Liberty can still belong to Labour

By Julian Ware-Lane

One of the sticks that the right like to beat the Labour Government with is the perceived diminution of individual freedom. Libertarianism has become the calling card of some commentators, and in the recent poll by Total Politics of favourite blogs it has acquired a category of its own.

This intrigued me. Coming from a background where anarchism and nihilism were regular and popular subjects of my youth I wondered how Libertarianism managed to migrate from the far left to the far right.

Libertarianism, a wish for a minimalist if not absent state, has anarchism as its ultimate definition. This has many consequences, such as the removal of property. Perhaps I am reading them wrong, but I do not see Guido and pals flying the flag for that most pure of communist ideals.

In truth, those who call themselves Libertarian nowadays only wish for the removal of those laws that inconvenience themselves. Many so-called Libertarian bloggers must wish for a Swiss-style home militia where every household has a rifle, ostensibly to defend Queen and Country, but also useful when dealing with the hoi polloi that might invade their patch of land; some way from any true Libertarian ideal.

ID cards, CCTV cameras, speed cameras etc are often cited, and doubtless the smoking ban and the minimum wage as well. Yet whilst a speed camera may limit someone freedom to drive recklessly, it protects my freedom to use the roads safely.

We may be the most CCTV’d nation in Europe – and that gives me misgivings as well – but many people afflicted by vandalism, youth nuisance etc often ask for CCTV cameras to help solve their problem.

Self-reliance and an unfettered free market are an attractive proposition to the wealthy and those with influence. I do not see these as anathema to my socialist principles. I see myself as self-reliant, but realise that I am fortunate. And here’s the rub – it is Labour that really delivers a society where self-reliance is achievable. Self-reliance is laughable when inequalities hamper, and laudable with an egalitarian education system and a good welfare system as a safety net.

A free market is not one where multinationals can ride roughshod over all and sundry. I support, and enjoy, choice and a marketplace that allows small, independent traders and cooperatives a chance, and deals toughly with those who attempt to by-pass best practise by shifting operations to a third world country so desperate for cash that they will allow exploitation and pollution unchecked.

Libertarian ideals suggest the monoliths are bad – and the real freedom of choice is best achieved when all companies are compelled to compete equally. This means the rules and regulations are not absent, but rather applied stringently. A free market also requires a free workforce, and all true libertarians will be opposed to any migration controls.

So, let’s fly the flag for Liberty – and do not allow the right to monopolise this cause. After all, radicals and progressives have been smashing chains for centuries.