Kate Andrews debates the ban on smoking in cars on BBC's Mark Forrest Show

Head of Communications, Kate Andrews, took part in a debate on whether or not the law banning smoking in cars with children present is justified or not. Kate disagrees with the law, arguing it's a waste of police time and that the research it is based on is not completely sound. The debate aired on all 39 local BBC radio stations in England and the Channel Islands.

It isn't the case that we should be saying that its completely fine for parents to smoke in front of their children, and with their children in any situation, what we're asking is whether or not the police should be getting involved. Is this something so bad that its worth criminalising?

Listen to the full interview here. (Starts 01:12:52)

The ASI's criticisms of the proposed regulations on Uber feature in The Guardian

The Adam Smith Institute has featured in The Guardian for our opposition to proposed regulations on Uber.

As well as Kirkup’s broadside, there has been strong condemnation from the Institute of Directors, the Adam Smith Institute and Johnson’s fellow Conservative MP Richard Fuller, who sits on the Commons business select committee.

Read the full article here. 

Have Courage To Be Contrarian| Sam Bowman for Sky News

Deputy Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, was on Sky News Morning Stories, encouraging people to be more contrarian in how they live their life.

Contrarians are always willing to say maybe we're wrong. It always pays to keep an open mind, even when we think its totally obvious whats true.

Sam argues it's beneficial to question things you're told, and lists 4 easy steps on how to do so.

Watch the full clip here. 

Adam Smith Institute's comments on Uber regulations feature in City AM

The Adam Smith Institute was referenced in City AM for our opposition to proposed regulations on Uber:

Free market campaign group the Adam Smith Institute said TfL’s move was an attack on all competition in the private hire space.

Read the full article here.

Kate Andrews discusses the smoking ban in cars on LBC

Head of Communications at the Adam Smith Institute, Kate Andrews, was interviewed by Leading Britain's Conversation on the drawbacks on implementing a smoking ban in cars. Listen to the full discussion here. (Starts Wednesday, on the 1pm show)

ASI Senior Fellow Tim Worstall discusses reparations to Jamaica on BBC World Service

Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, Tim Worstall, was interviewed by BBC World Service on whether or not Britain should pay Jamaica reparations for past slavery. He argued there was no legal or economic justification for it. Listen to the full discussion here. (Tim starts 03:16)

Press Release: TfL’s Uber crackdown would take ordinary Londoners out of the driving seat

For Immediate Release | For further comments or to arrange an interview, contact Head of Communications Kate Andrews: kate@adamsmith.org | 07476 915072. Commenting on leaked documents which reveal Transport for London's proposed regulations on private hire taxis, Head of Digital Policy at the Adam Smith Institute, Charlotte Bowyer, said:

Transport for London’s leaked consultation document is not only a thinly-veiled attack on Uber, but an attack on all forms of competition and potential new services in the private hire transportation space. Many of the proposals would be truly damaging to passengers and take ordinary Londoners out of the driving seat.

It is hard to see how a mandatory (five minute) wait time between booking a vehicle and it arriving can provide any value or security to consumers, and only furnishes the ‘flag down’ black cab trade with an artificial competitive advantage. And whilst it may be useful for passengers to be able book rides a week in advance, there is absolutely no reason why all private hire firms must be treated as ‘one size fits all’ and forced to offer such a service.

Furthermore, proposed restrictions on the number of operators a driver may work for only serves to hurt hard-working and entrepreneurial drivers, who often combine shifts at traditional minicab companies with flexible and adhoc hours with Uber. Ultimately this will hurt passengers by reducing the supply of drivers.

Notes to Editors:

The Adam Smith Institute is a free market, libertarian think tank based in London. It advocates classically liberal public policies to create a richer, freer world.

Kate Andrews for BBC 5 Live on whether to trust the Labour party with the economy

Kate Andrews, Head of Communications at the Adam Smith Institute, took part in a debate for BBC 5 Live this morning on whether or not the new Labour leadership should be given a chance with the UK economy. In this heated debate she argues against trusting them, and discusses issues such as housing, tax evasion and austerity measures. Listen to the full interview here.  (starts 07:00)

Sam Bowman's comments on fossil fuels feature in City AM

Deputy Director at the Adam Smith Institute, Sam Bowman, has featured in City AM for his opinion on fossil fuel divestment.

“Divestment is deeply misguided. At best, it has no effect on share prices. At worst, it transfers wealth to less scrupulous investors who benefit by paying less for oil stocks,” Sam Bowman, deputy director at free market think tank the Adam Smith Institute, told City A.M.

 Read the full article here.

ASI report "The Green Noose" features in The Times

ASI report The Green Noose: An analysis of Green Belts and proposals for reform has featured in in The Times:

The problem of house price inflation could be transformed tomorrow if a small proportion of the land that surrounds our major cities was released for housebuilding. The Adam Smith Institute estimates that reclassifying just 1.5 per cent of the nation’s green belt would be enough to build 1.4 million new homes.

Read the full article here.

The ASI report, The Green Noose: An analysis of Green Belts and proposals for reform, looks at the Green Belt’s impact on England’s housing shortage. After a comprehensive review of the causes of the housing crisis, it concludes that the planning structure is out of date and in need of radical reform.