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. Conservatives must find a way to heal it. By David Willetts MP I welcome the launch of a new group away the coat of prejudice, and to leave evidence sometimes emerging from devoted to fresh Conservative thinking. nothing but the naked reason; because whole new disciplines is deployed. That Some Conservatives are of course in- prejudice, with its reason, has a motive can really enrich our understanding of stinctively suspicious of such a danger- to give action to that reason, and an af- our society and open up a far more so- ous activity, which they may regard as fection which will give it permanence.” phisticated debate about policy than deeply unconservative. So for example ever before. Dr Johnson dismissed the Toryism of the Especially nowadays there is no alterna- It is particularly needed at a time like great philosopher David Hume, saying: tive to reason, evidence, and argument this when over 80% of people believe “Sir, Hume is a Tory by chance.” – and that is what Bright Blue is devoted our country is heading in the wrong di- He meant by this that Hume had reached to. But it should be respectful of popu- rection. They are desperate for change his Toryism by a process of intellectual lar wisdom. This is where social science and that is what the Centre Right must argument not because of a deep instinct. is changing. Indeed one of the most ex- offer. Our argument is that our econo- The danger, they may fear, of depending citing developments at present is the my, our society and our politics are all on evidence and rational thought is that maturing of relatively new disciplines broken and need to be fixed. This must the conclusions one reach could change such as game theory and evolutionary rest on a deep understanding of what is - hence the suspicion that these are biology. These are transforming our going wrong with our country and why. weak foundations on which to erect any understanding of for example how co- My new book tries to rise to this chal- political programme. operation works, the role of institutions lenge. It goes back to deep-seated and We can understand the point. Conserva- and traditions, and the environment in very human concerns about the kind of tives respect the traditions and institu- which a modern market economy func- world we are passing on to our kids. tions of a society and are understand- tions. I am convinced that the most powerful ably wary of the arrogance of changing “As our links with other measure of what is broken in our soci- all that just because of an idea. Edmund ety is the breakdown of the contract on debt and borrowing. This is revealed and power the boomers have ended up All these failures are possible because of Burke resolved this problem in a mas- generations have weakened, between the generations. It means our in extraordinarily low levels of saving shaping a society and an economy which a third failure – a broken polity. It is one terful statement of the true conserva- we have become more society is marked by a deep distrust be- over the past decade. In fact, OECD works for them but not for the younger in which inter-generational exchange tive approach: dependent on the family” tween the generations. And this is not figures show that British households generations. and communication has reduced. All just a wider trend in the Western world, were running negative savings in each too often the media caricature them “We are afraid to put men to live and In addition the increase in the sheer it is particularly acute in Britain. Sur- year from 2005 to 2008. This is virtually “All too often the as a problem when they are our future. trade each on his own private stock of volume of affordable computing power veys across Europe ask adults if they unprecedented in the modern western media caricature them Young people are not likely to vote so reason; because we suspect that this is enabling social scientists to analyse would intervene if they saw a 14 year economy. Even in the US their net sav- as a problem when they are caught in a vicious cycle in ing rate did not go negative like ours. which their voice is not heard as clearly stock in each man is small, and that far more detailed data sets and de- old vandalising a bus shelter – in Ger- they are our future” the individuals would do better to avail tect deeper patterns of cause and ef- many 65% would, in Spain 52% and in the This is a catastrophic failure to value as it ought to be and that leaves them themselves of the general bank and cap- fect than ever before. All this activity UK just 34%. the future. It means that even if there even more disengaged from politics. ital of nations and of ages. Many of our is not necessarily exploding Conserva- The generation gap within the family has is physical investment in our country, it We can appeal to their better natures This suggests that one of the central men of speculation, instead of exploding tive “prejudices” but often providing a healed but outside it has broken down. does not belong to us as others provided to set things right. And we can appeal tasks for the next Conservative Govern- general prejudices, employ their sagac- much deeper understanding of, for ex- This means that, paradoxically, as our the capital. This in turn threatens the to enlightened self interest too. After ment as we try to repair our broken so- ity to discover the latent wisdom which ample, the significance of the family or links with other generations have weak- standard of living of future generations all the boomers will end up depending ciety will be to repair the broken con- prevails in them. If they find what they the efficiency of social conventions. ened, we have become more dependent who will not be endowed with the capi- on the younger generation and should tract between the generations. I hope seek, and they seldom fail, they think I hope therefore that what will make on the family. tal they need to enjoy rising prosperity. remember that great American bum- Bright Blue will play a leading role in it more wise to continue the prejudice, Bright Blue really significant and per- It is widely understood that what has It is not that the baby boomers are bad per sticker, “Be nice to your kids - they thinking about how we tackle that and with the reason involved, than to cast suasive will be the way in which all this broken our economy is our dependence people. But by virtue of their sheer size choose your nursing home.” other such challenges. 6 7 THE INTERVIEW Connected to the Community Danny Kruger talks to Ryan Shorthouse about his departure from the inner circle to being centre stage with young offend- ers in his charity Only Connect. Ryan Shorthouse So, it’s been nearly four years since you wrote the “hug a hoodie” speech for David Cameron.

Danny Kruger As you know no-one ever said anything about hugging anyone.

RS But it was quite a surprising, signifi- cant speech for the Tories – a real shift in tone from just sounding tough on criminals – to understanding, empathis- ing even, with the turbulent history of people who turn to crime. Is that still the right approach?

DK I think we need to show young peo- ple that they matter, that they are sig- nificant and valued - the reason they go wild is often because they haven’t heard that message loud enough in the families and communities they grew up in. But as we also said in the speech, erty, unemployment, addiction - then same time and it wasn’t fair to my em- young people need firm boundaries and the child is already in trouble, and the ployer - the Conservative Party. I simply clear penalties for crossing them, which breakup of the family is just another, found I was more excited and passion- is why this wasn’t a ‘soft on crime’ mes- really serious, problem that is added. ate about growing our little charity than sage. Of course when middle class parents about the eighth draft of a speech about split up there’s not much added chance helping the voluntary sector - honoured RS I just want to pick up on what you say of criminality in the children. But the as I was to be writing those speeches about families. Because there’s a strong lack of a dad is directly linked to other the excitement of actually churning narrative out there at the moment social problems, for boys and girls. It’s them out tends to pall after a while which says family breakdown can lead common sense but it’s also empirically to really serious problems like increased proved. RS You left just before the economic criminality. But is it really the case that crisis. Before some say sunny, optimistic if a child’s parents split up they are go- RS You left David Cameron’s office in Cameronism was replaced by talk of an ing to end up in some gang? What do you 2008. When the Tories were high in the age of austerity. Has he taken a wrong really mean when a family has broken polls. Power was in touching distance. turn? down? There wasn’t family breakdown in Team Cameron, was there? I mean: why did DK I think we still need a positive, can- DK It depends on the context. When you turn your back on it? do alternative to the grim gloominess parents split up partly in consequence of late-stage New Labour. The topic of of other negative stuff going on - pov- DK I was trying to do two jobs at the politics has shifted from social to eco- 8 9 THE INTERVIEW OPINION nomic policy, but we still need to focus DK None of us follow a straight path in tion to their character. Ex-offenders on restoring the broken parts of our so- our lives and our members are battling a are pretty unprejudiced about people’s Open Data, Smaller Government? ciety - not least because the taxpayer lot of demons. But yes we’ve seen some background and I can honestly say I Matt Warman asks if a new post-bureaucratic age will mean people demand a diminished role for the state. can’t afford to go on bailing out social hugely inspiring changes - long-term don’t think any of our members know, failure for ever. crack addicts beating the habit, parents or are remotely interested in, what When David Cameron opened YouGov’s powerfully, and more conservatively, knowing you could make some money reconciled to their children, people school I went to. conference on The Post-Bureaucratic Age, the notion of competition is introduced: cruising the streets of Much Binding once RS Interesting that you say parts of so- getting jobs for the first time ever. But he spoke of the practical consequences my building’s saved more money than a month might be a useful motivational ciety are broken rather than a broken the most inspiring thing is seeing some- RS I agree. Any budding Colin Firth’s in of using technology to cut through red yours. The advantages of greater public tool, and it might relieve the council of a society. one who came in aggressive and hostile, the group? tape, empower individuals to feel like accountability are obvious. Make this task that’s either a burden or perhaps a holding their head up and looking like they make a real difference and to move approach widespread, it’s argued, and useful way of subsidising the perennially DK I do think we have a broken society they feel good about themselves - and DK Some of our members are phenom- away from big government. the advantages are plain to see and vast unprofitable collection of the fridges in but some parts are more broken than all without doing anything illegal. enally talented. I don’t think Colin Firth That last one’s surely the most in extent. Little Binding. others - obviously. is quite the comparison though. They interesting for a Conservative audience There’s a second dimension to the public If the whole service is axed because it’s RS I hear you even lived with some of tend to play somewhat grittier charac- – no government has ever, after all, availability of data on things such as simply no longer viable, however, costs RS I remember you saying you wanted to them? ters. stated its desire to bureaucratise and this, however: not only will it make how of clearing up after fly-tipping might do something practical rather than the- disempower – but it’s worth unpicking taxes are spent more obvious than ever increase – release more data, introduce oretical to help quell social breakdown. DK We did have a project where Emma RS Yes. Quite. Have you learnt anything why this new idea will mean a smaller before, at a granular level, but it will completion without consideration and So why theatre? and I lived with a bunch of ex-offenders. from them? state, and just how far it might go. The also stoke the forces of competition. there’s the risk of the unsightly problem It was fun while it lasted but we have a ramifications for politics, for leadership For example, take a Parish Council’s of the fridges of Much Binding in the DK The arts are simply the most effec- baby now and we need our space DK Yes I have learnt a huge amount and for technology can hardly be precept: in the post bureaucratic age, marsh. tive way to engage alienated and trau- about growing up in chaos and the ways overstated. the council’s treasurer is likely to have to Or how long would it be before parties matised young people, and therefore RS Sorry to sound like a tub-thumping you learn to cope - not all of which are