Steve Hilton

Elysian fields

Far from being a left-wing utopia, the music festival operates according to principles many Conservatives hold dear

issue 20 June 2015

There is a phrase that has been fashionable for years in wonkland — places like the upper echelons of the civil service and high-end think tanks. The phrase is ‘evidence-based policy-making’. There, I bet that’s got you going.

When I was a citizen of wonkland and heard those words from the Sir Humphreys and Lady Susans I would typically roll my eyes or head for the door, because you can generally gather whatever evidence you want to justify whatever policy you want.

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