The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is the UK’s first original free-market think tank.A registered educational and research charity based in London, the IEA was first conceived after founder Antony Fisher read a summary of F.A. Hayek’s Road to Serfdom in an issue of Reader’s Digest.After speaking with Hayek, who advised him to avoid politics in favor of intellectuals, and publishing his own book, The Case for Freedom,the IEA was born with Fisher as director in 1955.
Today the mission of the IEA remains what is first was: “to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analyzing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.”
To this end, the IEA conducts highly principled research and publishing of books and a quarterly journal on such topics as Development, Economic Theory, Education, Environment and Transport, Ethics, The European Union, Fiscal Policy, Industry and Privatization, International Policy, Labour, Monetary Policy, Regulation, Trade and Welfare.While most of the authors are commissioned, some IEA staff does research and writing as well. IEA publications are distributed and sold throughout the world and have been reprinted and translated into over twenty five languages.
The IEA also hosts conferences, seminars, lectures, and working lunches and discussion of its themes.Recent events have included the book launch “Good Money” and discussion, “Getting To Grips With Public Sector Pensions,” and “Economic Issues for Christians in the Modern World.”
The student outreach programme is another way the IAE works to accomplish its mission. While many of IEA’s books are mandatory reading at universities and colleges, the IEA often holds special seminars and lectures for students in Westminster. Furthermore, scholarship money is available for the annual Political Economy Conference and Annual State of the Economy Conference so that students and teachers go can free of charge. There are also events for post-graduate students, and the annual Student Essay Competition for students under the ages of 18.
Founded in 2002, the Conservative History Group is dedicated to promoting debate, knowledge, discussion, and understanding of the Conservative Party’s origins and history.The Group hosts regular meeting featuring prominent Conservative speakers as well as publishes articles and a blog focused on Conservative figures.
Recent meetings included Simon Heffer and Nicholas Hillman speaking on “Rivers of Blood: 40 Years On” and Fion Hague speaking on “Lloyd George and His Women” in the Thatcher Room of the Portcullis House.In April, David Davis MP delivered “The Wilberforce Lecture” to the Group.
The Group also publishes the Conservative Home Journal, a bi-annual publication with articles, interviews, and book reviews on major and lesser well known Conservative figures.Recent publications have included an Interview with John Charmley, an article by Helen Szamuely titled “What are we to make of Sir Edward Heath?” and an article by Scott Kelly titled “Guilty Men & the 1945 Election.”
To join the Conservative History Group and become a member, which comes with a subscription to the journal, simply send a cheque for £15 to:
Conservative History Group
PO Box 279
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN2 4WJ
A separate subscription to the Journal is 15 per annum, or the Journals can be ordered separately on their website.
Not too long ago YBF went up to Nottingham University to give the Conservative Future branch there some Media Train YBF style. Whilst we were there the Nottingham University CF Chairman, Nick Allsop, interviewed both YBF’s founder and Chief Executive, Donal Blaney, and Steven Dent, YBF Director of Operations. See the interview below.
Founded in 1977, the Adam Smith Institute quickly established itself as one of the UK’s foremost economic think-tanks and a leader in promoting free market economics. Named after the famous Scottish economist and headquartered in Westminster, the ASI rose to prominence in the 1980s pioneering the principles of privatization, contracting out, tax reduction and internal markets in health and education. Today, as a non-partisan and non-profit organization led by Dr Madsen Pirie and Dr Eamonn Butler, the ASI focuses on promoting economic and social policies through online reports and briefings, monthly meetings, and annual conferences.
The ASI encourages students to be come involved both as subscribers and as participants in their regular meetings through The Next Generation, the Institute’s organization for student involvement. The Next Generation meets on the first Tuesday of each month to hear from speakers. Recent speakers have included the Rt Hon Michael Howard QC MP, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and Bill Emmott (former Editor of The Economist).
Twice a year the ASI also hosts the Independent Seminar on the Open Society which students can attend and participate in. The conference is limited to 200 students and presents political and economic material consistent with A-level and AS-level studies, which challenges students to grow in their understanding of the issues. Politicians across the political divide as well as think-tankers, economists, and national media personalities both talk and are quizzed by students.
Beyond hosting conferences, the website for the Adam Smith Institute provides a wealth of economic and political resources. Publications include downloadable PDF files, briefings, and think pieces on topics such as fair trade, welfare, privatization, civil liberties, the NHS, the flat tax rate, and healthcare reform. It also provides profiles of leading economic thinkers such as Adam Smith, Friedrich von Hayek, and Milton Friedman to give students an introduction and understanding of these brilliant economic minds.
Last week YBF revealed the first five of the ten B’s for when you are dealing with the print and broadcast media. As promised here are the next five!