First, however: just what is the “post- put his accounts online, mainly because or campaigners gathered data together start the process of transforming their Labour backbencher but how can on old bad. Beyond the often awful aggres- bureaucratic age”? Will Straw, the some other parish council up the road on a range of small issues, pointed out lives. People who have failed in conven- Etonian like you - or David Cameron for sion and criminality, out of sight of the left’s leading blogger, argues that it’s a will have started doing it already. to voters that it added up to a certain tional education respond hugely posi- that matter - understand these people? public, is a remarkable warmth, a spirit loaded, party political term for an idea It might reveal, for instance, that there’s amount of council tax per year, and tively to creativity. It helps them see of getting along, a respect for charac- with obvious cross-party appeal. But, an annual grant made to the parish stood on an electoral platform based themselves and their world in a new DK The key to everything is relation- ter, an appetite for life in the moment, in short, it means transparency about magazine, because it is the main vehicle on saving people that amount in tax, light and also gives them an opportunity ships and if you’re around someone long which educated people from safe back- decision making, devolved down to as for publishing minutes of parish council because those specific services could be to be applauded - something we all need enough you forget what colour they are grounds often lack. It’s invigorating be- low a level as is reasonably practical. meetings. But if enough residents don’t cut? The politician’s prerogative to lead as much as possible. or how they speak and you pay atten- ing around them. So every government contract under like the parish magazine’s partisan line, could be profoundly changed, especially £25,000 would be published online, now - more easily than ever before - if confronted at the ballot box by pure RS I really agree with that. So should there’d be a public reading stage for they can lobby against that grant and economics. there be more opportunities to be cre- parliamentary bills, and the ongoing argue that they should pay less tax to The hope, of course, is that the people of ative in schools? Would that help? Only Connect use of technology to make as much data the parish council. The idea of citizens Much Binding will realise that it’s worth public as possible. That way, it is hoped, taking control of their politicians, at paying for a better environment, free DK The best schools manage to mix tra- Founded: 2006 what Mr Cameron called “gentle social every level, has never been more stark. of dumped fridges. And that technology Founders: Danny and Emma Kruger ditional rigour with real creativity - I pressure” can be applied on individuals Or take a larger scale model: many will drive forward new ways of analysing Location: King’s Cross and institutions. councils offer a service to collect and publicising data. Perhaps it’s even rather think the two are linked, like the Website: http://www.onlyconnectuk.org/ wild sonnets of Gerard Manley Hopkins Works with: Prisoners, ex-offenders and A case in point is at local councils large waste items such as fridges, for the role of a government in the post- that actually follow traditional rules of young people at risk of crime such as Maidenhead: simply publishing a supposedly nominal fee. Release the bureaucratic age to make sure that poetry People involved: 100 prisoners a year in workshops or plays energy usage figures for government data, and it will be obvious that Much data is presented to the public as Performances: 10 theatre productions since 2006 buildings has encouraged staff to be Binding has a large number of white effectively as possible. Either way, the RS What difference has Only Connect Proudest Seeing prisoners applauded by the public for doing more energy efficient. If you might get goods that it disposes of every month. post-bureaucratic age is about treating made to young people? Have lives been achievements: something positive caught, people are more likely to do Suddenly the rag and bone men might voters like grown ups – it’s an approach transformed? what they ought – but perhaps more just be able to come out of retirement: that’s so long overdue. 10 11 Rafael Behr

OPINION OPINION Plural Problems neighbour as a benefit - by extension of c lllllllllllllllllll An increasingly pluralistic society needs collective identity. Brown’s Britishness community interest - to himself. bombed, argues Rafael Behr, but Cameron’s decentralisation poses problems Then, as public services cease to be The corridors of Whitehall are haunted And yet progressive politics cannot so viewed as a shared endeavour, social by the ghosts of New Labour initiatives, easily dismiss the solidarity deficit in Brit- cohesion becomes even harder to main- conceived of the need to grab a day’s ish society. This is not some social hernia tain, with all sorts of associated haz- headlines, delivered in poorly attended that suddenly occurred when a tiny mi- ards. speeches, soon abandoned. These starve- nority of religious fanatics turned to ter- Consider, for example, Michael Gove’s ling policies are soon forgotten by all but rorism. It is the expression of gradual but education plans for a new generation of the unfortunate civil servants whose pro- massive cultural change in British society, “Although the ambition might independent, state-funded schools. The fessional obligation it is to take what min- brought about by a wide range of forces: be to empower the sensible idea is to allow providers from civil so- isters say seriously. mass migration; the digital revolution; ciety to compete for pupils, thus driving That is how most people would judge Gor- economic globalisation; social liberalisa- majority, the current climate of up standards. That is a perfectly ratio- flickr.com/bixentro don Brown’s various calls for a renewed tion; changes in family structures. political apathy favours a well- nal and admirable goal. concept of “Britishness”. Remember a The national identity question is, in that mobilised fanatical minority” But there is a risk that, even with the leaning services? Must they be spelled consumer choice. new British Day? It was going to be our sense, also an expression of inter-genera- obligation to teach the national curricu- out in law? And if so, does that not lead That offers an intellectual challenge 4th July, except not commemorating a tional conflict. The children of globalisa- lum, the new schools are “captured” by a Conservative government back into – and an opportunity - to Progressive defeat. The idea bombed. tion have a kind of consumer power in the proponents of ideas that make main- the New Labour trap of central com- Conservatism as a movement. What is It was much derided as an attempt to formation of their identities that their stream British society squeamish: cre- mand-and-control? its approach to the dilemmas of social neutralise English voters’ (largely imag- parents struggle to appreciate. They are ationism; radical Islam; ethnic national- None of this is to say that Conservative cohesion in an atomised society? Can ined) wariness of Brown’s Scottishness. also subject to powerful supra-national ism. plans are bad. The implicit faith in the it find a way to express the tension be- Besides, it takes a leader with charisma forces wanting to influence their loyal- The same risk applies to Conservative good sense and moderation of the UK tween the ambition to trust people with and a clear democratic mandate to lead a ties, from commercial brands to radical plans for new schools are “captured” public is refreshing, especially when power at a local level and the need for debate on symbols of nationhood. Brown religious sermons on YouTube. by proponents of ideas that make main- compared to the homogenising bludgeon national government to command moral was unqualified. That has radical consequences for the stream British society squeamish: cre- of New Labour’s regulatory approach. authority? ationism; radical Islam; ethnic national- The traditional Left often conflates the It is, of course, possible that Britain can That doesn’t mean Brown was wrong to way society confers its loyalty on public “A group of people that has no see disorientation in national identity as bodies. In the past, they would have had ism. values of the nation with the functions muddle along without a clear sense of an issue. A Conservative government will some intrinsic authority simply by virtue profound sense of collective The same risk applies to Conservative of government. That is a mistake. It identity indefinitely. Britishness has al- end up grappling with the same ques- of being part of the institutional fabric of identity is disinclined to pool plans for elected police commissioners leads to the assumption that, for ex- ways been fluid, defined, to some ex- tions. the nation. In essence, national identity its capital” and cooperative ownership of other ser- ample, insufficient national loyalty can tent, by its unwillingness to submit to For Brown the driving argument was se- automatically included deference to his- vices. Although the ambition might be simply be remedied by teaching “citi- definition. But it is possible that, in aus- curity. Speaking in 2006 about the terror toric institutions, including government to empower the sensible majority, the zenship” in schools and confecting na- tere economic times, these questions attacks on London the previous year, he and the constitution. current climate of political apathy fa- tional holidays. will cease to be abstract. A government said: “[The terrorists] were British citi- But increasingly, the relationship be- vours a well-mobilised fanatical minor- The Right, meanwhile, is deeply suspi- that inflicts painful cuts will need moral zens, British born apparently integrated tween citizens and public authorities is ity. Radical entryism could undermine cious of state involvement in fostering authority. It must be felt to be acting on into our communities … We have to be purely transactional. What, the citizen- the project and corrode trust in vital identity, believing nationhood is trans- behalf of the nation as a whole, or risk clearer now about how diverse cultures consumer asks, is in it for me? institutions. mitted through cultural and civic insti- being overwhelmed by public anger. which inevitably contain differences can In policy terms that has important fiscal What assumptions, if any, can govern- tutions separate from government. Gordon Brown showed that a weak prime find the essential common purpose also implications. A group of people that has ment make about the reasonable pa- But those institutions constitute a tra- minister, wedded to central state solu- without which no society can flourish.” no profound sense of collective identity is rameters within which a new generation ditional Establishment whose author- tions, cannot lead a debate on what it That was a fair point, but it set the de- disinclined to pool its capital. A disunited of service providers will set their work- ity is not guaranteed when power is means to be British. That doesn’t prove bate in terms of patriotism and loyalty, society resents paying taxes. The individ- ing ethos? What beliefs would be consid- devolved in a society characterised by the debate is unnecessary. It just means which sounded too much like traditional ual becomes less likely to see the provi- ered beyond the pale for a provider of religious pluralism, cultural diversity another generation will have to look for nationalism for most liberal sensibilities. sion of public services, or welfare, to his education or health or, for that matter, and the largely unchallenged power of the answers. 