Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

SYED KAMALL MEP UPWARDLY MOBILE Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

1 INTRODUCTION

Syed Kamall MEP is the Co-Chairman of the European Conservatives and was raised in London at a time of backgrounds, with different aptitudes and Reformists Group. During his time in the European Parliament Syed has socialism. The Labour Party seemed different ambitions. People’s individual been a champion for fighting poverty. This booklet - a collection of speeches Iback then to be sympathetic to the needs and aptitudes can be best met and and articles - looks at his work for his London region constituency and more Ichallenges faced by immigrant families nurtured by multiple service providers widely to explore ideas to tackle poverty in practical and progressive ways such as mine, but I came to realise that offering choice. Perhaps that is why some throughout the EU and beyond. Labour politicians took the support of of the most effective work that I see in people like us for granted: their political education (and in fighting poverty) is often advantage lay in keeping British society done by people and charities which do not divided along class or racial lines. rely on the patronage of the state for their survival. TABLE OF CONTENTS My parents used to tell me that there was no limit to what you can achieve if you believe Many social enterprises are tackling social Routes out of Poverty 4 in yourself, believe in God and work hard. ills today more or just as effectively as the Those left behind 6 So, I was drawn to the idea that people of any state, because the people running such background could be upwardly mobile and enterprises are free to let their creativity My visit to a place called Hope 7 make a success of themselves if they worked and ingenuity flourish. The Big Society hard. It was this progressive politics which was an idea that many commentators Access to credit 9 drove my decision, in my early twenties, to found baffling at the time that it was first Don’t demonise payday lenders 11 join the Conservative Party led by Margaret suggested by David Cameron. But he Thatcher, the daughter of a grocer. was right to challenge their fundamental Friendly lending 12 suppositions about the role of the state. Grass roots solutions 16 Education and hard work are the means by which people achieve their ambitions. My kind of progressive Conservatism is one Look to local business 18 Some of the best education in Britain today which cares for people by being radical is provided by independent institutions. rather than by changing nothing. It is There is no case for the state to monopolise about not being afraid to try new solutions, Conservatives and the Big Society 20 the education of its citizens, any more about not being afraid to fail, and not being than for the state to monopolise afraid to try again. Let the state continue Rediscovering Mises and social cooperation 22 feeding or clothing them. to act as a safety net, but we should also Overcoming barriers to volunteering 26 Like all these necessities, let the private and voluntary sectors play education is too their part in finding solutions to social Groundhog Day for the Conservatives’ big society 29 important to be left in challenges. By rolling back the state, we roll There is power in a union 30 the hands of the state. forward society.

How the Conservative Party can deliver for everyone 32 Education is not Londoners are better off in almost every Conservative renaissance and renewal 34 an easy art, and it way compared to the London of my is certainly not an childhood. Yet, forty years on, the ghost Eyes, ears and helping hands 36 exact science. You of socialism chillingly pervades a Labour cannot have a one- Party which is once again falling back on size-fits-all education identity politics and envy to try to divide Towards a Progressive Conservatism 40 for different people, and rule the country. from different The quiet revolution at Brixton prison 42 The challenge for Conservatives is to be the Grammar Schools – a winning formula 44 change that we want to see. Before asking what our country can do for us, or even Why should we support apprenticeships? Because they work 46 asking ourselves what we can do for our The EU’s shocking lack of racial diversity 48 country, we should start by asking what we can do for our neighbour. Crowdfunding for Public Finance 49 Syed Kamall MEP To fix London’s housing problem we must think big 52 October 2018 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

