First confession

At a time when they are under threat across Europe, Reg Naulty reflects on a defence of liberal values

by Reg Naulty 7th September 2018

Chris Patten, perhaps best known as the last British governor of Hong Kong, was also an MP for thirteen years and held ministerial posts under Edward Heath, Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Later, he was a commissioner in the EU, chairman of the BBC Trust and chancellor of Oxford University. He still sits in the House of Lords. His book First Confession: A Sort of Memoir is a ringing exposition and defence of liberal social and political values against populism and terrorism.