Risk of Freedom Briefing

Risk of Freedom Briefing No. 1, October 1999, featuring an extract from a talk by Frank Furedi of the LM network at the first Lanesborough Lunch.

Risk of Freedom Briefing, Issue 12, July 2002 showing contributions from Frank Furedi, Mike Fitzpatrick and Bill Durodie of the LM network.

The Risk of Freedom Briefing was a publication edited by conservative activist Roger Scruton between October 1999 and July 2007 and funded by Japan Tobacco International. The briefing was created after a conference The Risk of Freedom conference, held in London in 1998 and funded by tobacco firm RJ Reynolds. According to Scruton:

My wife and I have a company devoted to public affairs, the aim of which is to help clients to find the language appropriate to their concerns and to promote debate of those concerns in the media. Japan Tobacco International has been our client for the last three years. We have advised JTI on language and arguments and arranged debates, seminars and conferences on risk and freedom, with their declared sponsorship.

We have also published Risk of Freedom Briefing, circulated to journalists (including some on the Guardian) the purpose of which is to stimulate debate. This carries my name as editor and JTI's name as sponsor. We have never concealed the relationship, but have tried to make clear we are related to our client not as advocates but as advisers.

It seems that contributors to the briefing were paid for their articles. According to a comment by John Adams, an article written which he wrote for but was not published in the Briefing was 'paid for by the tobacco industry'. 'Sadly', he noted 'before it could be published, JT International withdrew their sponsorship and the publication ceased business... But although it wasn’t published I was paid for the article so I confess to have taken the industry’s shilling – or in this case £100.'

Lanesborough Luncheons

The briefing published extracts from the speeches given at successive Lanesborough Lunches an informal dining club also funded by Japan Tobacco International. The first Lanesborough Lunch (20/5/99) was addressed by Frank Furedi of the LM network. The lunches were cited by lobbyists Edouard Peter and Michael McKay of Advisio International as an example of a 'platform and follow-through series' which can help in 'conditioning public debate'. The strategy recommended is

First, elevate the issue as high up the scale of logic, objectivity and social relevance as possible: It is not about this or that product, it is the boundaries to freedom of commerce... For example, practically all products may have negative health consequences, yet there is the broader issue of personal choice that needs to be balanced with an inclination to regulate. The freedom for adults to make their good or bad choices attracts influential audiences who otherwise may have no particular interest in the particular products.

Second, have a prestigious and credible third party assume the public debate on your behalf. The corporation doesn’t hide, yet its spokespersons never take the front of the stage in the public debate. Wherever possible, the third party is an independent institution, a recognized platform for objective debate among experts.

Bringing these two conditions together requires enormous tact, long-standing networks of relations at the highest levels and the ability to behave in a neutral fashion as a bridge between academic, political, media and commercial thought processes. The latter often disqualifies large, well-known consultancies. That is why this approach is not applied more often. Or if it is, can’t attract attention to itself and risk self-defeat.

People

Editor: Roger Scruton | Editorial assistant: Sophie Jeffreys, (later Sophie Scruton). Amongst those published in the briefing:

• J.R. Lucas of Merton College, Oxford
• Bill Durodie of the LM network.
• Norman Barry of the University of Buckingham

