progressivethethe progressiveSPRING 2010 conscienceconscience OF CLASHTHEGENERATIONS David WILLETTS Rafael BEHR Matthew TAYLOR Tim MONTGOMERIE OF CLASHTHE GENERATIONS David WILLETTS Rafael BEHR Matthew TAYLOR Tim MONTGOMERIE SPRING 2010 brightbright blue blue image ian muttoo Contributors Contents Anushka Asthana is the Policy Editor of The Observer Page 6 THE PROGCON ESSAY Rafael Behr is Chief Leader Writer for The Observer David Willetts calls on the babyboomers to act Damian Collins is the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe and founding director of the Conservative Arts and Creative Page 8 THE INTERVIEW David Willetts Industries Network Danny Kruger reflects on his journey from Team Cameron to theatre with Tim Gill writes on childhood. His book No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse ex-offenders society was published in 2007 Pages 11-22 OPINION Nick Hillman is the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge and author of Quelling the Pensions Storm Matt Warman ponders over the post-bureaucratic age Rafael Behr on decentralisation and collective identity Danny Kruger is a former speechwriter to David Cameron and co-founder of Lucy Stone wants a greener future for our children OnlyConnect Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain on faith schools Anushka Asthana applauds the modern man Matthew Taylor Penny Mansfield is Director of One Plus One, the relationship research Tim Gill returns to his childhood image: David Devin charity Page 14 THE POLITICS COLUMN Fiona Melville and David Skelton run Platform 10, a blog which campaigns for modern, liberal Conservatism Fiona Melville and David Skelton say the modernisation of the Tories is the only way forward Tim Montgomerie is Editor of ConservativeHome Pages 23-29 THE THINKERS Yvonne Roberts is a Senior Research Associate at The Young Foundation Penny Mansfield reflects on changing attitudes towards families Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain MBE is Minister for Maidenhead Synagogue and Matthew Taylor suggests how we can bring people together chair of the Accord Coalition, which campaigns for inclusive faith schools Yvonne Roberts tackles the NEET problem. Rafael Behr Lucy Stone leads UNICEF UK’s climate change work with political strategy and innovative funding Page 30 SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER Matthew Taylor is the Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Tim Mongomerie believes Conservative means will achieve progressive ends encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Pages 31-34 THE DOERS Matt Warman is the Consumer Technology Editor of The Daily Telegraph Conservative Candidates Nick Hillman and Damian Collins on students and David Willetts is MP for Havant and Shadow Secretary of State for businesses Innovation, Universities and Skills. His new book, The Pinch: How the baby boomers took their children’s future, was published earlier this year Anushka Asthana EDITORIAL EDITORIAL The Voiceless Need Representation By Ryan Shorthouse The Progressive Conscience stert toooooooooooooooooo what matters most is people: not sys- er over public services is too concen- are not taking a stand – 56% of 17-25 is produced and published by tems or ideology. The Tory mission really trated in bureaucracies such as White- year olds are not on the electoral roll. should be about empowering people to hall and Town Halls. We need a radical They need to start talking. Shouting, lead more independent and flourishing decentralisation of power: real power even. The Tory’s leading thinker, David bright blue lives, less dependent on the state in the to the people. So many Tory proposals Willetts, has published a book called with the support of long-run. are very welcome. Allowing co-opera- The Pinch, providing insightful analysis The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd. Of course we have to fix our frightening tives to manage state services. Letting of how the actions of baby boomers – public debt. Savings can and will have parents and philanthropic groups set up though not deliberately – have made it to be found. But let us not fool our- and run schools. Outcomes-based com- harder for the next generation. The Progressive Conscience selves that redistribution of wealth via missioning so people shape their ser- Indeed, younger workers have been hit the state fails. Increased benefits and vices, rather than being dictated from the worse during this recession. Over Editor: Ryan Shorthouse tax credits have lifted more people over above. More voluntary organisations, the past few decades, a more flexible the poverty line since 1997. The state, with the money from Government, de- labour market has made youth employ- Advertising: Victoria Chamberlin when it works well, is good. livering programmes. Greater flexibility ment less stable and earnings have de- in contracts for third sector organisa- clined relative to older workers. Get- Design: Peter Chamberlin “The