The Spectator last week ran a piece by Andrew Neil saying “Memo to Gordon: it’s the Broken Society, stupid.” Was his memo intercepted? Because David Cameron has today given a speech entitled “Empowering local communities can heal our broken society.” It’s setting the stage for next week’s IDS report. Here’s my take on his speech.
1. “You cannot mend a broken society with the clunking fist of state control”. A powerful line – keep at it.
2. Cameron stresses that “power” as well as money need to go to the poor. The word “empowerment” should be right at the top of is vocabulary. It will put clear blue water between him and Brown, who believes a benign state should have the power.
3. But his plan for “a major transfer of power, money and responsibility over welfare to local councils” could be calamitous.
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