Contributors to the Risk of Freedom Briefings edited by Roger Scruton, with editorial assistant Sophie Jeffreys
Contributor	Risk of Freedom Briefing	Total Contributions
Titus Alexander	Issue no 6, January 2001 'Transnational Governance'	1
Ayaan Hirsi Ali	Issue no 30, January 2007 'Freedom of Religion'	1
Digby Anderson	Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	1
Heather Ashton	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
Mary Ballast	Issue no 30, January 2007 'Freedom of Religion'	1
Anthony Barnett	issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance'	1
Jim Barrington	Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence'	1
Norman Barry	Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'	1
Patrick Basham	Issue no 32, July 2007 'The Theory of Risk'	1
Roger Bate	Issue no 5 October 2005 'The Precautionary Principle'	1
Piers Benn	Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation'	1
Christopher Booker	issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance'	1
Hardy Bouillon	Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding' Issue no 24, July 2005 'Lobbying'	2
Wayne Boulder	Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'	1
FH Buckley	Issue no 27, April 2006 'Humour'	1
Patrick Burke	Issue no 30, January 2007 'Freedom of Religion'	1
Safiye Cemek	Issue no 27, April 2006 'Humour'	1
Alun Chalfont	Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths'	1
Ian Christie	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'	1
Joe Clark	Issue no 8, July 2001 'The Informal Economy'	1
Alexandra Colen	Issue no 16, July 2003 'denormalization'	1
Ceri Collingborn	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Tim Congdon	Issue no 8, July 2001 'The Informal Economy' Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'	2
Miles Cooper	Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'	1
Meredith Craig	Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children'	1
Ian Crowther	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'	1
Tony Curzon Price	Issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance' Issue no 4, July 2000 'The Power of NGOs' Issue no 5 October 2005 'The Precautionary Principle' Issue no 8, July 2001 'The Informal Economy' Issue no 14, January 2003 'Branding' Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising' Issue no 17, October 2003 'The Private Policeman' Issue no 25, October 2005 'Intelectual Property'	8
Thomas Cushman	Issue no 20, July 2004 'Human Rights'	1
Julie d'Abbonville	Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks'	1
Theodore Dalrymple	Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children' Issue no 32, July 2007 'The Theory of Risk'	2
Christie Davies	Issue no 27, April 2006 'Humour'	1
Cindy Delamere	Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'	1
Christine Drofkind	Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'	1
Bill Durodié	Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation'	1
Gus Edwards	Issue no 24, July 2005 'Lobbying'	1
Ben Filmer	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'	1
Michael Fitzpatrick	Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation'	1
Claire Fox	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Frank Furedi	Issue no 1, October 1999 'A Selected Round up of News and Comment' Issue no 5 October 2005 'The Precautionary Principle' Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation' Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children'	4
Adrian Furnham	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'	1
Sean Gabb	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
Clare Gerada	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
Utkarsh Ghate	Issue no 25, October 2005 'Intelectual Property'	1
Keith Goodenough	Issue no 25, October 2005 'Intelectual Property'	1
Susan Greenfield	Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	1
Malcolm Grimston	Issue no 4, July 2000 'The Power of NGOs'	1
Jadwiga Gromadzka	Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children'	1
Daniel Hannan	Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children' Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'	2
Kevin J. 'Seamus' Hasson	Issue no 30, January 2007 'Freedom of Religion'	1
Alisha Hazari	Issue no 17, October 2003 'The Private Policeman'	1
Ian Hindmarch	Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	1
Sir Michael Howard	Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths'	1
Mick Hume	Issue no 7, April 2001 'Political Correctness' Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction' Issue no 16, July 2003 'denormalization' Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks'	4
Sophie Jeffreys	Issue no 20, July 2004 'Human Rights'	1
Simon Jenkins	Issue no 4, July 2000 'The Power of NGOs'	1
Agnieszka Kolakowska	Issue no 27, April 2006 'Humour'	1
James Le Fanu	Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	1
Rodney Leach	issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance'	1
Olivier Leflaive	Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks'	1
Pierre Lemieux	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
David J. Levy	Issue no 18, January 2004 'Litigation Un-Limited'	1
Peter Lilley	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
George Littlejohn	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Bjorn Lomborg	Issue no 16, July 2003 'denormalization'	1
John Lucas	Issue no 5 October 2005 'The Precautionary Principle' Issue no 32, July 2007 'The Theory of Risk'	2
John Luik	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising' Issue no 16, July 2003 'denormalization' Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks' Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'	4
Rob Lyons	Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'	1
Benjamin Mancroft	Issue no 20, July 2004 'Human Rights'	1
Marek Matraszek	Issue no 24, July 2005 'Lobbying'	1
Sonya Merton	Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'	1
Kenneth Minogue	Issue no 20, July 2004 'Human Rights' Issue no 28, July 2006 'Diversity'	2
Munira Mirza	Issue no 28, July 2006 'Diversity'	1
Charles Moore	Issue no 9, October 2001 'The Defence of Freedom'	1
Mike Mosbacher	Issue no 14, January 2003 'Branding'	1
Magyar Nemzet	issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance'	1
Richard D North	Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence' Issue no 14, January 2003 'Branding' Issue no 17, October 2003 'The Private Policeman' Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis' Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children'	5
Dennis O'Keeffe	Issue no 7, April 2001 'Political Correctness' Issue no 8, July 2001 'The Informal Economy' Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence'	3
Walter K. Olson	Issue no 18, January 2004 'Litigation Un-Limited'	1
Stanton Peele	Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	1
Hans-Christian Raabe	Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'	1
Matt Ridley	Issue no 5 October 2005 'The Precautionary Principle' Issue no 9, October 2001 'The Defence of Freedom'	2
Rosemary Righter	Issue no 1, October 1999 'A Selected Round up of News and Comment' Issue no 6, January 2001 'Transnational Governance'	2
Avik Roy	Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths' Issue no 18, January 2004 'Litigation Un-Limited' Issue no 25, October 2005 'Intelectual Property'	3
Roger Scruton	Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths' Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence' Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation' Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'	4
Sophie Scruton	Issue no 28, July 2006 'Diversity'	1
Barry Smith	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Helen Szamuely	Issue no 6, January 2001 'Transnational Governance'	1
Margaret Transom	Issue no 28, July 2006 'Diversity'	1
Dominique Turpin	Issue no 14, January 2003 'Branding'	1
Renate Veilchen	Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'	1
Peter Villiers	Issue no 17, October 2003 'The Private Policeman'	1
Jonathan Walters	Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths'	1
Joh K. Wilson	Issue no 7, April 2001 'Political Correctness'	1
Chris Woodhead	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Christopher Woodhead	issue no 26 January 2006 'Standards'	1
Ken Worpole	Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks'	1
Petronella Wyatt	Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence'	1