ROUTES OUT

OF POVERTY syedkamall.co.uk

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As the leader of the third largest of the eight pan- European political groups in the European Parliament, I had the opportunity to meet with Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres. We discussed not just the dry economics of global poverty but how living in poverty makes people feel, and what can be done to Since the days of Dick Whittington, combat social alienation and London has always been a place promote inclusiveness. After that people come in the hope of a the meeting I issued a short better life. But not everyone ends statement on the subject. up like him. People find themselves on the streets for a variety of reasons but no-one chooses to live there. Numerous charities do incredible work to help people MY VISIT TO A PLACE into secure accommodation and back into a more productive life. I THOSE LEFT BEHIND wrote this article after visiting the CALLED HOPE Hope Centre in Acton. Meeting the Secretary General of the United Nations, 17 May 2017 Huffington Post 14/3/17

t’s not just about lifting people out of poverty but helping people who feel left behind. ppropriately enough, they call it the six years, while both state and voluntary This is one of the challenges I discussed with Secretary General of the United Nations, Hope Centre. responses to homelessness are too often IAntónio Guterres today. A predicated by a response to crisis instead of I AIt is situated in some modest rooms at Acton prevention. He and I share concerns that while globalization and market changes are inevitable, we Baptist Church in London and the people all need to look out for the very poorest as well as people in our communities who see involved are modest by nature too; but their The study focuses on the need to break dramatic changes in their circumstances. We need more community-led solutions to find hearts are huge and the work that goes on cycles. The cycles that lead individuals new opportunities or reskill as early as possible. • there should be a source of great pride. to return to the streets when attempts to house them fail through lack of support. The Hope Centre is tackling the devastating The cycles that mean people experiencing Little did I know that, within a month of this statement, London problem of homelessness through homelessness in childhood are far more would face its biggest civilian loss of life since the Second World War, in the form of the Grenfell fire. The tragedy brought into community action. The service there offers likely to be homeless as adults. sharp relief the sense that there was a whole community living in direct practical help, backed up with longer- North Kensington that had been left behind by the state authorities. term advice, guidance and mentoring to help The Hope Centre focuses on the need to Numerous voluntary sector bodies came to their rescue in the people find and keep a roof over their head. break cycles too. The initiative was set up days that followed. The challenge that remains for politicians is to by a wonderful woman called Amanda reconnect with the people whose voices went unheard for too long It is a living, working example of many of Cadogan who saw that local support for and to find solutions which work at a grassroots level. the issues and potential solutions detailed homeless people was lacking and wanted to in the Centre for Social Justice’s (CSJ) recent make a difference. policy report on homelessness. As she and her team showed me around the The report highlights the sharp increase centre, Amanda told me that she felt that in rough sleeping by over 130 per cent in there were a lot of unrecognised gaps in the syedkamall.co.uk

6 7 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician system which allowed individuals to slip have a choice and they choose crime then through the safety net. they should pay and not society.

For those in crisis and on the streets the I believe in personal responsibility, not only It is easy for middle class politicians on a regular centre provides the refuge and the practical for one’s own actions but for the well-being salary to forget how difficult assistance they need. They can shower, get of those in need. I am passionate about it is for people who have a low clean clothes and have some food. tackling poverty through championing or irregular income to access But Amanda spoke of the need to work with community-led local solutions rather than credit which many of us take people in the community before they get relying on the state to always step in. for granted. When politicians to the homeless stage - and talk of the credit crunch, they think of the economic also to continue helping Government tends to upheaval of 2008. Many of them after they have been respond by throwing those living in poverty face a housed. In other words, money indiscriminately at credit crunch any and every to mend those gaps in the The study focuses a crisis. Some of this money day; they need mechanisms safety net. on the need to will help those in need, but which they can trust, as they break cycles. The may not always be well work to lift themselves out of poverty. Back-banking could It can be a lot to do with cycles that lead targeted. Communities and be one such mechanism. educating them, she said, individuals to return volunteers, by contrast, and just “putting them in to the streets when know their own resources a property and leaving attempts to house and their local areas and can them to get on with things” them fail through devote care and attention to without support was wrong. lack of support. preventing the problem in the first place. They focus ACCESS TO CREDIT Many of them would struggle with budgeting on helping people help themselves. Centre for Social Justice, 12/4/2017 or self-care and end up on the streets again. Such people need to be shown where they I was deeply moved by my visit. So much are going wrong, not left to make the same so that I could not help hugging one man as mistakes again. he told me about his own experiences and how the Hope Centre gave him hope and Amanda also spoke about the need for courage. he real credit crisis is happening Breakthrough Prize, for my own proposal to discipline and rules. If people did not want every day. You just have to be poor. improve access to credit for entrepreneurs help and were a danger to society then she And that is the centre’s real ethos. TToo many in our country lack the from among the very poorest. does not hesitate to call the police because So that homelessness does not mean Tcomfort of a financial buffer. They have there are consequences to actions. If people hopelessness. • to rely on uncertain and limited incomes. But the problem of regular access to credit to They are dogged by poor credit ratings. help manage cash flow is one that deserves They find themselves overdrawn and out more attention as well. And the Centre for of luck. They end up paying the poverty Social Justice has continued its important premium: in punitive overdraft fees, high work in the area with a new report on the payday loan rates, or worse still by ending intriguing suggestion for a back-banking up at the mercy of lenders operating outside scheme connected to Universal Credit the law. An estimated 310,000 of our fellow- reforms. citizens are using illegal lenders according to a BIS estimate. Back-banking sounds confusing, but the idea is simple. Basic bank accounts are I work for London in Brussels, but I’ve designed to serve people with bad credit always believed that the work I can do scores and low incomes. But by design at home is as important as the work I do they do not allow overdrafts. To help with representing our great city’s interests in cash flow management, these customers the EU. The issue of improving credit for need access to a controlled line of credit those trapped at the bottom of our society at manageable rates. Could advances troubles me deeply. I’m delighted to have guaranteed by future Universal Credit [UC] been selected as a finalist in this week’s IEA income fill the gap? syedkamall.co.uk