6. Be In Control: you have 0% control over what you are asked but 100% control over what comes out of your mouth. Learn how to work key phrases back in time and time again. Use short lists when trying to convert a complex issue into a digestible explanation.
7. Be Liked: Reagan achieved what Goldwater could not because people liked him. People remember how they felt about you more than what you said. Do not sound official, pompous or mean-spirited. Remember the real message: you!
8. Be Innovative: always think like a journalist. Think how you can catch their attention. Avoid press conferences and instead create media events. If there is a national story, find a local angle so as to secure coverage.
9. Be Assertive: it is called “earned media” for a reason – you have to be proactive! If a reporter is biased or has a slant, forcefully volunteer information and counter-quotes – but only complain as a last resort.
10. Be Sensible: what constitutes “news” is relative. It depends what else is going on (just ask Jo Moore, who thought 9/11 was a good day “to bury bad news”). Use slow news days, such as weekends or the month of August, to your advantage.
If you would like to learn more print and broadcast media tips or if you want a more in depth training then get your university branch to invite YBF to your campus for our media training day. Also watch our for our specific training days which are coming soon!
Are you are bored with left wing bias in the media? Then Soundbytes is for you! YBF will be coming to you with video and audio podcasts about events in the political world. Soundbytes include; interviews with leading political leaders in the conservative movement, opinion pieces from members of YBF’s staff and news from YBF and the conservative movement.
Make sure you tune into www.ybf.org.uk to see and hear Soundbytes first!
A couple of years ago Donal Blaney ran a weekly column on ConservativeHome entitled “The Laws of the Public Policy Process”. These 45 rules were devised by Morton Blackwell – the Godfather of the American conservative movement – and they come from his decades of experience in the policy process. One of the most essential rules that everyone should pay attention to is the rule below:
Don’t get angry, except on purpose.
Anyone who saw the ITN interview with John Bercow will realise that getting angry, especially when a camera is rolling, is never a good idea. As the Bercow interview shows always remember, even if the interview is has yet to start or has finished, that the camera is rolling. One of the most famous clips of a politician getting angry features Gordon Brown (no surprise there!). See this video and look out for Brown’s hand shaking in anger.
The point is this; showing anger is essentially losing control – and if a politician loses control he is a sitting duck. Controlled anger on the other hand, is a marvellous thing. There is no greater force in politics than moral indignation.
If you would like to learn more teachings from Morton Blackwell make sure you keep an eye out for YBF’s Summer Conference Programme in the USA 2010. One week of the programme is spent at the Leadership Institute in Arlington Virginia. The Leadership Institute was formed in 1979 by Morton Blackwell and its mission is to “identify, train and recruit and place conservatives in politics, government and the media”. If you want your chance to visit the Leadership Institute keep a look out on YBF’s website.
This weeks Interactiv-ist Wednesday comes from YBF’s friends over at Big Brother Watch. Their campaign is Guerrilla Sticker Action and they need you to get involved so that Big Brither Watch can continue to highlight the surveillance state that we live under
As their website says:
- Seen a poster that coerces you to stay silent?
- Followed by surveillance cameras on your way to the shops?
- Is there a building or institution near you which stands as an icon of our overbearing state?
Big Brother Watch have thousands of stickers and they want to give them away so that you can name and shame the everyday invaders of your privacy.
In order to get involved you need to send your name and address to info@bigbrotherwatch.org.uk together with the number of stickers you would like them to send and they will post them in an envelope to that address, completely free of charge.
With 1240 stickers requested already make sure you get your stickers and take pictures of the states’ infringement on our lives. Remember the Big Brother state is watching you and you need to highlight how much!
Oh! You who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honour of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Not too long ago YBF went up to Nottingham University to give the Conservative Future branch there some Media Train YBF style. Whilst we were there the Nottingham University CF Chairman, Nick Allsop, interviewed both YBF’s
Founded in 1977, the Adam Smith Institute quickly established itself as one of the UK’s foremost economic think-tanks and a leader in promoting free market economics. Named after the famous Scottish economist and headquartered in Westminster, the ASI rose to prominence in the 1980s pioneering the principles of privatization, contracting out, tax reduction and internal markets in health and education. Today, as a non-partisan and non-profit organization led by Dr Madsen Pirie and Dr Eamonn Butler, the ASI focuses on promoting economic and social policies through online reports and briefings, monthly meetings, and annual conferences.
The Ten B’s continued…
slant, forcefully volunteer information and counter-quotes – but only complain as a last resort.
A couple of years ago Donal Blaney ran a weekly column on ConservativeHome entitled “The Laws of the Public Policy Process”. These 45 rules were devised by Morton Blackwell – the Godfather of the American conservative movement – and they come from his decades of experience in the policy process. One of the most essential rules that everyone should pay attention to is the rule below:
This weeks Interactiv-ist Wednesday comes from YBF’s friends over at 
