Leviathan Revisited: Why Britain Needs Conservatism by Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, sets out why only a revitalised Conservatism can save Britain, and chart a course between the extreme relativism and discredited economics of the radical left, and the ethno-nationalism and division of the far right. He argues that the liberalism we needed back in 1975 has turned into a hyperliberalism which is undermining the political and moral rules – the foundations – on which civilized living and indeed ordinary liberalism in the sense of decent social co-operation itself relies. Now we need the pendulum to swing back the other way.

The essay sets out that practical politicians must be honest with the public about the scale of what needs to be done. We need to secure our borders not least because such spectacular law-breaking undermines respect for the rule of law itself. We need to cut expenditure, and only then increase taxes for a time. We need to restore heart to the property owning democracy. We need to double our defence expenditure because we are not safe. Above all, we need those who are brave enough to tell the truth regardless for the moment of focus groups and opinion – because only from relentless articulation of what is needed for the common good will a broad enough agreement have a chance of emerging.

The launch of this report was covered by: 

• The Spectator