Tory mission tions. This will give people the freedom, ting on the property ladder remains a As the General Election fast approach- sters cannot access a decent education really should be about power and enthusiasm to innovate their distant dream. Debts from education The Bright Blue Executive es, the political parties mudslinging and to get on in life and escape the wretch- empowering people to services and make lasting impact in de- and high livings costs means savings for Tim Flagg hyperactively announcing policies to ed environment of their childhood. lead more independent prived communities. tougher times are often non-existent. woo the so-called Motorway Man, we in These people have no suited and booted We need a new approach to support Assets and wealth have become increas- [email protected] politics must not forget who we should lobbyist to represent them. They are the and flourishing lives, less the voiceless. With its commitment to ingly concentrated higher up the age really be fighting for. voiceless – they have been for genera- dependent on the state in decentralisation, the Tories provide an scale. Coupled with our massive public Jonty Olliff-Cooper It cannot be right that – as more of us in tions. And we must stand up for them. the long-run” answer. But there will be those around debt and ageing population, the young [email protected] Britain enjoy longer, healthier, wealthi- David Cameron’s new Progressive Con- Cameron sceptical, calling for the same will be more burdened taxpayers. er lives than ever before – there remains servatism recognises this. But he should But too often rigid rules and targets old – and failed - libertarian methods. But if Willetts and his front bench col- Ryan Shorthouse people who are caged in miserable pov- be careful of the ideologues who urge have thwarted the innovation and pas- So the Conservative Party, if in Govern- leagues are serious about a fairer distri- [email protected] erty, entrapped in dire and unthinkable him to attack the state, say it has failed sion of people working on the ground ment, will face its own clash of the gen- bution of wealth and power across the circumstances, unable to even taste the to tackle the unacceptable levels of pov- - in hospitals, schools, Sure Start cen- erations. We in Bright Blue hope new, generations, this raises questions about Victoria Chamberlin opportunities so many of us take for erty. Politically, this is a mistake. About tres, social services - to support our progressive thinking will prevail. In fact, policy direction on university tuition [email protected] granted. one in five people in this country are most vulnerable. Labour has done well the reason why Bright Blue was created fees, inheritance tax and lowering the We should be angry. Very angry that public sector employees. Many of them to build up the framework that provides was to fight for such thinking. voting age. James Marshall so many children in our country live in work for the state because they are the all-important raw materials. Yet, [email protected] Young People homes so depressing that their health is driven by an overwhelmingly desire to for the past ten years, we have seen a I do hope you enjoy the first edition of appalling and they lack the love needed do public good. They will be angry, quite rise in stubborn, extreme poverty. We In a different way, many young people The Progressive Conscience, exploring Liam Scott-Smith to grow into emotionally and socially rightly, if they are described as failures. now need real activism and passion by today are also voiceless. Children can- the clash of generations. The magazine [email protected] competent people. Angry too that peo- And they will be fearful for their jobs if people in the state and voluntary sec- not vote – so they cannot shape the po- would not have been possible without ple are so fearful - or forgotten - that Cameron talks about cutting the state tor to transform hard-pressed communi- litical direction of our country. Instead, all of the creative and passionate Bright Peter Chamberlin they are locked in their homes, a strang- without saying exactly where. ties. This is where the Conservatives are they can only hope that the generations Blue team – Tim, Jonty, Vikki, Pete, Liam [email protected] er in their own neighbourhood, unable Too often the Tory mission has been car- needed in the next chapter in the fight that come before them leave an envi- and James. And I am particularly grate- to forge friendships and participate in icatured as just wanting a small state to end the evil that is poverty. ronmentally and economically sustain- ful to Pete for designing what I hope you http://brightblueonline.com society. Angry more that so many young- – and all good will derive from this. But Cameron’s team is right to say that pow- able future. Even those who are eligible will judge a fantastic magazine. 4 5 THE PROGCON ESSAY THE PROGCON ESSAY The Broken Contract The contract between the generations has broken.