12 13 THE POLITICS COLUMN THE POLITICS COLUMN Progressive Party People We had to modernise. We still need to go further. But the next generation belongs to progressive conservatives. By Fiona Melville and David Skelton. In 2005, the Conservative Party suffered have liked some individual policies, related problems: the brand, the poli- People with progressive values and a be- its third landslide election defeat in a they did not trust the Conservatives to cies and the voice. lief in fairness are once more welcome row. This was unprecedented – it had deliver them either competently or with Determined action on the brand meant in the modern Conservative Party. ‘One been the governing party for two-thirds compassion – as soon as they found out surprising people with Conservative nation’ and ‘social justice’ are Conser- of the twentieth century, never out of that the policies belonged to the Tories, support for environmental action, in- vative watchwords again. The leader- power for more than a few years at a support dropped away. The Conserva- ternational development and fighting ship team is once more a team of all time, and generally seen as a moderate tive brand had become ‘contaminated’ poverty. the talents, with the likes of Ken Clarke centre-right party – a party for ‘people – people were turned off policies they Determined action on the policies and William Hague both returning to the like us’, who wanted to do well and who would otherwise have been attracted to meant focusing relentlessly on the NHS fold. wanted to do the right thing, but who because they were Conservative poli- and schools - the services that voters Modernisation is an ongoing process. understood that you can’t do it alone. cies. To many people who would pre- actually come in contact with every More still needs to be done. There are The ‘natural party of government’ res- viously have been considered natural day. Most voters do not care about the still too few candidates from deprived onated with the British public – some- Conservatives, voting Tory had become intricacies of European policy. They do backgrounds. There are still too many times leading them, sometimes being anathema. care whether their children have a high MPs and members who refuse to under- led by them, but never far away from By 2005, the party realised that it had to quality education and whether they and stand that there is no alternative to them. stop this downward and self-reinforcing their family are assured of high-quality making sure that the Party reflects the Crushing electoral defeats in 1997, 2001 death-spiral. It had finally sunk in that healthcare when they need it. country it seeks to govern. There are and 2005 meant that sluggish turnover being uncompromisingly on the fringes Determined action on the voice with still too many observers, commentators of MPs and members artificially skewed of where voters are is no way to win an which the Tories spoke had to be less and political participants who want to the Party in favour of those who were election. There was a realisation that that of an uptight Sussex spinster and continue to carry out old politics rather more extreme. The Parliamentary Par- the Party had to modernise and move more that of a working mum of two than the new approach that is required. ty was not renewing in the numbers it away from being a pressure group for from the Midlands. And it meant chang- Perhaps most significantly for a poten- would have done had the Party been in narrow interests. Most Conservative ing the way that the Tory Party looked. tial Cameron government, there are Government. Membership was dwin- members realised that the best chance For too long, the Party had been very too few people who really understand dling - being on the losing side is never of winning again was to vote for David male, very public school and very white the extent to which and the premise on fun. In Parliament and in the country, Cameron as leader. – egged on by a membership that want- which he has led the modernisation of the Party was increasingly narrow, in- His basic challenge was this: how to re- ed its MPs to be very male, very public the Party. creasingly right-wing and increasingly frame the electoral conversation when school and very Thatcherite. So there There is little doubt that this will be out of touch. The Party in Parliament for so long the brand had been so dam- has been concerted action to start the tested further by the pressures of gov- and in the country looked and sounded aged and held in such mistrust, even process of removing this bias. ernment. But modernisation is real and increasingly unlike modern Britain, and contempt? The Party had to move back Modernisation has meant broadening it is deep. It is appealing to people who was faced with Labour’s most elector- into the centre-ground – where the vot- the Conservative coalition. It has never haven’t thought about voting Tory be- ally successful leader ever. ers are and elections are won – and been about abandoning the voters we fore and has put a Party once thought Despite initially encouraging attempts ensure that it focused on what voters already have, but appealing to the vot- to be at an electoral dead end in with a to modernise by William Hague, Iain actually care about. And it had to funda- ers we need to win an election. They real chance of returning to Government Duncan Smith and Michael Howard, bad mentally alter its outlook on the world are people who have never voted Tory at the next election. The Party is, once poll numbers always pulled them back – Britain is a greatly changed place since before or abandoned the Party fifteen more, in tune with the British people. A to the extremes, in an attempt to at the last heyday of the Conservatives. If years ago. This means that the Party progressive Conservative Party in oppo- least halt the decline by guaranteeing voters feel that they are being judged must continue to emphasise how peren- sition will also be a modern, progressive a minimal number of ‘core’ votes. In and held in contempt, they will simply nial Conservative values apply to the Government. both 2001 and 2005, while voters may switch off. So there were three, inter- things that those voters care about. flickr.com/urimland 14 15 Lucy Stone

OPINION OPINION A Greener Future and how would a shift in social norms ational justice and radically transform local issues should also be a focus. Moving towards a low-carbon economy immediately, argues Lucy Stone, is the only way to rectify the greatest injustice to achieve this? the policies and commitments of those Ultimately, tackling climate change in our children. Programmes in developing countries in power. Children themselves recently a manner that values intergenerational Growing concerns about the ageing pop- disillusioned with the climate change on future governments and economies that involve children in planning and issued a declaration to coincide with the justice will only happen when social ulation in industrialised countries tend agenda. Climate change caused by already pushed to the limit. preparing for weather related disasters Copenhagen climate negotiations that and personal values prioritise long-term to focus on health and financial burdens greenhouse gas emissions is a symptom The economic analysis of climate change can have a powerful impact. Research included the statement: “we commit sustainability. Understanding scarcity of on the working population. Yet perhaps of a deeper problem: a short term bias by Sir Nicholas Stern was an influential shows that children involved in these to personal lifestyle changes that place natural resources and valuing heritage the biggest intergenerational inequality to lifestyle choices and resource use. Of argument for placing a near equal value programmes are not only less likely to the common good above our individual are examples of cultural norms that has already taken place - the consump- course, many might argue that it is hu- on future generations as the current be in danger of fatality or injury, but desires and current way of life.” Polls have perhaps become less commonly tion of resources and the legacy of cli- man nature to value the present more population when weighing up how much they themselves can create change in the UK show that young people - 80% experienced in an age of high consump- mate change. Children growing up today than the future. Yet we should point to we should pay for climate change now. within their community in addressing of 16-24 year olds - have high levels of tion that assumes perpetual abundance are coming to realise that their parents intergenerational values already under- Intergenerational justice requires that risk. Investing in programmes now that concern about climate change, and feel and values novelty. Education and a de- and grandparents will leave them with pinning prevailing attitudes that exist there be distributive justice between build children’s resilience to climate that individuals and communities should sire for sustainability for all, not just for a heavy debt. The era of cheap energy in society today: pension schemes and generations and that the rights of gen- change can be a cost effective interven- play a strong role in tackling the issue children, will be an essential to ensure and food, not to mention cheap money, personal sacrifices made by parents for erations, to a clean environment for tion reducing the level of funds required alongside government and technological that intergenerational equity becomes a is ending with the next generations left their children, the preservation of heri- example, should be considered equal when disasters do strike or to support innovation. social norm, particularly in the context to pick up the social, economic and en- tage and opposition to inheritance tax. over time. This argument has since been development objectives. Already de- of climate change. vironmental tab. strengthened as the estimated cost of velopment assistance is being diverted “If children and young people were Our response to climate change and ap- There is still a window of opportunity for “We should point to climate change continues to increase. away from core development areas such consulted on wind farm planning proach to sustainability now, will pro- the current generation responsible for intergenerational values already Using this low discount rate in policy as education and health into emergency applications, this might change foundly affect the quality of life of our high fossil fuel consumption to counter underpinning prevailing attitudes and fiscal decision making would lead to and distress assistance; up from 4.8 % the rate at which they were children and future generations, yet the this massive inequality and demonstrate that exist in society today” more commitments like the recent UK from 1990-94 to 7.8 per cent in 2003. successfully passed” principle of intergenerational justice its commitment to stewardship. There law to reduce national emissions by 34% For every $1 invested in ‘Disaster Risk has not been at the heart of climate is a tremendous opportunity right now As greenhouse gases accumulate over by 2020 and 80% to 2050. This commit- Reduction’ programmes $13.38 is gen- Providing children with effective politi- change policy and behaviours. Although to stimulate global recovery in a man- time, resulting in progressively greater ment was supported across the political erated. And this is not including the cal representation and involvement is a most people would hope that the next ner that is sustainable and equitable. stress on the ecosystem, children will spectrum, showing a common support social benefits, such as reduced anxi- core child right that the UK government generation inherits a world in no worse Shifting from non-renewable to renew- be particularly vulnerable and child for long term action. ety amongst children and maintained has committed to, and yet it is rarely shape than the one they themselves in- able sources of energy, technological in- survival will be increasingly threat- While in their rhetoric political leaders schooling. implemented. For example, if children herited, when we examine our choices, novations and sustainable products can ened. The Stern Review found that recognise the importance of intergen- Legal tools to ensure intergenerational and young people were consulted on behaviours and lifestyles, it is clear that stimulate job creation, innovation and climate change could cause anywhere erational justice, these words repeat- principles are upheld include enshrining wind farm planning applications, this at the moment we fundamentally and enterprise, and can be exciting and at- between 40,000 to 160,000 additional edly fail to be put into action, as the environmental and intergenerational might change the rate at which they repeatedly fail to ensure that this oc- tractive to investors and consumers. In- child deaths per year in South Asia and consequences of climate change will rights in national legislation or interna- were successfully passed. Children have curs. vesting our current accumulated wealth sub-Saharan Africa through GDP losses mostly occur when they are no longer tional agreements. Legislation or trea- the right to be consulted on how public There will always be trade-offs between in a radical shift towards a low carbon alone, under a scenario of minimal cli- in power. The focus remains on the im- ties can provide guiding frameworks for policy and major infrastructure decisions current needs and future interests. A economy and in climate resilience in the mate change. Children currently born in mediate costs of emissions reduction, policy and behaviour but their primary are taken. Being involved in designing first step would be to make these trade- most vulnerable countries would ensure industrialised countries must also adapt which not only ignores the rights of fu- use is likely to be a means for recourse their community and their future should offs explicit so that we can have a more that all children will grow up in a safer, to the changes caused by their parents’ ture generations, but also misses the after the act. Other legal methods for be a given. The Department for Energy honest debate about the solutions. We cleaner and fairer world. and grandparents’ generations. Previ- benefits of making an early transition to safeguarding intergenerational princi- and Climate Change has been a rare ex- have an unprecedented opportunity to For anyone wanting to ensure children ous, and current, short term thinking, a thriving low-carbon economy, greater ples include mandatory environmental ample of open consultation with young decide the future world we want to see. have a fair chance in life, support for a whether through lack of information or energy security and independence, im- impact reviews for policy or business people on this issue, recognising the Investing in low carbon development green economy is essential. simple greed also has clear financial im- proved air quality and greater health development and citizen action under specific concerns of children. But even now is a huge opportunity to implement After the disappointment at Copen- plications. The costs of reducing emis- and well-being. So how does a politician environmental law. these opportunities tend to focus on the rights of all children, to survive and hagen, and the recent confusion over sions and adapting to climate change obtain public support for this intergen- A child rights approach to climate change macro level, or global questions. Involv- thrive, meaningfully and to improve in- climate science, many will be feeling are set to impose a heavy fiscal burden erational approach to climate change, would take the principles of intergener- ing children in devising solutions and on tergenerational justice. 