ARTICLES

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour would crush civil society - UnHerd, 13 Nov 19

The 1989 uprising against communism in Eastern Europe was a bid for freedom, and for many commentators it was little more than that. The oppressors happened to be the Communist Party, backed up by their Soviet masters, but they might have been the henchmen of a tin-pot dictatorship or a gang of Mafiosi. The important point, for many observers, is that the oppressors had set out to control things, and the people had at last said no.

 Read the full article online HERE

Scrutopia Alumni Thurs 27 August – Sun 30 August 2020

We are delighted to share with you the wonderful programme which has been thoughtfully curated with Roger’s interests at heart for this year’s Alumni meeting. We recognise that many of you are unable to travel or join us this year, but we wanted to share the programme in case your reservations have changed or restrictions lifted. We have a small group so far confirmed and now that we have a fabulous weekend planned, the opportunity is now open to all. 

The cost of the course will be £1200 per person, payable in advance by 14th August. As ever, this will cover everything for the duration of the course, but does not include your travel to the RAU on Thursday 27th August. 

Take a look at the programme brief here - Alumni_programme_for_Website.pdf

Please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions or would like to reserve your space.

Scrutopia Summer School 2020

Following on from the Government’s latest COVID-19 public statement we are sorry to announce it is not possible to hold the Scrutopia Summer School between the 29th July and 7th August this summer. We feel the Summer School is all about friendship, socialising and intimate seminars which would be difficult to conduct in our present situation. In addition, air travel is likely to be extremely difficult.

This is an unprecedented and challenging time for everyone and the health, safety and enjoyment of all those that attend and are involved with the summer school remains our number one priority.

We apologise for the delay in making this announcement but are grateful to you all for your support and co-operation at this busy time. Sophie and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and wish you well through this challenging time.

Streets With Nooks and Crannies Are Beloved and Endangered - TAC, 4 Oct 19

A building may appeal for its formal perfection, its harmony of proportion and the grammatical discipline with which it matches part to part. But it may appeal despite lacking those things, by offering enticing glimpses of the life within, intriguing apertures, invitations to enter, to explore, to imagine. 

The Madness of Crowds - Review for Unherd, 17 Sept 19

How identity politics drove the world mad

Douglas Murray's brave new book explores the madness of modern discourse. 

We thrive on disagreement, but only if we do not also feel threatened by it. In every period of history, therefore, there have been opinions and customs that are dangerous to question, since they provide the firm foundations on which our disagreements rest. Whether religious or political, these established ways of thinking and acting have been protected by law, and embedded in the educational curriculum and the daily customs of the people.

The Architecture of Social Isolation- Berggruen Institute, 11 Sept 19

The Architecture of Social Isolation

The evidence is overwhelming that ugly and impersonal environments lead to a sense of depression and anxiety.

If you ask why concepts like community, place and belonging have suddenly come to occupy a central place in political discourse, then you will quickly light upon the obvious fact that those aspects of the human condition are, in modern conditions, all under threat. The threat comes from a single source: globalization.

BBBBC Interim Report

Here’s a link to UK Gov’s BBBBC commission & to a response survey. If you can, please do read & respond -

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/building-better-building-beautiful-commission

The 2019 Scrutopia Summer School

As August draws to a close, we are able to share with you a wonderful film with our 2019 Scrutopians. We would love to see you next year so please register your interest with Izzy in the office. 

 

Roger Scruton gets his job back - The Spectator, 23rd July 19


Roger Scruton has been reappointed as head of a government housing body after he was sacked in April following a magazine interview in which his views were misrepresented. The letter from housing secretary James Brokenshire, who fired Scruton, is published below:

Dear Sir Roger,

Thank you so much for our conversation about the next steps on the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission. As we both recognise, the publication of the Commission’s Interim Report provides an opportunity to consider next steps in finalising recommendations to Government to promote quality and beauty in the built environment. You have already been so influential in advancing this vision and I hope you will be able to play a leading role as the Commission embarks on the next phase of its work.

As we discussed, I would be pleased to see you re-appointed back to the Commission. It was helpful to receive your thoughts on this and what form this might take – including the suggestion that I consider appointing you as the Commission’s co-chair alongside Nicholas Boys-Smith. There is no doubt that Nicholas has done an incredible job in chairing the Commission over recent weeks and in achieving consensus with his fellow commissioners on the interim recommendations. I know we both have the highest regard for him.

In the light of this, I would be delighted if you would be willing to be re-appointed to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission as co-chair. I know that you still have so much more to give and hope this may also help to put things right after the regrettable events of recent months.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP

 

And here is Roger Scruton’s response:

 

Dear Secretary of State,

Thank you for your letter offering to bring me back on to the Commission. I think the suggestion that Nicholas and I be joint chairs is a very good one, since we work together well, and we could bring the job to a successful conclusion. And I am so pleased that all has been resolved in a friendly way and we can return to the matter in hand, which is so important.

Kind regards,

Roger Scruton

 

 

The Telegraph - 20th July 19

The failure to stand up for conservative thinking is leading us into a new cultural dark age.

The intellectual scene always used to have room for great minds from the Right. Today they would be denounced for thought crime by a Left that cannot tolerate dissent.

This article was published on 20th July in The Telegraph - The full article can be read below

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