Damian Green MP to speak to ResPublica on Civil Liberties for the Poorest Members of Society, Tuesday March 2nd 2010

ResPublica is delighted to host an evening speech by Shadow Immigration Minister, Damian Green MP, on the subject of civil liberties, entitled ‘Poor People Need Civil Liberties Too,’ at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

Damian Green MP, whose own civil liberties were breached in a high profile raid on his home and Parliamentary office in 2008, will argue that civil liberties are not a luxury for the middle classes, but one of the essentials of a good life which the poor are denied. The state tries to provide them with money, advice and guidance while also interfering in every area of their personal life “for their own good.” Instead we should give them the space and freedom the middle class demand for themselves, and encourage them to take more control over their own lives and their local environment. This is the only long-term way to build civil society in disadvantaged communities. It is a modern Conservative solution, making the state smaller and society bigger.

He will be introduced by Phillip Blond, Director of ResPublica, who will also announce the commencement of a major body of ResPublica research on protecting our freedoms and civil liberties, called 'Liberty and Innovation.' These groundbreaking reports will explore the way that our fundamental and ancient freedoms have been curtailed by decreased social capital and the creep of surveillance technology. They will seek to define which groups have lost out the most as a result, and will moreover suggest how we can use new forms of association and technological innovation to help safeguard and re-establish our society's basic freedoms.

The speech will be followed by questions and a drinks reception.

To register for this event please click here