Proposed Sex Trade Ban in UK "A Charter for
Violent Pimps and Bent Policemen" Says Libertarian Alliance
The Libertarian Alliance, the radical free market and civil liberties
pressure group, today denounces Justice Minister Harriet Harman for her
proposal to
criminalise the purchase of sexual services.
Libertarian Alliance Director, Sean Gabb, says:
"We believe in the right of consenting adults to associate as they
see fit. If a buyer and seller of sexual services come together and reach
agreement on terms, it is an infringement of their personal freedom for the
authorities to interfere.
"However, as this is not an argument our politicians are likely to
understand, let alone accept, we say further that it would be absolutely
impossible to suppress prostitution or the general trade in sexual services.
Far more repressive governments than this one - and with the backing of
public opinion - have tried to "suppress vice" and have miserably failed.
The desire of buyers for sex and of sellers for money, and the private
nature of the transactions, Our own government is no more likely to succeed
in this than they have in imposing western democracy on Iraq at gunpoint.
"But while a ban cannot work,
He added:
"In addition to this, the LA will also host a further expanded LA Annual
Conference in October 2008 and ten monthly LA Gold Subscribers' Dinners in
Westminster's Shepherd's Restaurant."
However, Dr Evans explained that after 20 years, the monthly Putney Debates
would be reduced to taking place every three months, but remaining on the
second Friday of January, April, July and October.
"The original purpose of the Putney Debates was to provide a regular meeting
place and somewhere for newcomers to the Libertarian cause to make friends and
exchange ideas. The emergence of on-line social networks is creating new ways
of achieving this objective. By expanding the range and quality of activities,
the Putney Debates will become only one of many activities available to our
supporters."
In addition to this ambitious programme the organisation will also continue to
expand its web site at www.libertarian.co.uk and its blog at
www.LibertarianAllianceBlog.com It will also continue to publish and freely
distribute on-line a wide range of new pamphlets and press releases. And it
will no doubt continue to attract widespread press and media attention.
Save the Dates in 2008
LA Putney Debates
Friday 11th January 2008, 7.30pm
Friday 11th April 2008, 7.30pm
Friday 11th July 2008, 7.30pm
Friday 10th October 2008, 7.30pm
LA Chris R Tame Lecture
Early Evening, Tuesday 18th March 2008, National Liberal Club, One Whitehall
Place, London SW1.
LA Annual Conference
Saturday and Sunday 25-26 October 2008, National Liberal Club, One Whitehall
Place, London SW1.
LA Christmas Reception
Early Evening, Wednesday 3rd December 2008, National Liberal Club, One
Whitehall Place, London SW1.
LA Gold Subscribers' Dinners (By Invitation Only)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
September
October
November
LA Fulham Dinners (By Invitation Only)
January
March
May
July
September
November
Notes for editors:
1) The Libertarian Alliance was founded in 1968 by Chris R Tame. It has
produced over 800 pamphlets and monographs, all of which are in print and
available free of charge from the LA website:
www.libertarian.co.uk
2) The Putney Debates are named after the debates between the Levellers and
members of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army, beginning at the Church of St.
Mary the Virgin, Putney, in Surrey (now in South West London), on 28 October,
1647. These moved to the Quartermaster General Thomas Ireton's lodgings (also
in Putney) on the 29 October. The debates lasted until November 11. The first
of the modern Putney Debates was held in October 1987.
3) LA Gold Subscribers pay £10 per month.
4) For more information contact:
LA President, Dr. Tim Evans on 07956 960523 or via
tim@libertarian.co.uk
LA Director Dr. Sean Gabb on 07956 472199 or via
sean@libertarian.co.uk
Extended Contact Details:
The Libertarian Alliance is Britain's most radical free market
and civil liberties policy institute. It has published over 700
articles, pamphlets and books in support of freedom and against
statism in all its forms. These are freely available at http://www.libertarian.co.uk
Our postal address is
The Libertarian Alliance
Suite 35
2 Lansdowne Row
Mayfair
London
W1J 6HL
Tel: 07956 472 199
Associated Organisations
The Libertarian International - http://www.libertarian.to - is a
sister organisation to the Libertarian Alliance. Its mission is to
coordinate various initiatives in the defence of individual liberty
throughout the world.
Sean Gabb's personal website - http://www.seangabb.co.uk - contains
about a million words of writings on themes interesting to
libertarians and conservatives.
Liberalia - http://www.liberalia.com - maintained
by by LA Executive member Christian Michel, Liberalia publishes
in-depth papers in French and English on libertarianism and free
enterprise. It is a prime source of documentation on these issues for
students and scholars.