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In the absence of banks offering such being tied to Universal Credit income its credit or credit unions having adequately potential for abuse would be contained, and addressed the gap, we find many poorer rates could be kept low without banks facing people turning to payday lenders. undue risk of default. Most importantly, the A few weeks later, I was able to publicise the CSJ report Whatever we may think about them, proposed model allows market competition with an expanded article for these companies operate in the legal light and commercial incentives to drive the CapX website, run by the of day and have devised innovative ways innovation and improvement. Centre for Policy Studies, to gauge creditworthiness beyond crude adding the following words. scores. That’s because the idea is to use the existing Universal Credit framework -- incidentally But back-banking has the potential to offer making it cheap to build -- and then turning the best of all worlds. It would support to banks, building societies and hopefully the poorest with more sustainable access credit unions to offer their own competing to credit to deal with unforeseen costs. By back-banking products on top. • DON’T DEMONISE PAYDAY LENDERS – LET THEM HELP TACKLE POVERTY CapX, 2 May 2017

e all know too much cheap credit After all, who knows this market better? brings its own dangers, for W lenders and individuals. But the As we take back control of our country, WCSJ report discusses these challenges openly we have a once-in-a-century opportunity as well as the benefits of the proposal. to shape Britain’s future so it works better for everyone. But we mustn’t fall into the There are also concerns over devising a trap of trying to out-think the concentrated system that may drive out the innovation brainpower of a market economy. and commercial competition from the current short-term credit market. While Like no other, a commercial society is a I understand the desire to put payday society built to serve human needs. It has lenders out of business, they may have a given me, and so many others of modest role to play. Whatever we think about them, backgrounds, opportunities beyond our these companies operate in the legal light parents’ dreams. Let’s see if we can find a of day and have devised new ways to gauge way to work with innovative companies – creditworthiness beyond crude scores. who understand their customers – to tackle some of the real problems of poverty. Then, That’s why I believe we should find a way to in consumer credit as in every area, there is include payday lenders in the conversation. no limit to what we can do together. syedkamall.co.uk

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SIR HUMPHREY’S LIMITS Microfinance, like crowdfunding more generally, is nothing new. The Great Considerable political energy and taxpayers’ Exhibition of 1851 was crowdfunded. And I was delighted to be one of money has been spent to encourage Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s the finalists for the 2017 IEA Travels, started his own tiny microfinance Richard Koch Breakthrough entrepreneurship at the bottom of British Essay competition. My society, yet the level remains intractably fund in the early 1700s. He offered small entry was on a similar low. Most recently, the 2016 Mone review loans to poor Irish tradesmen, charging no theme of access to finance, brought in a voice from the business world, interest. Although Swift could only help where I argued the case for and one with personal experience of a handful of people, he began a larger microloans, or as I call it escaping poverty, to provide fresh insight. tradition of Irish loan funds. And today, ‘Friendly Lending’. The report offered tweaks to the status digital platform technology has enabled quo but failed to deliver a microfinance to expand as radical breakthrough. never before.

