I tend to describe myself as a classical liberal, or perhaps a Bowmanite neoliberal. I used to go by libertarian, but for me that term is too strongly tied up with conspiracism and ideological extremism for me to be comfortable identifying with it.

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Among my core beliefs:​

• Everyone should have a basic standard of living and the opportunity to better themselves.

• Beyond that, people should be free to pursue their own success and not punished for doing so.

• There is no absolute right to continue living as you are living now.

• No act without a victim is a crime, and no act exclusively involving consenting adults is immoral.

• People fundamentally have a right to privacy that should only be violated in extenuating circumstances

• Equal rights, equal treatment of others and equality under the law are among the cornerstones of a civilized society.

• However, inequality of outcome will always, and should always, exist - there's no motivation to better yourself without it.

• No system has ever been as effective at building wealth and reducing poverty than a system of free trade and free markets

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Politically I probably identify more with Emmanuel Macron and En Marche than any other major Western political movement. Within the UK I'm nominally a Conservative, but more in line with the beliefs of the Cameron-Clegg coalition than the current fairly lackluster party leadership - though I still think the coalition was too timid about both economic and legal reforms. In the US I'd probably be a Democrat, though I have a lot of time for the odd maverick Republican like Rand Paul or John Kasich.

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