The late, great Lord Harris

I have just heard the sad news that Ralph Harris, Lord Harris of High Cross, has died.

I owe a great deal to Ralph Harris and the late Arthur Seldon, the men who founded the Institute of Economic Affairs and were tireless campaigners for liberty. Their greatest achievement in was to promote the idea of free market reform when it was deeply unfashionable. By changing the mind of a few individuals in the Conservative Party they changed the world. I am grateful for that, but also for something more personal.

Harris was very insistent that his was a non-partisan think tank. He regarded it as particularly important that non-Tories be educated in the IEA's ideas. And that is how I, a young adviser to SDP leader David Owen, found myself a guest at the famous IEA lunches of the mid 1980s. Harris helped the social market thinking of the Owenites to travel sharply in a free market direction.

I can't think of very many people who combine strong opinions of their own with such an open, welcoming attitude.

The British political and intellectual scene will miss this man deeply.

Comments

[Chris Gillibrand]

All the great gains of freedom inspired by Lord Harris are being slowly but surely eroded, not least by the EU. Modern politicians are in desperate need of his intellectual and practical boldness. May he rest in peace.

[Dr. Fabian Tassano]

Ralph Harris was a staunch fighter for the principles he believed in, including free markets, even when they were deeply unfashionable. He was also a great guy, whose charm was sincere rather than made up for the cameras. Where is his like now?