A First Amendment for the UK?
Our plan to save free speech in Britain - and more!
IN THIS ASI E-BULLETIN:
The Real History of Communism—come to our private viewing on 12 May.
Freedom Week—Our student liberty boot camp in Cambridge this summer.
And—events, books, media, blogs, videos, you name it.
But first…
I see the Prime Minister, who had nothing to do with the Iran ceasefire, went to hold talks with Gulf leaders who also had nothing to do with it. (If only he would stick to going abroad to grandstand on things he had nothing to do with, we’d all be better off—Ed.)
Junior Doctors are on a six-day strike, which with the Easter Holiday, works out to a nice ten-day rest, for a mere £3bn cost to taxpayers. (There was a civil service strike once, but they soon gave it up: nobody noticed any difference.)
More later...
RESEARCH
The Freedom of Speech Bill (2026)
By Preston Byrne, Michael Reiners, and Elijah Granet
Preston Byrne, the ASI’s Legal Fellow, Michael Reiners, and Elijah Granet have jointly drafted the Freedom of Speech Bill: a rigorous and legally sound Bill that (like the US First Amendment) would establish the right to free expression (with only narrow and objective exclusions). But it would also protect citizens from government censorship, prohibiting the state from withholding information (other than that which could compromise national security).
Affordable Abundance: Alternatives to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
By James Hodgkinson and Viggo Terling
Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act allows councils to demand that a certain portion of a housing development is ‘affordable’ and sold to housing associations or councils. But its complex rules have delayed the building of 40,000+ homes and has acted as a £1.3 billion tax on housebuilding. Our authors propose removing the barriers to private capital in affordable housing, with an end to Section 106 agreements and a return to the flat grant model of financing affordable housing, and preferential allocation of that funding in areas where it can help most people at least cost.
Taming the Hydra: Ofcom and the British Broadcasting Market
By James Hodgkinson and Jasper Ostle
This new report scrutinises broadcast regulation and the powers of Ofcom. It finds that, through mechanisms such as content policy and financial sanction, Ofcom suppresses free speech, erodes trust in media and undermines competition. Better to replace it with a ‘general authorisation’ regime with free market entry and drop content rules to allow the airing of any content within the law, shifting regulatory power from bureaucrats to viewers and listeners.
Credit Crunch: Modelling Reform Options for Student Loans
By Mitchell Palmer with a foreword by the Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman KC MP.
Due to high student loan default rates, the government’s liabilities are around £33bn more than it thinks. And today’s system means that graduates can face effective marginal tax rates as high as 77%. To fix this, the report proposes cutting real interest rates to zero and repayment rates to 5% alongside a longer write-off period and a one-third cut in the repayment threshold.
Sovereignty Without Illusion
By Miles Saltiel, Robert Armstrong, Theo Zenous
Partnering with the Institute for Free Trade and the Henry Jackson Society, this new report shows how the UK could unlock over £1.7 trillion in tax receipts - refinancing the UK’s hard power and enabling a cut of 60% in the national debt. The paper also argues that the UK should push Mutual Recognition Agreements, withdraw from the ECHR, the UN Refugee Convention and the COP process. These reforms would help the UK to restore its sovereignty and adapt to a complex and turbulent world order.
And another thing…
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband claimed a victory for his nut-zero policy after greenhouse gas emissions fell 2% last year. (A more likely explanation is that factories are shutting because of the tax hikes, while householders can’t afford fuel anyway.)
More later...
The 250th Anniversary of The Wealth of Nations is an important anniversary for the Adam Smith Institute! If you’d like to help us celebrate, please consider donating by clicking the link below.
GETTING THE WORD OUT
The ASI’s paper proposing a First Amendment-style free speech bill for the UK generated an exceptional wave of coverage. Preston Byrne wrote op-eds in Spiked and Cap X, making the case for the bill. The research was picked up by Guido Fawkes, GB News, The Spectator, Breitbart, Reason, FIRE, and a host of other outlets. As the story developed, Maxwell Marlow kept the argument alive on the airwaves — appearing on Talk Radio, LBC and GB News to make the case for free speech in the context of Kanye West’s ban from Britain.
The ASI’s Ofcom research was covered by The Express and James Hodgkinson followed up with an op-ed in The Critic. The ASI’s research on S106 planning obligations featured in The Telegraph — including in print — as part of a major piece on the housing system’s dysfunction. What’s more, Miles Saltiel was in Cap X discussing his recent paper - Sovereignty without Illusion, while Sebastian Charleton wrote for City AM (also in print) explaining the ASI’s latest student loans research.
BOOK LAUNCHES
The Wealth of Nations—The Graphic Novel: To mark the 250th anniversary of The Wealth of Nations, Eamonn Butler (that’s me) has collaborated with artists to create a graphic novel that brings Adam Smith’s insights to life for a modern audience. The novel is perfect for economics students and policy wonks looking for some light reading. The first half is on our website.
The remaining pages will be online soon—watch this space—and we’re raising money to finance the print edition and to get copies into school.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for another Next Generation drinks on Tuesday, 5th May!
Next month, we’re thrilled to welcome Kitty Thompson, Head of Campaigns at the Conservative Environment Network (CEN). Kitty’s a powerhouse in the green space, heading up CEN’s nature programme. She’ll be challenging the idea that freedom and conservation are at odds, showing instead how market-led outcomes can protect our planet while helping humanity thrive.
The Real History of Communism Screening
Join us for an exclusive screening of Part 1 of a landmark two-part documentary exploring Communism in the 20th century, narrated by Hugh Bonneville. The screening will be followed by a Q&A facilitated by the Rt. Hon. Steve Baker FRSA, Chairman of Fighting for a Free Future and a former MP known for his advocacy of classical liberal values.
EDUCATION
The Second Global Enlightenment Forum
The Global Enlightenment Forum is an annual series of whole-day academic conferences centred around the origins, growth, proliferation and application of Enlightenment thought and philosophy to the non-Western world.
As modern academia continues to discover the global roots that found some of history’s most important philosophical movements, we wish to tease apart the intellectual heritage and impact of the Enlightenment vis-à-vis its other regions.
Freedom Week
Freedom Week is a one week, residential programme run by the ASI and IEA in Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Over the course of the week, successful applicants will attend talks and seminars from leading thinkers exploring the foundations, history and economic principles of classical liberalism. By the end of the programme, participants will leave with the knowledge, confidence and network to make the case for freedom.
ASI ONLINE
Read our super-blogs
ASI VIDEOS
ASI SHOP
To mark the 250th, we have new lines:
Pure Silk Neckties: Yes, 100% silk in navy, pink, and red, produced by Colour Wovens.
Adam Smith Bust: A hand-finished resin likeness with a bronze patina—perfect for offices and libraries.
The Optimistic Outlook by Dr Madsen Pirie is also now available to buy.
AND I QUOTE
With the lonely HMS Drag-on putting into port for repairs and a slew of new laws being put to Parliament, I’m reminded of Ronald Reagan’s fine words from 1981:
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
Bye,
e
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