Cameron confronts ‘big society’ bafflement
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have unveiled a raft of policies reflecting the Conservatives’ ‘big society’ agenda.
The prime minister and his deputy highlighted the advent of “people power” in an event in No 10.
Community organisers, encouraging volunteering and social action and a pilot National Citizen Service are all measures falling under the ‘big society’ umbrella.
The government also intends to back mutuals, cooperatives, charities and social enterprises; introduce a ‘right to data’ for citizens; and extend local government powers.
The ‘big society’ concept is one which dominated the launch of the Conservative party’s manifesto. It involves handing power to individuals in a bid to persuade them, as the manifesto’s front cover put it, to “join the government of Britain”.
Activists complained the message was hard to convey to voters on the doorstep, however.
“During the election campaign I extended an invitation to everyone in this country to join the government of Britain,” the prime minister said.
“I said that the idea of the ‘big society’ would be marching through the corridors of power – and it’s happening right now. Today is the start of a deep and serious reform agenda to take power away from politicians and give it to people.”
Mr Cameron criticised the state as being “too inhuman, monolithic and clumsy” and said he wanted to see “people and communities” assume more power over their lives.
Political observers will be carefully assessing the extent to which Mr Clegg embraces Mr Cameron’s vision in the coming days and months.
He had warned before the general election there was a “price tag attached” to the policy, calling it “hollow” and “disguising fake change”.
The kind of localism advocated by the Tories is closely linked to the right-wing Lib Dem policies seen in the ‘Orange Book’, but the language remains very much Tory.
Speaking today, Mr Clegg said: “We need radical change that puts power back in the hands of people. Only by bringing down vested interests and giving people real control over their lives will we build a Britain that is fair.”
Teach First founder Nat Wei has been appointed advisor to the government on ‘big society’ and is to be ennobled. The new minister for civil society, Nick Hurd, will lead on the delivery of the programme.