16 17 OPINION OPINION Faithful Education untary Controlled and Voluntary Aided ciety, faith schools educate a dispropor- Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain says we need our faith schools to encourage a new era of unity. schools, with VCs answerable to the lo- tionately small number of young people cal education authority over admissions, at the lowest end of the socio-economic One of the astonishing developments that religion still has something to of- nected with faith schools - but, unfairly employment and curriculum, whereas scale’. over the last decade is faith schools be- fer, want to send their children to them or not, they made people look again at VAs have considerable independence - Still, there are also positive conclusions ing a subject rarely mentioned in public to obtain what they themselves cannot the increasing number of faith schools including wide powers of discrimination and a report published late in 2009 by to being a contentious part of the politi- give their offspring. - the pledge to build one hundred new in all three areas - yet both almost to- Elizabeth Green for Theos on the impact cal agenda. “If you colour-coded Britain Christian ones, the expansion of Jewish tally state-funded. of schools with a Christian ethos argues They have been around a considerable ones, equally of Muslim schools, and the “It really is time we had a National that students at many schools with a time in Britain, with Christian schools according to each religion in the recent appearance of the very first Sikh Christian ethos generally display a more established for centuries and the first 1930s and again in the 2000s, then and Hindu ones. Curriculum for RE” positive attitude towards religion and a Jewish school since 1732. the map of the UK will have changed They worry such schools might produce Another pressing issue is that although better spiritual health. The public’s view from virtually monochrome to a a climate in which those like the bomb- RE is a statutory subject and has to be In addition, it says that there is some kaleidoscope of colour” ers could flourish. taught, there is no National Curriculum evidence that students at maintained It seems that there are four reasons why The battle-lines are well rehearsed: for RE. Moreover, although each area church schools achieve more highly. This faith schools have become much more Thirdly, society has also changed in proponents of faith schools praise the has its own locally agreed syllabus, faith is not due to their selecting pupils who controversial. One is that whereas they another way, no longer being predomi- way they work at producing good round- schools can opt out of them. are more likely to achieve. There is a started off as private endowments, they nantly Christian with a small Jewish mi- ed citizens, while opponents condemn It really is time we had a National Cur- real ‘school effect’. are now publicly funded, and so much nority, but now consisting of a plethora them for ghettoising the children and riculum for RE, so that although faith However, none of these and other re- more answerable to the taxpayer. of faiths. If you colour-coded Britain fragmenting society. But rather than en- schools may teach more about their search projects deal with the schools of Of course, that has been the case for according to each religion in the 1930s gage in stale arguments, we need to lo- own faith, they also have to inform their minority faiths and their impact both on at least a hundred years, but public and again in the 2000s, then the map cate larger principles that will give guide pupils about other religious and non- pupils and on society - so we are still in scrutiny is so much higher today than of the UK will have changed from virtu- us into the future more accurately. religious beliefs - simply as a matter of fairly unchartered waters when we try it was a century ago, with demands for ally monochrome to a kaleidescope of I shall therefore not laud the brilliant only preserves their particular identity minimum standards and basic general to cater for that kaleidoscopic map of transparency and accountability placing colour. CofE school that teaches its pupils not but does so in harmony with all the oth- knowledge. religious and secular Britain. It makes not just faith schools but all institutions That is wonderful in many ways and only the Gospels but also about Yom er identities swirling around them? And Research the current debate on faith schools, - the BBC, NHS, police force - under a enormously enriching, but has led to is- Kippur, Ramadan and Diwali, and is from society’s point of view, produces a their current growth, what they teach much more rigorous spotlight than ever sues being raised that rarely surfaced genuinely interested in religious diver- generation that is diverse yet coherent, An indicator of the importance of our and how they should be regulated even before. before - particularly over integration, sity. Nor shall I rant about the Catholic that values social cohesion and is able topic is the leap in the amount of re- more important. Secondly, the tax-paying society of to- and whether separating children of dif- School that does cover other faiths - but to function effectively? search that has been undertaken on As a rabbi I am strongly in favour of faith day is very different from that of 1870 ferent faiths, which can also often mean only very occasionally and as part of its We have to take account of individual different aspects of faith schools in the but am concerned about the discrimina- when the great transition occurred in the of different ethnic backgrounds, into class on Heresy. We need to avoid citing families and their traditions, but we last few years. tory way many faith schools currently Education Act of that year with Church faith schools encourages integration or best and worst practices and concen- also need to consider the overall social Many of them pick up concerns about so- operate. The organization I chair - the schools receiving funds from the state. inhibits it? trate on trends. health of Britain at large. cial inequalities, such as the IPPR in 2007 Accord Coalition - seeks to promote Amongst other changes, it is a much less The fourth reason for why faith schools A modern approach Assuming that we are to continue to which showed that ‘where faith schools inclusive schooling and urges the Con- religious society, both in terms of obser- is now such an issue is partly due to con- have faith schools - and I suspect even are their own admissions authorities [ie servative Party to tread the fine line of vance and knowledge. cern from particular events : the Brad- There is no doubting the extraordinary their most ardent opponents secretly Voluntary Aided schools] they are ten honoring religious commitment but not Curiously, this lessening of faith has had ford Riots; then there was 9/11 in the debt that the school system today owes know that they are an ineradicable part times more likely to be highly unrepre- at the price of social division. a polarizing effect on the general pub- USA, whose shock-waves hit harder here to the religious institutions that laid is of the landscape - there are some big sentative of their surrounding area’. It is not a matter of being for or against lic with regard to faith schools : with after the July 7 bombings in London. foundations. But given the society we questions looming. That is a serious charge, and backed up faith schools, but of creating an envi- some members being opposed to them are in 2010 - multi-faith, multi-ethnic by the Runnymede Trust’s report in 2008 ronment where children of different Unity and division Reforms for the better on the secular grounds that they are bi- and with many of no faith - what is the which concluded: ‘Despite high level backgrounds grow up as neighbors rath- ased and doctrinaire; others, knowing Let me state very clearly that there is no way to educate the next generation For instance, are pupils best served by pronouncements that suggest a mission er than strangers, and forge a society their own lack of religiosity but sensing evidence that the bombings were con- which from the child’s point of view, not the current distinction between Vol- to serve the most disadvantaged in so- that is at ease with itself. 18 19 OPINION PROGOMETER The Rise of The Modern Man to enormous benefits for families them- Men want to spend more time with their children, says Anushka Asthana. For selves. A study published in December their sake - and their relationships - we have to find ways to let them. from the University of Western Ontario The Progometer revealed that couples that shared re- Ryan Shorthouse checks the progressive pulse of Conservative Party policy The dramatic decline in the male- As for evidence, an EHRC report re- ...... sponsibility for domestic work had high- breadwinner model is a reality that is cently showed that almost half of all er levels of happiness and life satisfac- Introduce a pupil premium sure to accelerate. Speak to a handful men failed to take-up their meagre of- tion than those in other family models. Michael Gove MP and Nick Gibb MP have promised to extra school funding for of female graduates and you’ll soon rea- fering of two weeks paternity leave for The researchers found that although children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This will give schools with Acad- lise they have ambitions just as lofty as £246.12. Most felt unable to afford it. the traditional breadwinner role was emy status – which Gove wants to greatly expand – the opportunity to attract their male counterparts. So the question comes down to whether still dominant, in more than one in four the best teachers by paying them more. And evidence points to the quality of But to a woman who works full-time and Delingpole is right: that men just aren’t cases, families were organized in such a teaching being the biggest determinant of the quality of education brings in a substantial – perhaps the ma- made for housework. Or, and I’m much way that each partner did between 40 jority – slice of a couple’s income, life more convinced by this, is it that our so- and 60% of unpaid work. This arrange- Full funding for apprentices aged over 19 at home has to change as well. For too cietal attitudes are so in-built it would ment was most likely where women Not everyone aged above 19 can get full funding for a work-based appren- long the expectation and welcome en- take a huge effort to shift them. were better resourced and the couple ticeship. David Willetts MP and John Hayes MP have promised full funding couragement of women to succeed in less religious. “We hear again and again that in – direct to employers - for 77,000 work-based apprenticeships so older stu- work has not been matched by a com- Shared roles, the study concluded, were dents have a second chance in life at a high-quality vocational education. mensurate shift in cultural and political Sweden things are different” advantageous to society in terms of attitudes about their role at home. gender equity and maximizing wealth. Survey after survey has concluded that So where do we start? Can changing It meant women were less vulnerable in A ‘Right to Move’ for social tenants Too many people grow up and die in the same sink-estate. while men may be doing more on the policy lay the foundations for such an the case of separation, divorce or the Grant Shapps MP wants to introduce a comprehensive national mobility scheme which will domestic front than ever before, women enormous change in attitude? After all, death of a spouse. allow good social tenants to demand that their social landlord sell their cur- still carry the bulk of the burden. Some we hear again and again that in Sweden -tion. And one thing they liked was the To promote the family-model, research- rent property and use the proceeds, minus transaction costs, to buy another say it is just the way men and women things are different. That there, where recent promise from Labour of transfer- ers said policies