Renewal: part 1 – the issues
(1/2) Christmas and the New Year is a time to let go of bickering about often quite inconsequential events and think seriously about why we are fighting for a free future.
There is a proper attitude to the idea that power expressed in law will set society right.
It is an attitude of profound scepticism.
– Power and society
A heartfelt thank you to all free and paid subscribers to this Substack, to everyone subscribed to our YouTube channel, everyone who has bought our merchandise, everyone in our educational programmes, everyone who supports our community to amplify voices for freedom and everyone who has taken action. We appreciate you and we could not fight for a free future without you. A special thank you to our donors, who close the gap between our commercial activity and our funding needs.
I have asked our Director Harry Richer to summarise our achievements through this year as we transitioned from a Substack to an all-round campaign for the principles of a free society. This article reviews where the UK stands: in a real mess. In part 2, we will come to what we can expect from several more years of this government and why freedom matters as we pursue renewal.
For many people – especially adults under 35 for whom first homes are too expensive, good jobs are in short supply and pay is stagnant – life is not working as it should. Let’s not despair: let’s regroup and fight for a free future.
Where we stand: in a mess but not without advantages
The Principles for a Free Society, Ashford is a timeless statement against which we can produce a summary scorecard: we find a mixed picture in which institutions remain but liberty has been and is being eroded and failure is too widespread.
Please add your own assessment in the comments.
1. Civil Society
Assessment: crowded out but not dead
Civil society remains significant – employing about 978,000 people – but faces reduced resources and rising costs. Labour’s 2025 “Civil Society Covenant” attempts a reset but the state’s continued centralisation of resources and functions crowds out the “little platoons,” weakening the voluntary cooperation essential to a free society.
2. Democracy
Assessment: sound in principle but at risk
Ranking in the top 25% globally, the UK’s framework holds, yet recent years have exposed deep vulnerabilities. Riots in 2024 and draconian anti-protest laws illustrate a departure from democratic norms. With public participation low, political parties are reliant on massive donations from a small number of individuals, inevitably presenting an open goal to opponents.
No wonder trust and confidence in Britain’s system of government is at a record low.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Voices for a Free Future with Steve Baker to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.