Resources

Archive of the briefing: http://web.archive.org/web/20060616140335/riskoffreedom.com/archive.php

• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 1, October 1999 'A Selected Round up of News and Comment'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - issue no 3 April 2000 'transnational governance'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 4, July 2000 'The Power of NGOs'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 6, January 2001 'Transnational Governance'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 7, April 2001 'Political Correctness'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 8, July 2001 'The Informal Economy'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 9, October 2001 'The Defence of Freedom'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 10, January 2002 'Uncomfortable Truths'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 11, April 2002 'The Sound of Silence'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 12, July 2002 'health creation'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 13, Ocotber 2002 'addiction'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 14, January 2003 'Branding'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 15, April 2003 'Advertising'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 16, July 2003 'denormalization'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 17, October 2003 'The Private Policeman'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 18, January 2004 'Litigation Un-Limited'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 19, April 2004 'Cannabis'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 20, July 2004 'Human Rights'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 21, October 2004 'Children'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 22, January 2005 'Shareholding'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 23, April 2005 'Alcohol - Drinks and Drunks' (contents page only)
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 24, July 2005 'Lobbying'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 25, October 2005 'Intelectual Property'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 27, April 2006 'Humour'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 28, July 2006 'Diversity'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 29, October 2006 'Therapy Culture'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 30, January 2007 'Freedom of Religion'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 31, April 2007 'Obesity'
• The Risk of Freedom Briefing - Issue no 32, July 2007 'The Theory of Risk'

• John Adams The tobacco industry and me, 2008. An article written for but not published in the Briefing: 'This posting has been paid for by the tobacco industry. It is an article commissioned by Risk of Freedom Briefing, a publication edited by the philosopher Roger Scruton and sponsored by JT International (Japan Tobacco). Sadly, before it could be published, JT International withdrew their sponsorship and the publication ceased business. So it is published here for the first time. But although it wasn’t published I was paid for the article so I confess to have taken the industry’s shilling – or in this case £100.' John Adams also spoke at The Risk of Freedom conference.