Risk of Freedom Briefing

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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[1] and funded by Japan Tobacco International.[2] 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. [2]

It seems that contributors to the briefing were paid for their articles. According to a comment by John Adams[3], 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.'[3]

Lanesborough Luncheons

The briefing published extracts from the speeches given at successive Lanesborough Lunches an informal dining club also funded by Japan Tobacco International.[4] The first Lanesborough Lunch (20/5/99) was addressed by Frank Furedi of the LM network.[5] 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'.[6] 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.[6]

People

Editor: Roger Scruton | Editorial assistant: Sophie Jeffreys,[7] (later Sophie Scruton). Amongst those published in the briefing:

Contributors to the Risk of Freedom Briefings edited by Roger Scruton, with editorial assistant Sophie Jeffreys[11]
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


  • 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.

Notes

  1. ↑ See the holdings in the Internet Archive: The Risk of Freedom Briefing Archive, retrieved from the Internet Archive of 22 April 2008
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Roger Scruton A puff for the Scrutons The Guardian, Monday 28 January 2002 01.33 GMT
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 John Adams The tobacco industry and me, 2008.
  4. ↑ School of Advanced Study, Annual Report 2000/01 University of London.
  5. ↑ Frank Furedi 'Litigious Britain: Consolation and the compensation culture' The Risk of Freedom Briefing, Issue No. 1 October 1999, p. 3.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Edouard Peter and Michael McKay Proactive Positioning – a Public Affairs approach A White Paper Jedco Conseil, posted 15 August 2005
  7. ↑ Risk of Freedom Briefing Archive
  8. ↑ J.R. Lucas ACE: Assess Cost of Error published in The Risk of Freedom Briefing, Issue no.5 October 2000
  9. ↑ Bill Durodie The precautionary principle is causing a scare Risk of Freedom Briefing, July 2002.
  10. ↑ Norman Barry Capitalism - the threat from within. Risk of Freedom Briefing 22, January 2005
  11. ↑ Data compiled from pdf's stored on wayback machine captures listed above. Numbers in parenthesis indicate number of contributions
  12. ↑ No link found on Internet Archive
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