should support equal property of their choice – anywhere in England. This will allow responsible are made. Like the journalist James Del- men and women are given similar, and able maternity and paternity leave of opportunities for men and women, en- citizens – trapped by poverty – to escape hardship. ingpole who argues that for men “self- far superior, leave following birth nine up to six months. sure access to education and work, cre- esteem and happiness depends far less out of ten men take up at least some of For their part, the Tories are also bang- ate the conditions that help work-life on how good we feel as parents than on the benefits. ing the drum for parental – rather than balance and – importantly – promote Flexible parental leave how well we feel we're doing out there It is not because they are designed dif- maternal – leave. Their policy allows greater involvement of men in house- Women still face a motherhood penalty, leaving a gender pay gap in the UK in the big, nasty, competitive, aggres- ferently. But the truth is it took a huge parents to share 52 weeks of maternity work and childcare. And for that, it which is a third higher than the European average. Meanwhile, men want to sive world of money-making. It's the way effort to achieve that shift in Sweden. of which 39 is paid. The first 14 weeks found, government needed to create a spend more time with their children. Theresa May MP will change maternity we're designed". His sex, he concluded, One academic I spoke to said: “they al- go automatically to the mother, but it society with adequate childcare facili- leave so parents can decide how they divide 39 weeks of parental leave just weren’t interested in childcare. most had to force men to take the time”. is up to parents what they do with the ties and equal opportunity to parental between them, giving parents power over how they juggle their work and It is not a reality I recognize among my So it needed policy and then something remaining 38. The couple could take off leave. family commitments. peers. But if even a sizeable minor- more than that – but eventually it did 26 weeks together if they choose to. So policy change is heading in the right ity share Delingpole’s attitude, it is an appear to work. All very welcome although it will be in- direction. But it is for government and 4,200 Sure Start Health Visitors enormous obstacle for those women that That raises the question, could the same teresting to see to what extent David employers to ensure that the offer of The number of Health Visitors has declined and these professionals report want to ascend the career ladder unim- happen here? Because policy change is Cameron holds this women-friendly line parental leave is something that men that their caseloads are too high to protect the most vulnerable children. peded. It is a view that feeds straight in the air as both parties chase after the if in power. After all, he did vote against feel able and encouraged to take up. Maria Miller MP has promised to reinstate a universal Health Visitors service, into that ever sturdy glass ceiling. Or, as vote of 30-something, career women. A introducing paternity pay as part of the That might require a few more men to providing non-stigmatising support to all parents and increasing the chances Nicola Brewer described it in 2008 when poll released earlier this month found second reading of the Employment Bill admit that it doesn’t matter how you of giving children from the most challenging backgrounds a healthier start she was Chief Executive of the Equality that 47% of professional women in Lon- in 2001. are designed: looking after your child or in life. and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), don had not made up their mind about But one thing is clear: any attempts to participating in the home is part of be- one made of “reinforced concrete”. which way to vote in the general elec- move society in this direction could lead ing a good father. 20 21 OPINION THE THINKERS Changing Childhood Fluid Families Today’s children do not enjoy the free- Families have changed tremendously over the past thirty years. Our attitudes towards family life have too. Penny Mansfield doms of the past. Tim Gill calls on au- thinks we need 21st century support for 21st century families. thorities to create child-friendly spaces...... bottom of the well-being Marriage rates began to decline from unfortunate minority who were unable mantic terms. It was “what most people We now know that family-friendliness ...... the high levels of the 1960’s. Yes, that to marry - because they couldn’t get did”, the beginning of a sequence lead- will be a key theme in the Conservative decade, the Swinging Sixties, was in a divorce - or the choice of an excep- ing to “an independent life”, “your own manifesto. But what does this imply fact the golden age of marriage. Mar- tional few who were anti-marriage. But place and “a family of one’s own”. A for the way we shape the spaces our riage was almost universal and spouses in the 1980s, moving in together as the powerful sense of the future permeated children grow up in? exchanged their vows young. Whatever final phase of courtship became popu- their perceptions of marriage. The beginnings of an answer to this the new pop music idols said and did, lar, especially for older more educated “The Beginning Of The Rest Of Your Life?” question can be found in a 2008 report sex outside of marriage was disapproved brides. However, most childbearing still was the title of a book I co-authored. As on childhood written by David Willetts. of and if there was a baby on the way occurred within marriage. In the nine- the 1980s kicked off, marriage was still The report’s provocative title - More Ball there was pressure to rush to the altar ties that too began to change. the symbol of adulthood, marking the Games – flags up its equally provocative or Register office. move from being your parents’ child to message: getting children out and about, But attitudes were changing and the “Marriage was still the being a spouse, and soon enough, your playing and socialising, is an aim worthy image: Play England 1970s saw the demise of the shotgun symbol of adulthood, own child’s parent. of serious political attention. marriage. The stigma of illegitimacy marking the move from Over the centuries marriage has served Such a vision should be uncontroversial. services have been left out. bottom of the well-being comparison had lessened and there was less pres- being your parents’ child to many functions: ordering kinship, es- After all, it fits perfectly with the Some question the premise, insisting - the Government and Big Lottery sure from parents to marry. In 1972, just tablishing roles and identities within memories of almost anyone over the age that children have more freedom today. have earmarked over £380 million to over four out of ten pregnant teenag- being a spouse, and soon families, regulating sexual behaviour, of 30, of a childhood unfolding in local However, they are confusing appearance improve parks and play areas. Market ers married before the child was born. enough, your own child’s attaching men to their offspring, sup- parks, streets, fields and - yes - building with reality. For the past thirty years or research shows that the new facilities By 1982, less than two out of every ten parent” porting the care of children, organis- sites. David Cameron himself has noted more, childhood prior to adolescence are enormously popular with children pregnant teenagers chose that option. ing the flow of economic resources and that “just one in five children regularly has been characterised by shrinking and families. The wider community, far In the 1980s the two equally favourite In the last thirty years, family life in mutual aid between generations. Before play outside in their neighbourhood. freedom of action for children, and from being hostile, often welcomes and options for a pregnant teenager were Britain has been transformed; the num- the mid 18th Century there was no con- The rest are denied the chance to get growing adult control and oversight. For values the improvements, and some of legal termination or giving birth without ber of marriages has halved, divorces sensus about how legally binding mar- out of the house and have the everyday instance, in 1971, nearly all 8-year-olds the best designs have created places marrying the father - at least before the doubled and extra-marital births qua- riage ceremonies should be conducted adventures that – to people of my went to school unaccompanied. Today that people of all ages can enjoy. birth. drupled. Today, the common sequence and many couples opted for private ver- generation – are what childhood is all few of that age are allowed outside We know that, no matter which party Women began to marry at later ages as of family formation is cohabitation fol- bal contracts, valid ‘in the eyes of God’ about.” their front doors on their own. holds the purse strings, budget cuts will the rapid rise in women’s earning ca- lowed by marriage and parenthood. It is but unenforceable in the courts. The Children today value freedom just as This loss of freedom has serious be the order of the day. Yet there are pacity relative to men’s reduced the predicted that if current trends contin- 1753 Marriage Act ended any legal rec- much as their parents and grandparents. consequences. Robust studies show still levers of power as yet untouched by benefits of marriage. For young men hit ue, within five years the majority of ba- ognition of informal marriage rites such Contrary to popular belief, most would rising levels of emotional problems central government, such as shaping the by the recession, unemployment dimin- bies will be born to unmarried parents. as common-law marriage in England and happily spend less time in front of screens amongst teenagers. Experts say this may planning system, and setting relevant ished their eligibility in the marriage Wales. From the 19th Century the pen- Changing attitudes if they had a real choice. Likewise most well be because they have been denied standards for schools, childcare and market. alties of bearing illegitimate children parents would like them to. the chance in their earlier years to learn extended services. The reform of divorce law at the end of When I began researching family forma- were heavy and for the next one hun- And yet the goal of expanding children’s coping mechanisms that would help Our metaphor for childhood should not the sixties allowed many people trapped tion in the early 1980s, in the interviews, dred years Europe and America came horizons is often met with great prepare them for life’s ups and downs. be the battery chicken but the salmon. in unhappy marriages to start afresh. just three months after their weddings, as close as any society has ever done to resistance. Local planning regulations International comparisons of child well- The truth is that the presence of children The number of marriages between a new spouses were asked why they had making formal marriage mandatory. often mean that a single complaint being confirm that in the countries that of different ages enjoying public space, single person and someone previously married at that time in their lives. “Be- The pendulum has now swung the other about an upgrade to a playground can score highest – the Netherlands, Sweden, like the presence of wild salmon in a married increased – one in five single cause we fell in love” was the common way. The Millennium Cohort Study gives halt investment, while the merging of Denmark – children enjoy far more river, is one of the best indicators of women marrying in their late twen- answer. Yet, as they described their further insight into how families are social services and education in Local autonomy than their British peers. the quality of the environment in which ties, married a divorced man. Cohabi- courtship these young men and women forming in 21st Century Britain. While Authorities means that sometimes play Since 2007 – when Britain came out they live. tation had been the predicament of an spoke about getting married in less ro- two out of three of the 18,500 babies 22 23 THE THINKERS