Access to finance has also So far, microfinance has received attention, with As a condition of the had its biggest impact in many worthy initiatives, relief, the money developing economies. including tax breaks such must remain invested There, platforms like Kiva as Social Investment Tax in the platform for have shown that aggregating Relief (SITR). But SITR only at least two years, many small direct loans to extends to individuals, not calculated from the local entrepreneurs can have companies, requires a three end of the tax year powerful effects. But in recent year term and is structured in which the loan years, a few experiments to favour larger investments. was made. After that have started exploring time, if the loan has the model’s potential in In America, however, a been successfully developed economies. returned, the FRIENDLY LENDING breakthrough has begun. A new, non-state model of investor can remove Notably, Kiva began Essay for Institute of Economic Affairs, September 2017 microfinance combined the money from an introducing a programme of with digital platform escrow-type and keep its zero-interest-rate loans technology is proving it for their own free to American entrepreneurs effective in ways that use, with no capital in 2009, and rolled out its government intervention gains liability. This national US platform in rewards lenders who September 2015. The lack f you are poor in Britain today, you The financially excluded are only the worst- has failed to achieve. support projects with of any potential gain for will find it hard to borrow money for off. Recent attention has revealed the plight real promise. lenders removes Kiva from a new venture. Not surprisingly, you of the just-about-managing. These are the I the costs and barriers of Ialso have a lower chance of becoming an dedicated people whose work keeps the MICROFINANCE GETS regulatory scrutiny by the SEC watchdog, entrepreneur. country running. There are six million just- A PLATFORM making the initiative practical. To date, two about-managing households of working age. thirds of Kiva’s US borrowers belong to ethnic In every country of the United Kingdom, the They sit in the bottom half of the nation’s Digital platform technology — the enabling minorities. More than half are women. Two most deprived 20-30 per cent are far less income distribution, on low to middle force behind global successes like Facebook, fifths have only been in business for a few likely to be self-employed. For the poorest 10 incomes. They are not reliant on benefits, Twitter and Kickstarter — is significant months, without the financial history for a per cent, the level is about half the national but struggle to live modestly whilst spending because it is ever more accessible across commercial loan. And many are from poor average, with just five entrepreneurs for almost everything they earn just to get socioeconomic boundaries. It cuts out and rundown areas. every hundred people. through the month. They lack savings and bureaucratic middlemen and its efficiency disposable income, thus investing to secure and automation allows it to process many And yet while the UK has a thriving Britain has a shocking 1.5 million people their future is a luxury they can’t afford. small transactions at scale. These platforms alternative finance sector, it lacks any who are entirely financially excluded. That permit far more direct connections platforms of this kind. is three times the population of Edinburgh. Unsurprisingly, the government has tried to between citizens. These can be as trivial People with no bank account. No sort code. tackle the twin challenges of financial access as liking each other’s selfies, but also as There is no obvious regulatory barrier to At least a third of the financially excluded and entrepreneurial activity among the least transformative and valuable as ecommerce and crowdfunding. blame. Zero-interest-rate loan platforms are stuck on welfare. well-off, but both problems remain. syedkamall.co.uk

