Libertarianism

Libertarianism, or classical liberalism, is one of the core philosophies of the centre-right movement. It has a heritage that goes right back to the dawn of the Conservative Party; Robert Peel, whose 1832 Tamworth Manifesto is generally credited as having founded the Party, is held up as one of the great classical liberals of the 19th century.

The principles of libertarianism are simple: that the state should be as small, as efficient, and as accountable as possible. We, the people, created government, not the other way around, and it's up to the politicians and bureaucrats in government to justify themselves to us, the public and electorate. In return, we believe that the individual should be held not only sovereign over oneself, but responsible for his or her actions.

I have self-identified as a libertarian for several years. When I was 14, I read Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, and was inspired by the simplicity and beauty of the free market. That, coupled with ten years of Labour mismanagement, has taught me in no small way, that government cannot be trusted to do a better job for us and our families than we would ourselves.

In my first year, I founded the UCL Libertarian Society, dedicated to promoting libertarianism as a philosophy, independent of party political affiliation.