The explanation may be that this age gether and staying together, with huge such unions. The marriage rush of the group is at that point in their lives at implications for children and the wider 1960s did not result in more stable and which they or their peers are divorcing. family network. Yet as the importance enduring unions. On the contrary. of formal marriage has declined its sym- Different roles for men and women 21st century family life bolic significance as a confirmation of Another major change in attitudes is to- commitment may have increased. It is very difficult to make policy on wards homosexuality. The proportion of these broadly social but intensely pri- Marriage people saying that sexual relations be- vate issues. Tolerance rules. But separa- tween two adults of the same sex are The very informality of contemporary tion as a result of poor relationships and always or mostly wrong has declined relationships creates challenging issues poorly managed break-ups is costing from 62% in 1983 to 36% in 2007. There both for public policy and the families us economically and in terms of adult was a slight increase in prejudice in the themselves. A substantial body of evi- and child wellbeing. The quality of chil- late 80s when we became less tolerant dence indicates distinct advantages in dren’s lives is affected by the quality of of homosexual relationships following being married for men, women and for their parents’ relationship. If the quality the AIDS epidemic. This century regula- their children. On average married men is good it offers protective factors. But tions have been put in place to make it and women enjoy better physical and if it is poor it is associated with poorer unlawful to discriminate against work- mental health, do better socially and parenting and poorer parent –child rela- Steve Punter ers because of sexual orientation and by economically than men and women who tionships. 2005 the Civil Partnership Act came into are not married, and, their children do One advantage we have in the 21st cen- were born to married parents and one ble. A slightly different question posed between 1998 and 2006. Interestingly, force enabling same sex couples to ob- better too. Is it simply the status of tury compared to 25 years ago is com- in four to cohabiting parents, 15% of in the BHPS since 1998 asks individuals those aged 60 or older in 1998 have be- tain legal recognition of their relation- marriage that creates these advantages pelling evidence that stable harmoni- babies were born to mothers not liv- about their agreement or disagreement come relatively more liberal than any ships. In proposing the legislation gov- or the quality and durability of the re- ous relationships improve the quality of ing with a partner. Of this 15%, about with the statement: “It makes no differ- other age group in that period. The au- ernment said it would be an important lationship between the two individuals ? life for adults and children and growing half described themselves as ‘closely ence to children whether their parents thors of the 2010 BSA report suggest that equality measure and stabilise family Clearly there is an association between knowledge about what makes relation- involved ‘ with their baby’s father and are married or just living together”. On this may denote the impact of personal life. the two. ships work, how to improve them and nine months later a quarter of the that issue we as a nation are equally experience – as an increasing number Meanwhile inside marriage men and There is also a selection effect. Certain how to cope when they go wrong. There ‘closely involved’ parents were cohab- divided. Younger generations are more of older people become grandparents women no longer have fixed attitudes people – men and women from eco- is much still to learn about how to de- iting. For a small but growing group of likely to agree than older generations to children whose parents are not mar- to what He does and She does. Stud- nomically and emotionally secure back- liver that knowledge in accessible and, parents the transition to parenthood that the marital status of parents makes ried. ies show that over the last fifty years, grounds are more likely to marry and most importantly, acceptable ways to now coincides with the transition to liv- no difference to children. Attitudes to staying in an unhappy mar- there is less emphasis upon the gen- sustain satisfying relationships. Both 21st century families. ing as a couple. riage or getting divorced have been con- der specific roles of husband and wife, personality and upbringing contribute to In 2008, we at One Plus One developed What we do is reflected in what we “Self fulfilment of the sistent since the mid 1990s. The British and more emphasis upon mutuality and our capacity to form and maintain close a new relationship support service th- believe. According to the British Social Household Panel Study shows that in equality. This more companionate rela- supportive relationships. Unmarried ecoupleconnection.net designed to put Attitudes (BSA) Survey and the British individual partners is 2006 four fifths of us agree that it is tionship – the marriage of good friends parents are mostly, younger parents, that knowledge directly into the hands Household Panel Study (BHPS), over the increasingly the reason better to divorce than to continue an - has emerged in part as a challenge to in more socially disadvantaged groups, of couples. The service has reached last quarter of a century we have as a for getting together and unhappy marriage. There is some dif- the power of the wider family where men and women who have partners and around a quarter of a million couples nation become more tolerant of a range staying together, with huge ference between the attitudes of older family interdependence was based on children from previous relationships and so far, the majority of users are men of relationships, heterosexual and same implications for children and and younger generations - with the old- the authority of older generations in have experienced the breakdown of and women between 20 and 40, about sex. er showing less support for divorce. The the family and deference to it. Couple their own parents’ relationships. Would 2/3rds are parents. And frontline prac- The proportion who say that those who the wider family network” very young and those aged 45-60 were relationships are more flexible but more their children enjoy the benefits of con- titioners working with families are using want to have children should get mar- slightly more likely to agree that an expedient. Their essential purpose has tinuing relationships with their parents the materials with families directly or ried, declined from almost three quar- There is a clear period effect with all unhappy marriage was preferable to di- shifted from the social to the personal. simply because their parents were mar- signposting them to the online service. ters in 1989 to about half in 2002. Since generations becoming a little more lib- vorce while those in their 30s and early Self fulfilment of the individual partners ried? It is unlikely that getting married A 21st century approach to strengthen- then attitudes have remained very sta- eral in their views on cohabiting parents 40s were more likely to favour divorce. is increasingly the reason for getting to- alone is the glue needed to consolidate ing 21st century families. 24 25 Yvonne Roberts

THE THINKERS THE THINKERS The Junked Generation offer training opportunities? NEETS include young people with vary- boosts the number of under-privileged Just guaranteeing young people any old job does not solve the NEET problem. We need to invest early and give the vulner- However, even greater attention needs ing needs – the most challenging of young people moving into higher edu- able the competencies and pathways which will ensure long-term success. By Yvonne Roberts. to be paid to prevention and to a much which is the 38% who believe ‘it’s too cation as a result of intensive support stronger and dynamic recognition that late for me’. A 2008 report by the British and Local Employment Access Projects When Labour came to power, 702,000 ticularly hard, depleting social capital, by a housing association, Working Rite the young unemployed are anything but Chamber of Commerce gave a number of or LEAP , a charity based in North West young people were unemployed. In and - as the Government’s Social Exclu- matches young people with an older homogeneous. Different groups need to reasons why some young people become London that focuses on ‘tough love’, 2005, not for the first time, Tony Blair sion Task Force argued - it means that self-employed tradesman for a six be supported in diverse ways, and some NEET – they include educational disaf- discipline, motivation and employment said: “Long term youth unemployment some families hand down an inheritance month placement in a work environ- may require support for the very long fection, family disadvantage and pover- in jobs with opportunities. Both, how- has been virtually eliminated under of hopelessness, for generation after ment. 75% of young people who go on term - support that does not lend itself ty, being in care, teenage motherhood, ever, are attempting to correct the mis- this Government.” Today, the figure is generation. So much so that education the scheme move into employment or easily, for instance, to target driven special educational needs, becoming a take that the system has already made. 943,000. Almost one in two young black has no currency. The tragedy is that, further training. The Tories would also goals and current evaluations. When young carer, belonging to certain BME What else might help? Improving the youths aged 16 to 24 is out of work, one in parts of the UK, that scenario has al- offer tax breaks to employers for hiring that diversity is not sufficiently recogn- groups and participating in crime and education system, including embrac- in three Asians and one in five white ready arrived with teenagers growing young people and the expansion of ap- ised, paradoxically, the measures to re- risk activities. ing the potential in vocational educa- youths. The number of young people up in households in which neither their prenticeship and training places. duce joblessness may mire those at the An analysis of 6,000 who had been tion and giving extra investment in the who have been looking for work for lon- parents nor grandparents have known Labour introduced the Future Jobs Fund bottom of the pyramid even further into through the New Deal for Young People acquisition of life skills very early in a ger than twelve months has risen by 50% regular employment. - a £1 billion fund - at the 2009 Bud- a world without work, hope and self re- found that 80% had at least one of these child’s life. Providing intensive and sus- in the past year. Both Labour and Conservatives have ac- get and aims to create 150,000 new spect. markers of disadvantage. 40% had ex- tained support for some young people Graduate unemployment has also soared knowledged the scale of the crisis with jobs, 100,000 of these aimed at young Prevention means investment in the ear- perienced multiple disadvantages. Many particularly in the transitions from since 2008, with one in ten who graduat- a raft of measures but, for a number of people. The Young Person’s Guaran- ly years and an urgent reconfiguration of these young people in spite of, or as a primary to secondary school and from ed in the summer of 2008 out of work in reasons, many of these polices amount tee provides a guarantee of a job, work of our education system. David Cam- result of an entire lifetime of experienc- school into further training or work. the following January, the highest rate to increasing the size of the sticking focused training or ‘meaningful’ activ- eron, understandably, says he wants a ing profound challenges, also have resil- Adopting a path, already followed in since 1995/96. This level of carnage to plaster instead of addressing the ques- ity to young people aged 18-24 before return to the teaching of British history. ience which could be the life blood of Scotland, of getting employers involved the job prospects of young people ob- tion of why the wound is refusing to they reach the 12 month stage of their What he also needs to address is the ca- this economy if channelled effectively. in primary schools. Widening the expe- viously has ramifications for their indi- heal. The social injustice on youth to- claim for Job Seekers Allowance. Other pacity of many young children to learn At present there is a plethora of schemes riences of young people - a civic three vidual health, wealth and wellbeing. day cannot easily be repaired without measures include raising the leaving age anything at all. to help young people – over 270 in Lon- week national service is a start, but too A young person who is out of work for a radical measures focused as much on from education and training to eighteen, Work on two longitudinal studies that don alone. Too many, however, are short little, too late - so they can break out lengthy period will pay a financial for- prevention as cure. reviewing current qualifications, intro- followed young people born in 1958 and term and lack rigour, evaluation and a of the cocoon of impotence that unem- feit of between 10-15% in middle age, The Conservatives have outlined that ducing new qualifications and expanding 1970 show that in just over a decade, clear consensus on the outcomes that ployment often weaves around an en- according to economist David Blanch- Get Britain Working will replace La- apprenticeships and moving responsibil- personal and social skills - the ability are required as a test of success. Get- tire community. All these are measures flower. bour’s Flexible New Deal programme. ity for children up to eighteen to local to exercise self discipline, motivation, ting a job is not the same as staying in a which, as part of a coherent strategy, The young unemployed tend to drink A key proposal is that the young unem- authorities. understand others, develop relation- post for a lengthy period of time, devel- linked across Government departments, more, have poorer health, higher rates ployed will be given personalised help The value of spending