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Brilliant John Gray interview in the New Statesman.

HighToryPsychic

This is a brilliant interview and discussion with John Gray making many excellent points. Which I would like to discuss with people. If anyone can make it through the whole 80 minute interview. 

I am a High Tory, supporter of the Aristocratic High state being restored. So I support the overthrow of the Liberal managerial state and restoring Parliament, the common law, the Royal Navy so on. 

What I find really interesting is that Mr Gray makes all the right points I would make as a High Tory about the current Liberal consensus with live under and the need for Parliamentary accountability to be restored. I also agree with him the Thomas Hobbs was a form of Liberal. 

Its also because I want more Liberal minded members on here to question there Liberalism from a left-wing perspective. I can question it from a right-wing perspective, but I don't know how to do that from the left-wing side. Any discussion on these important topics within society and the depth of learning, knowledge, experience of Mr Gray is a good starting point for this. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvDXwjeMB_k  

Thanks. 

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  • in reply to Iain

    Yes. The Aristocratic High state which was in power from the 1660 restoration to the 1906 general election. Those people being restore to power. And the removal of the Liberal elite we have been ruled by since 1906. And yeah the right to vote would be massively limited as it was before in the mid-late 1800's. Its fitting that in the name of democracy we are now ruled by the civil service, international law and judges. The elected politicians have less control now than they did in the 1800's. 

    High Tory goes along with High Church Anglicanism, High culture, High state. It means the state is broadly non interventionist within society/the economy, it has a basic role to defend the country, police it, slightly regular it, enforce the law. But it doesn't try to direct or change society like the Liberal low state has done. So its a low tax, low regulation, Patriarchal state. 

  • in reply to Iain

    I imagine it does sadly Upside down I asked Meta AI what John Gray's political persuasion is and this is what it said:

    *Political persuasion:* John Gray ( author of _Straw Dogs_ ) is generally described as a *pessimistic conservative* or *cultural conservative* with strong *anti‑progressivist*, *skeptical‑liberal* leanings.

    | Aspect | Typical characterisation |

    |--------|--------------------------|

    | *Philosophical stance* | Criticizes Enlightenment rationalism, scientific optimism, and utopian political projects; emphasizes limits of human knowledge and the “tragedy of the human condition.” |

    | *Political label* | _Conservative_ (cultural) – often grouped with “reactionary” or “counter‑Enlightenment” thinkers, though he rejects traditional party politics. |

    | *Key themes in _Straw Dogs_* | Anti‑progress, anti‑humanism, ecological limits, disillusionment with liberal democracy’s promises. |

    | *Self‑description* | Gray describes himself as a *skeptic* of all grand ideologies; he does not align neatly with left‑right spectrum but leans toward a *conservative realism* that values tradition and stability over radical change. |

    *Why the label?*

    - He critiques liberalism, Marxism, and neoliberalism as “secular religions.”

    - He upholds a *pessimistic view of human nature* and the dangers of hubristic attempts to reshape society, which are typical conservative cautionary motifs.

    - Yet he does not advocate for a specific party program; his work is more a *philosophical critique* than a political manifesto.

    _Sources:_

    - Gray, J. (2002). _Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals_. London: Granta.

    - Gray, J. (2007). _Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia_. London: Allen Lane.

    - Secondary literature: e.g., “John Gray: The Conservative Critic of Liberalism,” _The Guardian_ (2009).