12 13 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician don’t need regulating. While our own set by reference to a to-be-determined The creation of this bold tax exception pressure for the resolution of longstanding financial watchdog, the FCA, has yet to percentage of turnover or net profit. For will turbocharge the entrepreneurial problems that now cause innovators difficulty formally approve this for the UK, the US other types of institutions, alternative microfinance sector in the UK and support — for example, disputes over the right of precedent and informal indications from measures such as one based on assets the development of competing platforms. council tenants to run small businesses from the FCA’s regulatory sandbox suggest that under management would be introduced. It will allow individuals their homes. this would be a brief formality. and companies a greater As a condition of the relief, the money must measure of control over More microfinance will also The technology exists. As does the political remain invested in the platform for at least how their taxes are spent. save central government will to find a solution. But the solutions of two years, calculated from the end of the And because lenders are Britain has a money. In 2012 the Centre politicians and civil servants default to the tax year in which the loan was made. After incentivised to lend to shocking 1.5 million for Economic and Social topdown and bureaucratic. that time, if the loan has been successfully successful projects, it will people who are Inclusion conducted a returned, the investor can remove the help direct that tax money entirely financially study for the Fredericks We need a new vision. A radically different money from an escrow-type account and to where it can be most excluded. That is Foundation, which gives kind of policy, that supports microfinance keep it for their own free use, with no effectively invested. three times the loans to entrepreneurs who while increasing economic freedom for the capital gains liability. This rewards lenders population of have been turned down population at large. who support projects with real promise. Edinburgh. by conventional lenders. CONCLUSION The study found that over I call it: Friendly Lending. It is a requirement of a platform’s right a three year time horizon to operate that it automates the escrow The poorest third of our society needs better every £1 invested in financing a Fredericks process, basic certification of borrowers, access to finance. It also suffers from a lack Foundation loan saved the public purse at FRIENDLY LENDING and the claiming of tax rebates. of successful entrepreneurs. But restoring least £2.90 and at times as much as £6.50 financial access and the vital, problem- claimed in benefits. And this did not include The worst possible response to the promise Ideally, with the efficiencies of platform solving initiative of small businessmen and indirect tax revenues or savings. of Kiva’s US expansion would be to create technology and integration support from businesswomen has proven beyond the a government-run microfinance platform HMRC, it would be possible to institute an power of the state. Friendly Lending offers Achieving this outcome through platforms and grant it a monopoly. That way lies automated rebate system that could operate as a new and more practical approach. that allow direct support and encouragement inefficiencies and inevitable overspend. a reverse PAYE — “Keep As You Lend”, or KAYL. from other citizens brings additional benefits. Friendly Lending is not a one-size-fits- At a time when politicians are keen to bind Friendly Lending proposes a different way For instance: all solution, but a liberalising method. the country together, Friendly Lending forward: simply change how microfinance It trusts in the diversity of individual creates a new and direct connection between is taxed. • Someone earns a salary of £25,000 in initiative. economic classes. It highlights not just the the tax year 2016-17. challenges of poorer areas to the rest of Friendly Lending tax relief will only be Friendly Lending’s success will provide a society, but also their hopes and aspirations available to the users of approved platforms. • They are required to pay 20% income desperately-needed source of microfinance for a better life. It then opens up a channel These platforms must aggregate small tax on £14,000 = £2,800 in total, £233 to those who currently have no easy option. which can serve not just for the transfer individual payments into zero-interest-rate paid monthly by PAYE. It will also produce ripple effects. Local of money, but the potential for informal loans for entrepreneurs on low incomes and employment and training opportunities will mentorship and other kinds of voluntary social enterprises in poor and deprived areas. • However, from July-November 2016, be created. New initiatives will answer local community assistance. Above all, it makes they loan £200 each month on a quali- needs. Successful ventures will encourage realising the projects of the poorest in society In recognition of the fact these loans offer fying platform to support several prom- others who have ideas worth trying. A greater an entrepreneurial challenge that the nation zero interest and are high-risk, investors in ising social enterprises and individuals, entrepreneurial spirit will also provide new can grapple with, and learn from, together. • the platform are granted 100 per cent relief using their full Friendly Lending allow- on income tax up to a capped amount. ance for the year.