wisely on cust- ships, interact positively, communicate oping capabilities and acquiring qualifi- might contribute to a solution. As would of suicide and smoking, become in- after six months without a job, deliv- omised support to get young people into effectively and believe that what you cations. At one stage in the New Deal, an improvement in the employability, volved in crime and suffer much more ered by the voluntary and private sec- work is beyond doubt. The difficulty is do does make a difference - became half of those given help were back on persistence and motivation of graduates from depression. This sets up a chain re- tor, paid to get individuals into jobs for that not enough help is sufficiently cus- 33 times more important in determin- benefits within a year. so they offer more of what employers action: young people with health prob- up to a year. The Tories will also create tomised for a sustained period of time, ing life chances at the same time as A recent study of worklessness shows seek. lems have less success in finding jobs a new network of academies supported and tailoring is compromised by targets they were less likely to be acquired by how the unqualified dip in and out of Youth unemployment isn’t a set of sta- and are also more likely to lose or leave by business and industry experts such as that show little understanding of the many young people as a result of family poorly paid work that fails to elevate tistics – it is the weathervane of the their jobs. In the West Midlands region, Travelodge, Tesco and Microsoft. scale of the challenge. In addition, em- and social change. Any education sys- them out of poverty or allow them to kind of society in which we wish to live. for instance, 15,000 young people were Working Rite, a Community Interest ployers need to do more. Sixty thousand tem that fails to address this loss of life make incremental steps up the ladder A signal of the investment – or lack of it claiming Incapacity Benefit in 2009 - Company, established by Sandy Camp- young people are in jobs with no pros- skills early enough in a child’s develop- of opportunity. The wonder in that con- - in our collective future. And a test of 60% of those on IB have been claiming bell in 2001, and now supported by pect of training. The Government is a ment will continue to create an alumni text is why any bother to seek employ- the compassion and innovative thinking for over 5 years. Learning Launchpad at The Young Foun- powerful contractor – why not stipulate of NEETS – young people not in educa- ment at all. Some initiatives are excel- of our politicians. A test that, at pres- Unemployment hits communities par- dation, will also be expanded. Hosted no contracts with employers who fail to tion, employment and training. lent such as Career Academies UK, that ent, they are failing. 26 27 THE THINKERS SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER Power to the Networked People The War On Poverty this regard there is a fascinating, but as Cameron’s vision of active citizenry needs state support and sophisticated thinking about strengthening community networks. yet only tentative, finding from our re- Tim Montgomerie laments the rise in poverty. The vulnerable need a fresh By Matthew Taylor. search. It appears that a characteristic approach: neither Labour nor libertarianism, but compassionate conservatism The big question for Cameron Conserva- pretty much every time that a Conser- the connections between people has of the people that are most often cited Under Labour something went badly right thing. tives is how to reconcile a commitment vative Government has left a progres- been building for many years. Robert in other peoples’ networks is that they wrong in the war on poverty. 900,000 A traditional right-wing or libertarian to social justice with a determination to sive legacy it has done so by adding to Putnam’s social capital theory argues are inclined themselves to value neigh- more people fell into extreme poverty. approach to poverty would end at this reduce the reach of the state. Talk about the functions of government rather than that nature of social bonds is an impor- bourliness. More kids failed at school. Brown missed point of listing the poverty-defeating cutting waste and burning quangos may by subtracting from them”. tant influence on the well-being and Nicholas Christakis cites research sug- his child poverty targets. The disposable behaviours. A young person in the brave work rhetorically but given the scale of life chances of members of a particular gesting a significant genetic component income of the poorest families fell. libertarian world is left to sink or swim. both challenges no one seriously thinks “Our own behaviours community. More recently Connected in people’s networking propensities, and What should concern us all is that these That can’t be a compassionate conser- this would resolve the dilemma. by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler this may be reinforced by socialisation. reverses happened during years of plen- vative’s approach. Compassionate con- Writing in The Times, my old Number are shaped not just by has brought together evidence for the This suggests that every community will ty. Labour lost another generation to servatives need to be different in two Ten colleague Philip Collins summed the people we know, way our own behaviours are shaped not contain people who both particularly poverty even though the economy was important ways. First, we need to ac- up the problem neatly: “As a but by the people just by the people we know, but by the enjoy, and are particularly adept, at growing and tax revenues were flooding tively encourage good behaviours. Sec- matter of historical record, they know” people they know. networking. These people are obviously into the welfare state. George Osborne’s ond, we need to build what David Cam- Looking at social networks themselves a huge potential resource. Yet those re- soundbite – “Labour didn’t fix the roof eron called “the nation of the second there are some simple rules to distin- sources may not be being tapped to the when the sun was shining’”– should only chance”. A few days ago I went to an guish those most likely to provide em- benefit of the community as a whole. begin to capture the anger we should impressive event on gangs hosted by powerment and resilience. They contain Circumstance or misfortune may mean feel at Labour’s thirteen wasted years. “A young person in The Centre for Social Justice. Although many hubs, that is, people and places to these people are marginalised - they Years during which the poor got even the brave libertarian there was much emphasis on the role which many people connect. There are may, for example, be housebound. It poorer. of the charitable sector, I couldn’t help many peripheral links, so that people in could be that the networks they engage If compassionate conservatism is to suc- world is left to sink noticing that the CSJ recommendations one network are connected to people in are anti-social (the Mafia has loads of ceed it has to offer something very dif- or swim. That can’t on gangs included new national pro- in other networks. And there are many social capital). Conversely, it might also ferent from Labour’s approach. It can- be a compassionate grammes and targets. Even if the third links out from the community to the ex- be that those who we tend to assume not mean more of the same. We have conservative’s sector has a bigger role it will inevitably ternal world, providing what Putnam re- are the most significant figures in the to bring new weapons to the war on approach” rely heavily on being commissioned and fers to as “bridging social capital”. community lack networking skills. poverty. funded by the state. Current RSA research among the resi- If we could be better at discovering, en- Our fight against poverty starts with the The Tory answer to this conundrum is to dents of New Cross Gate in South East gaging and supporting those in who have, basics that Labour has neglected. We First, there’s the challenge of help- tap into what another former Number London finds a predictable pattern. what might at a stretch be called, the need to create a society that nurtures ing people do the right thing. It’s not Ten insider, David Halpern, has recently There are many “social isolates” with no “people gene” our interventions could the behaviours that defeat poverty. enough to say that a good education called “the hidden wealth of nations”. connections and many others who have be much more powerful. This wouldn’t Evidence suggests that three behav- is important. We need to put extra re- This is our capacity to provide care, a network of just one or two. The hubs mean that these communities didn’t iours matter most. Leaving school with sources into the disadvantaged commu- love, and trust as well as more formal which exist tend to be public service still need a great deal of support from at least a basic skills set. Taking paid nities that might otherwise struggle to types of philanthropy. For this idea to institutions – like the school – or public the state but it might mean we could work, however low-paid, but getting on recruit good teachers. We need to en- be credible, the Conservatives need an employees - like the dustman or local ensure public investment spread further to the ladder for something better. And courage diversity in education so that account of the factors that strengthen MP. Many networks are closed with few and was more likely to help people sur- building a stable family for your part- those who are not academically gifted communities; what is it that contributes if any links to other networks or outside vive bad times and grasp new opportuni- ner and your children. Other important can acquire vocational skills. We need to our collective capacity for what can the locality. The purpose of this RSA Con- ties. poverty-defeating behaviours include to give headteachers the powers to en- inelegantly be called ‘pro-social’ behav- nected Communities project is not sim- Even if it is confirmed in the eventual re- staying away from debt, drugs and alco- sure schools are places where discipline iour? ply to map networks but to explore how search findings, this insight won’t on its hol. This might seem like an obvious list is strong. The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) is not local people themselves can strengthen own resolve the Tory dilemma of how to but Labour has systematically rewarded The same conservative interventionism alone in offering social networks as the their ties and exploit the capacities of- help poor communities without spend- people who do the wrong thing and ig- can be applied to the family. That’s why answer. The evidence for the power of ten hidden away in their midst. And in ing more on them. But it might help. nored or penalised those who do the I support David Cameron’s willingness 28 29 Damian Collins

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER THE DOERS Creative Thinking is Needed to Support Small Businesses to invest in relationship education pro- need to end the perverse disincentives Justice has formulated a variety of other grammes, as delivered by the private within Labour’s welfare system that ac- policy measures that will underpin the Supporting small businesses need not be the job of Whitehall. Local solutions can revitalise local communities. and voluntary sectors. Children from tually encourage two parent families to most reliable pathways away from pov- By Damian Collins. broken homes need to learn basic par- live apart. erty. The CSJ’s Dynamic Benefits report Running your own business, like owning beat their larger competitors on price. without the investment to improve the enting and relationship skills. We also Iain Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social offers the most important of these – rec- your own home, is at the heart of the So instead they must offer something quality of this shopping centre it would ommending a simplification of the wel- aspirational economy. It is not only a else – whether it is expertise, local be difficult to attract new businesses, fare system that will ensure that work measure of personal fulfilment but often knowledge to spot a new market oppor- and with them new customers. always pays more than benefits. a driver of innovation in the economy tunity or a more creative approach to Local solutions The second key feature of compassion- and creator of jobs. And the fact that the sourcing and presentation of their ate conservatism is to help those people Tesco started on a stall and Google in goods and services. High street and village centre businesses and families who find themselves in pov- a garage, show that entrepreneurs are In the past, if you wanted to understand are part of the communities they serve. erty despite best efforts or no efforts. In often better at spotting new opportuni- the social scars of business failure, you They employ local people and often a speech to the CSJ in early 2006, David ties than Governments are. went to the old industrial heartlands. buy goods and services from other local Cameron said that he wanted to build But if you want to see how the great- So