Such techniques used to be the stuff of authoritarian societies and the Soviet-era. Their use by our government to coerce us into behaviour designed to fulfil the requirements of behavioural ‘scientists’ doctrinally motivated by Communist ideologies has no place in a supposedly democratic society.

Dr Gary Sidley is a retired NHS consultant clinical psychologist and a member of the Health Advisory & Recovery Team. Gary recently published a paper based on a programme of research that drew attention to the UK government’s use of nudge and other behavioural interventions that – he suggests – were highly unethical.

I started by asking Gary about his background in psychology and about the origins of nudging – as well as the government’s “look into their eyes” campaign.

We also discuss the extent to which behavioural scientists have have become embedded all over government – and the lack of ethical judgement that is required of these people when exercising their nudging techniques.

Look into their eyes – by Jeffrey Peel – The New Era