something of a Cinderella subject within our health care system. when services are under financial pressure, this one area that regularly gets squeezed, perhaps because those affected are less vocal than other patient groups. This is in itself a terrible indictment of our society, we need a big cultural change.
Reform of mental health care is one of the last great social reforms we need, if we are to be a genuinely civilised society in the 21st century.
It is a challenge we must all accept , whatever our political allegiances.

The Politics of Hope/ New Year's Message

A friend recently told me over a beer that “I watch my young daughter sleeping and I wander what the future will hold for her. I feel guilty that I have been in the lucky generation and I fear that she won’t.” I think it’s the speed as well as the scope of change in the world that can frighten people, from my own experience as a doctor it’s a bit like dealing with a patient who’s just been given a new and unwelcome diagnosis; a mixture of confusion, fear and anger require careful and gentle handling. But patients can deal well with adversity if they have faith in their doctors. And I think politically it’s much the same, in today’s uncertain climate, I believe voters are longing for reassurance, certainty and hope. The fragmentation of our political system with disillusioned voters looking to the margins for satisfaction is there for all to see we need to believe that our best days still lie ahead. Perhaps I’m alone in wishing for the politics of hope. But I somehow doubt if I am.

Russia's Dangerous World View

There are two reasons why Putin’s worldview is incompatible with our own. The first is that he believes in the dated old Soviet concept of a near abroad, in other words, that Moscow should have a veto on the decisions and behaviour of its near neighbours. We believe that sovereign nations should be free to exercise self-determination.
The second reason is that he believes ethnic Russians should be protected, not by the laws or constitutions of the countries in which they live, but by an outside power – that is – Russia. Both these views drive a coach and horses through our concepts of international law and behaviour.
until they change it will be impossible to normalise our relationship with Russia.

Don't Apologise For Christmas

Religious tolerance lies at the heart of any civilised society. It is right to respect the traditions and cultures of others.
But, because we tolerate and respect views different to our own, does not mean that we have to apologise for our own beliefs, traditions or culture.
In the Christian tradition, Christmas is a time of hope and renewal, a central part of our religious belief.

It is, of course, a personal thing, but it is why, for example, I always choose a nativity scene for our Christmas cards – a reminder about what Christmas actually stands for.

So, for me, it’s not “Happy Holidays” but wishing everyone, of all religions and none, a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Wealth Creation

Anyone can achieve growth by spending and borrowing other people’s money, or at least the illusion of growth. But real prosperity can only be supported by genuine wealth creation. And that requires taking an individual’s ideas, their unique intellectual property and turning it into a good or service that they can sell to someone else. We must be the champions of the innovators and risk takers in our economy because they are the providers of the wealth that we will require to fund our security, our pensions and our public services, if we over regulate and over tax them then we will all suffer.

Living Within Our Means - Autumn Statement

I think we should stop talking about government debt and start calling it for what it really is, which is deferred taxation. Because it's got to be paid back by someone through their taxes, and if not by us, than it will be our children or grandchildren.
We all have our pet projects that we would like to spend more money on, It might be health or defence, or education. But if we spend more than we are earning as a country Then it means that those who come after will be saddled with a huge financial handicap.
frankly I think it's immoral for us to party today and leave the hangover to the next generation.

Immigration Open and Shut

I think most people understand that we live in a competitive global economy. And with an ageing population, most accept that we will require some immigration, if we are to up the ratio of those in work compared to those receiving a pension. But we need to have the right people coming into our country to make that work.
I believe the British people would accept what I call an "open and shut" immigration policy. One that is more open to those that create wealth for our country and more shut to those who would come to consume the wealth of our country.
I think people would see that as a fair and reasonable balance.

Immigration Integration

For successful integration to occur you need to have an incoming population that is willing to integrate, and a host population that enables them to integrate. If the numbers are too big then neither of these things are likely to happen.
Very large numbers put pressure on housing, on jobs, on schools and on doctors. They produce resentment, and they tend to result in ghettoisation. So we must never return to Labour's open door immigration policy, or we risk a real breakdown in social cohesion in Britain.
In general I don't think that the public object to the free movement of people. But they do object to the the free movement of entitlement. That is people coming to consume welfare in our country that they have never contributed to in the past.

No Jihad Gap Year

What should we do about British jihadists who go and fight for Isis?

We know they are already radicalised or they would not have gone. They are fighting for, and with, a brutal terrorist organisation, responsible for appalling atrocities.

They are fighting against Britain's armed forces and those of our allies.

We must be absolutely clear. you can't take a sabbatical from civilisation. You can't have a Jihadist gap year and simply come home. the risk to the security of the UK is too great. Those who commit acts of treason must realise they will either come home to jail or they will not come home at all.

Remembrance

Remembrance is an important part of our heritage and culture.
It is a moment in our hectic lives to think about the sacrifices made by others so that we can live in peace and security.
It is a way to thank those whose lives were cut short so that we might be free. Though they will never hear it.

Across the Country, people will fall silent in tribute. Yet the best way we can remember the fallen is to ensure that the peace and freedom they were willing to lay down their lives for is made secure for the future.

Our actions should be our permanent act of remembrance.

Welfare Liberation

I think most people believe that it is our moral duty to look after those who cannot look after themselves but not necessarily our duty to look after those who have the God-given talents but refuse to look after themselves.

This is not simply because it is a waste of society’s wider potential, but also because it is disempowering and diminishing for individuals themselves.

If the only value that some people ever know they have is what the state hands out, how can they measure the contribution that they can make to their families, their communities or their country.

Welfare reform should be seen as part of an empowering human agenda.

Diversity and Commonality

There has been a tendency, quite rightly and understandably, to celebrate diversity in our country.

But if we only celebrate diversity and fail to celebrate commonality, then we are likely to achieve not diversity but fragmentation.

The commonality that we must champion is not much.

It is a subscription to the laws and values of this country and a willingness to accept and respect our social norms.

It is an enthusiasm to integrate into our communities; to speak our language; to celebrate our nation’s great heritage and embrace the values that have made us who we are.

The Fundamentalist Threat

Most conflicts are ideological and the Islamist fundamentalist threat is no different.

Groups to like ISIS want to impose a mediaeval, violent and anti-women form of society.

What Western liberal opinion needs to understand is that there are people out there who are entirely opposed to our concepts of rights that across race, religion and gender.

They hate us, not because of what we do, but because of who we are.

They hate our values, our history and our political systems.

Some may be reconcilable with time and education, but we must understand that others will do everything in their power to try to destroy us.

They must be defeated.