Margaret Thatcher went to Teesside businesses. It has been estimated that the nation of the second chance. “For est recession in modern times has af- and the London Docklands. Enterprise 50% of the money taken over the coun- the mum who got pregnant as a teenag- fected life in Britain today, you can Zones were created to attract new pri- ter by a local business will go straight er the nation of the second chance will walk down the high street of most towns vate sector investment and create jobs. back into the community. Measures to enable her to study when she’s 35,” he and shopping centres. According to the There was an acceptance that to re-es- encourage local enterprise can be con- said. He continued: “The nation of the Local Data Company’s 2009 report, in tablish a viable market economy, that sidered not just as business support, but second chance will offer rehab to the towns like Margate and Wolverhampton, investment needed to be attracted from part of the regeneration of the whole man who has frittered away his twen- around one in four shops are empty. In outside. Similar problems now exist in community. ties on drugs. The nation of the second Folkestone in my own constituency, the our town centres. Business support measures also tend to chance will find a warm home and a job rate is estimated to be around one in In many older town centres which have benefit individual companies, whereas a for the man who has slept rough since six. This decline has been driven in the been suffering from decline for a num- key part of the survival of a local com- he ran away from the father that abused recession of by the loss of independent ber of years, dilapidation has become a munity business could be the strength him.” businesses, as well as larger national problem. This means that the premises of its neighbours. Local businesses will At the heart of this offering of a sec- chains like Woolworth and Borders. are in such a poor state that it would cluster together knowing that the com- ond chance is a reinvigorated voluntary These are difficult times for all busi- cost too much to restore them. In Fol- bination of their offer will help to at- sector. Conservatives need to develop nesses, but I fear we have reached a tip- kestone, the Creative Foundation estab- tract customers, not just their ability to new models of voluntary sector funding ping point where shops in town and vil- lished by the Roger De Haan charitable make themselves a destination in their so that more innovative not-for-profit lage centres are struggling to be viable. trust has bought a number of properties own right. This is just not the case with groups can flourish. Matched funding ar- They have suffered the triple whammy in the Old High Street and area near to local food businesses - where a butcher, rangements, voucher systems and ven- of the rising burdens of tax and regula- the harbour. They have invested in reno- baker and greengrocer will sit together ture funding must all be a bigger part of tion, competition from larger retailers vating the properties and then trying to in the same high street. The creative the future than direct grant streams. and the internet, and the steady retreat attract creative businesses like artists, economy works in a similar way. Com- Helping more able-bodied people to live of local institutions like bank branches, designers and florists into them at dis- mercial photographers will often like independent lives will ultimately reduce post offices and pubs. counted rents. However, the size of the to work near picture editors, advertis- the burden on the taxpayer. Taxpayers investment required bringing the prop- ing and marketing companies, casting will be able to keep more of their hard- New challenges erties up to scratch is currently well agents and web designers because they earned money and that which does go We cannot turn back the clock, nor ahead of what the local property mar- may benefit from working together and into the welfare state will go to the should we try. All businesses have to ket could afford. The rents you would referring customers. This is as impor- most needy and most deserving – the adapt to changing times and we cannot need to charge to repay the investment tant in a major centre like Soho as it very sick, the very old and the very dis- recreate the high streets of the 1950s. in the buildings would mean that a fully is in emerging centres like the new Me- Garry Knight abled. Independent businesses will struggle to commercial rent would be too high. Yet, dia City in Manchester, Brighton and the 30 31 THE DOERS new Creative Quarter and Foundation in ...... tives...... ness regeneration bodies should also be Folkestone. partnered with greater independence of The decline of businesses at the heart of operation and their ability to seek and our communities requires a bigger solu- give advice and support from a wider tion than the manipulation of tax rates range of sources. and relief from heavy handed regula- Creative ideas tion alone. It requires creative thinking There are a number of large companies to develop an effective local plan to and not-for-profit organisations pio- regenerate businesses. It means involv- neering new ways to support business ing councils, landlords and businesses development. However, there is often in that area. But for these plans to suc- the complaint that Government-run ser- ceed, policy makers need to consider a vices like Business Link are reluctant to number of reforms. refer people to a service that is only of- fered by one or two private companies, Supporting localism even if it could be of benefit. For ex- Local authorities have had no direct in- ample, Microsoft runs schemes to sup- centive to invest in reviving high streets port new high tech business start ups, and local business centres. This is be- but this is not offered by all technology cause they do not keep the business companies. We could also help promote rates they collect for the Government. local awareness of organisations like Therefore the level of business activity ‘Pub is the Hub’ which is supported by in their area has little direct financial the Prince of Wales and works with com- impact upon them. With council bud- panies, agencies and in some areas lo- gets under pressure any money spent on cal government to help keep local pubs business support initiatives must come open by increasing the diversity of the from other services or from additional service they provide - for example, en- increases in council tax. Conservative couraging a local food shop or post of- policies to allow councils to keep part fice under threat to trade from part of of an increase in business rates if new the premises of a pub. businesses are encouraged into an area The regeneration of businesses in the will give local authorities an incentive community requires urgent and creative Gwydion Williams to support business development. thinking. It is not a matter of returning In Folkestone in the week before Christ- council gets nothing back from this. tives to approve more business devel- welcome, can be relatively short term If the council decided to invest in re- to a way of doing business that is past, mas, Shepway District Council paid for The policy has cost it lost parking rev- opment away from a struggling town when an area might need more consis- ducing parking charges, or funding a but instead embracing new ideas and three days worth of free parking in the enues. Business groups have long criti- centre. In a recession, budgets for local tent help over a number of years and marketing campaign, this cost could be planning for the future. But key to this town. This led of an increase in the cised parking charges as something that marketing, promotion and events to en- across a business cycle. It could be more recouped from increased business rates is to give local bodies an incentive to number of shoppers in the town cen- depresses trade, but councils have an courage visitors may also be one of the effective instead to use resources at a across the area if activity was a success. support business growth and the tools tre of 11% against the same period in incentive to charge as much as they first areas of spending to be cut. local level, so that authorities are given It may be possible that this work would to provide more local assistance. With a the previous year, and when the na- think they can to subsidise other areas Regional Development Agencies can an incentive to take the lead in support- not have to be underwritten by the lo- local plan for a new local economy, we tional trend over was actually a fall in of their work. support regeneration projects in town ing local business growth. So if the coun- cal authorities, but perhaps by a not for have the opportunity to support a new customer numbers. The local traders In a similar way, developers of new centres, but the decision makers in cil want to support the renovation some profit company comprising of a variety generation of businesses in the com- regarded this as a great success: an ef- retail parks pay councils following a this process of allocating funds can be run down shops, it could recover that of local business interests, working with munity, and perhaps create a business fective measure to stimulate trade in a planning approval, known as Section distant from the local economies they investment when tenants had moved in the support of the local authority. ownership revolution, to rival the home recession. But other than gratitude, the 106 agreements, which creates incen- could support. Their support, whilst and were paying business rates. The ability to create new local busi- ownership revolution of the 1980s. 32 33 THE DOERS ADVERTISEMENT The Young Ones Yes, young people have got a raw deal. But what are we going to do about it? Nick Hillman offers his suggestions. Perhaps the hardest question I have been asked since becoming the Con- servatives’ Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge was from a 17-year old sixth-former. He asked me, and the other parties’ candidates: “why should anyone from my generation vote for you, when your generation have mucked up the country and left us in so much debt?” The implication behind the question was a bit harsh given that, in my case at least, I have never (yet) voted for the winning party at a general election. flickr.com/ginza_line However, there is a powerful truism at its heart: today’s politicians have left a get that is currently spent on those in ising a certain level of pension at the gigantic mess for the next generation to work to the provision of more appren- end. In the schemes open to younger pick up. The intergenerational contract ticeships, pre-apprenticeship training employees, the individual takes all the has been stretched to breaking point. and further education college places for risks and may face penury in retirement At the election, the biggest single issue those yet to enter the labour market. In depending on the future state of the an- is likely to be the eye-watering levels practice, that means a shift of resources nuity market. This has to be changed if of debt the Government have built up down the age range. pensions are not to be grossly unfair to which – one way or another – will have Second, savings and pensions. While younger workers. to be dealt with by the taxpayers of the the current fiscal crisis may necessi- Thirdly, in my view, we should give 16- future. tate some reforms to the Child Trust year olds the vote. If people are fearful This problem was captured well in those Fund, we should not lose sight of its key that the baby boomers might unfairly Conservative posters saying “Dad’s Nose. strength: that it promotes the building outvote other age groups in the battle Mum’s Eyes. Gordon Brown’s Debt.” But, up of assets among younger people in for public resources, then extending full to date, much of the focus on intergen- poorer families in a way that has not democratic rights lower down the age erational equity has been on assessing occurred since Margaret Thatcher sold range is a good idea. Indeed, giving the the problem. That is the right starting off council houses in their thousands. vote to 16 and 17-year olds should be point, as the issue must be understood We should also do more to promote a higher priority than giving it to pris- before it can be tackled. But we need to good pensions. Currently, older work- oners, as has been suggested in recent start thinking about the policy prescrip- ers - and public sector workers - tend months. tions that will help that 17-year old too. to have access to gold-plated pensions, Whether or not these specific policies Here are three possible ones. while younger workers tend to have ac- are implemented, one thing is certain: First, we should think about where the cess only to inferior ones with very low for the sake of our future social cohe- training budget is best directed. In par- or no employer contributions. In those sion, politicians should be looking at ticular, it would make sense to shift schemes open to older employees, the bold policies that are designed to give some of the £1 billion Train to Gain bud- companies take on all the risks by prom- younger people a fairer deal. 34