Dr Madsen Pirie is a founder and the president of the Adam Smith Institute, a free-market and trade think- tank named after the great Edinburgh philosopher and economist. His verdict on new Labour, so far? He replies: “A mixed report. Shows good progress on health and education but needs to attend to taxation and needs extra coaching on regulation.” He is preparing an updated Omega Project blueprint for 2005 with all the answers. The last such radical report was presented to the Tory Government before the 1983 election. He says new Labour ministers are happy to come to talk to the Institute and eat lunch, “but the old ones are still in the mind-set of state controls, rather than free markets and competition. They are apprehensive about being seen in our company.” Dr Pirie is hoping to become a children’s author in the next few months: “I’ve written a science-fiction book for young teenagers and my agent is busy looking for a publisher.” He’s spending his birthday dining with friends in a Pimlico restaurant. Madsen Pirie is 64 today.
RGT
Paul Barker, writer and broadcaster, 69; Liz Bavidge, co-chair of the Women’s National Commission, 59; Vice-Admiral Sir Stephen Berthon, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Operational Requirements), 1978-81, 82; Alan Brooker, chairman of Extel, 1980-87, 73; Dame Antonia Byatt, writer, 68; Lord Chadlington, chairman of the National Lottery Advisory Board for Arts and Film, 1994-96; 62; Carlo Curley, organist, 52; Tommy Docherty, former football manager, 76; Sir James Duncan, chairman of the Transport Development Group, 1975-92, 77; Sir Michael Franklin, director of Whitbread, 1991-98, 77; Stephen Fry, actor, writer and comedian, 47; the Earl of Harrington, landowner, 82; Jean-Michel Jarre, musician, 56; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Johnston, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, 1981-87, 82; Major-General Sir Iain Mackay-Dick, General Officer Commanding London District and Major-General Commanding Household Division, 1994-97, 59; Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, 72; Sam Torrance, golfer, 51; H.R. Wright, Chief Master of King Edward’s School, Birmingham, 1991-98, 66.