On another level, there has also a powerful backlash against the social liberalism that swept over Britain from the late 1960s, whose extremes were encapsulated in the famous slogan of Timothy Leary’s, ‘Turn on, tune in, drop out.’ But as the disastrous consequences of this irresponsible liberalism became ever more apparent, so a profound reaction set in. Reflecting an intolerance of harmful, self-indulgent conduct, the new morality can be seen all around us: in the doubling of the prison population since 1995; in the vigorous campaigns against domestic violence and sexual abuse; in the move to bring back discipline to schools; in the popularity of the coalition’s tough welfare reform; and in the widespread vetting of employees and volunteers. This is a world that sees a drug-addled hippie as a loser, not an inspiration, that regards a drink-drive record as a source of shame rather than an act of bravado. If Flaubert came back to Britain today, he might be surprised at the signs of hope for civilisation.
