PUBLISHED OCTOBER 13TH
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has divided political opinion.
For many, her strict policies on climate change, lockdowns and public health are welcomed as necessary measures in uncertain times.
However, for others, she represents a dark turn in Western politics, one which seeks to mask statists intentions with seemingly empathetic reform. This is seen most clearly in the Prime Minister's zealous intervention in the New Zealand tobacco market.
In this episode of the Swift Half with Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon sits down with Dr Marewa Glover to discuss Ardern's approach to tobacco regulation and vaping.
Dr Glover is a Māori behavioural scientist with over 30 years experience in public health and over 100 scientific papers.

The Swift Half with Snowdon ft. Dr Marewa Glover

Welcome to the IEA Podcast. The Institute of Economic Affairs is the UK’s original free market think tank, founded in 1955. 

Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.

Given the current economic challenges facing Britain and the wider global environment, it is more vital than ever that we promote the intellectual case for a free economy, low taxes, freedom in education, health and welfare and lower levels of regulation.

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The Conservative Party's proposal to reintroduce 12 months of mandatory national service if they win the general election has sparked a heated debate between Matthew Lesh, Director of Public Policy and Communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs, and James Price, a former government advisor.
Lesh argues against the policy, viewing it as an infringement on individual liberty and questioning its effectiveness, while Price, once a classical liberal, makes a case for it as a necessary measure to promote social cohesion, patriotism, and resilience in an increasingly fragmented society. The discussion delves into the role of government in shaping culture, the perceived decline of traditional institutions, the challenges faced by younger generations, and the trade-offs between individual freedom and collective responsibility surrounding the national service debate.

National Service Debate: Compulsion vs Liberty in the UK

In this week's IEA Podcast episode, host Reem Ibrahim and guest Andy Mayer from the Institute of Economic Affairs discuss the appalling findings of the UK's Infected Blood Inquiry, which revealed over 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated NHS blood products in the 1970s-80s.
Mayer demonstrates the NHS, clinicians and governments of repeatedly failing patients by covering up risks for decades to avoid compensation, enabled by the NHS's lack of market incentives for transparency and innovation - a catastrophic institutional failure costing thousands of lives. Exploring why the NHS covered up the scandal, Mayer argues introducing market mechanisms to the blood supply could have prevented or resolved it sooner by driving higher quality suppliers, product diversity and safer treatment innovation.

The NHS Infected Blood Scandal Explained | IEA Podcast

In this new Institute of Economic Affairs "In Conversation" interview, Tom Clougherty sits down with renowned conservative historian and commentator Simon Heffer. Heffer pulls no punches in his scathing critique of contemporary Conservative leadership and the party's civil war over Europe. He explores major challenges Britain faces - an aging population, pressures on the welfare state, and the need for pro-growth economic reforms. Heffer calls for reining in corporatism and state overreach while incentivizing hard work and self-reliance. He advocates transitioning from a welfare state to a "welfare society" rooted in Victorian values of self-help, making this a must-watch discussion on the future of British politics and economics.

The Future of British Politics: In Conversation with Simon Heffer

On this IEA Podcast episode, host Matthew Lesh engages Tom Clougherty, the Institute of Economic Affairs' Executive Director, in a thought-provoking discussion centered around the government's recent efforts to cut red tape. They dive deep into the 10-point plan announced, which includes measures like issuing new regulations only when "absolutely necessary" and imposing stronger growth duties on regulators. While acknowledging these as positive steps, Clougherty argues that they fail to truly reshape Britain's regulatory landscape fundamentally. The conversation explores the origins of the modern regulatory state, the institutional and cultural forces driving over-regulation, and the structural reforms needed, such as mandatory sunset clauses and a senior government figure spearheading deregulation, to counterbalance these pressures effectively.

Cutting Through Red Tape | IEA Podcast

In this week's Swift Half with Snowdon, we are joined by Lord Frost, the former Chief Brexit Negotiator and Europe Adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Lord Frost provides an explosive insider's view on the chaos of Brexit negotiations under Theresa May, having to reset the failed talks after joining Boris Johnson by taking a hardline no-deal stance, and his principled resignation over pushing lockdowns and vaccine passports despite Omicron's low threat. He also weighs in on nanny state overreach, European courts overstepping, and needed reforms to the House of Lords.






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The Swift Half with Snowdon ft. Dr Marewa Glover

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