Conservative Party Conference - Manchester - Day 2 - Debate on Libertarianism

I've left the last session in the Freedom Zone early. The speakers were Jesse Norman and Bruce Anderson and the question was, "Is there a place for Libertarianism in David Cameron's Conservative Party?"

I get rather weary of categorising people. Are you a classical liberal, a social conservative, a libertarian, a liberal conservative? We all have differing views on different subjects. I regard myself as a libertarian, although that doesn't mean I regard as a right to play music at the highest volume possible at 3.00am. This will infringe on the rights of my neighbours to have a good night's sleep without being woken up by loud music. Most would regard this as common sense.

What I do believe is we have the rights not given to us by any government. We were born with these rights and freedoms. It is not the job of any government of any political party to interfere in my life without a good cause. It is not the job of government to endlessly legislate and take more of the things I take for granted and turn them into an illegal activity.

The smoking ban is a prime example. Why should I have to go out into a wet Manchester day to have a cigarette, when in the Bridgewater Hall - a very spacious building - a room could be turned into an area where I can smoke without infringing on others rights not to breathe my cigarette smoke? As a smoker, I support the smoking ban in general. I am not asking to be allowed to smoke anywhere. I understand those days have gone, but it is not unreasonable to ask to be allowed to smoke - which is still a legal activity, of which the Treasury benefits enormously - in reasonable comfort.

Instead of placing tags on people, we should be fighting to protect basic rights and freedoms. This is the essence of any free, liberal democracy.