This cap is set at £1,000, and is flat. All • As they are signed up to KAYL, this is individuals subject to income tax have automatically credited to their income access to the same level of tax relief. tax PAYE in each following month, re- ducing the bill to £33. Additionally, to expand Friendly Lending’s potential reach, companies and financial • In April 2019, if the money has been re- institutions have access to their own version turned and not lost to bad loans, they can of the scheme. For corporates, the cap is now withdraw it for their own use tax free. syedkamall.co.uk

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in Hand aims to create 3.7 million jobs The Cato Institute’s Michael D. Tanner, worldwide by 2021 and is already 80% of one of the United States’ most influential the way there. thinkers on innovative solutions to tackling Too many of us politicians have answers for poverty, is a keynote speaker. everything. Yet on many important issues, There will also be representatives from there are no easy answers. Solutions need to be discussed and ideas exchanged. I a retraining and education programme Mr Kamall said: “All these schemes have decided to hold a conference on poverty in in rural Romania and a cycling scheme one thing in common. They work from London and to invite experts to contribute. delivering food prepared by refugees in the bottom up, are not necessarily reliant This is the statement we issued. Cairo. on the state or trickle down economics for their survival and offer hope to those who Closer to home, the London Community have little or none. Foundation connects those in need with people willing to give. It has distributed “The event’s aim is simple. To produce a more than £55 million over 22 years report providing clearly defined steps for to projects such as Streets of Growth, community organisations, philanthropists which helps young people out of a life of and all the charitably minded amongst us drugs and gangs and into training and to tackle poverty and exclusion within our employment. local communities. •

GRASS ROOTS SOLUTIONS London Conference, 23/01/18

major conference exploring how “International aid and large NGOs have grassroots projects can provide a role to play, but I passionately believe A lasting solutions to world poverty that there are solutions to be found in Ais taking place in London. local communities across the world. Empowering people to tackle some of the Organised by London Conservative MEP toughest issues in their communities is Syed Kamall, the Global Poverty Summit incredibly inspiring.” aims to galvanise support for non- governmental solutions to helping the The Summit, held under the auspices of the world’s poor. It is backed by international European Conservatives and Reformists figures including former Australian Prime Group, will hear from speakers from Minister Tony Abbott and former NATO around the world who have put these Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, principles into action. who have both recorded video messages. Bob Woodson is a former civil rights Mr Kamall said: “The centralised, top activist whose Woodson Center is helping down approach has failed the poorest in to revitalise urban neighbourhoods in the our society. Globalisation’s riches do not United States. Dorothea Arndt will explain always trickle down to their level and while how the Hand-in-Hand organisation fights welfare may help recipients get through poverty in the developing world by training the day, it does not provide a route out of small groups of women how to use their poverty. In too many communities there is own pooled savings to start businesses and an absence of hope. providing access to micro-loans. Hand- syedkamall.co.uk

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This may be where left and right diverge. broadcaster John Humphrys, and former The left’s view is broadly that poverty Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen. One of alleviation has failed because the the concrete proposals from the conference Redistributing taxpayers’ money does government does not tax the rich enough in is the creation of a “do tank” (not a think not mean that money will always enable order to distribute more money to the poor, tank) to link different grassroots projects those who need it to be lifted out of poverty. Cutting everyone’s taxes can administered by more public servants – in and use their shared expertise and contacts help, but it does not automatically help other words, measuring by the input of the as the incubator to grow them and create the unwaged. In this article I suggest state. new ones. that local businesses can have a role not just in wealth creation but in wealth In contrast, many on the We could become a network redistribution too. right argue that poverty is linking together businesses, best tackled through cutting local community taxes and allowing the There will be those projects, philanthropists, additional wealth generated who believe that foundations, and those with to create better jobs and eradicating world much-needed skills. opportunities, thus helping poverty may be the poor – measuring by the a challenge we I hope that the event can be output of the private sector never fully meet, a step towards a profound and individuals. but I believe it is and lasting re-examination incumbent upon us to of the causes of poverty, and Clearly, output is what do our best. how we can best address matters. We need to open the it. Ultimately, we want to LOOK TO LOCAL BUSINESS conversation about different ways to tackle redraw the scope of what we mean by aid, City AM 29 January 2018 poverty and exclusion, with different means and redefine how we can tackle poverty as of delivery and different objectives. individuals and communities, rather than exclusively as nations and states or through And the evidence shows that, if output is global NGOs. the goal, locally inspired initiatives are more successful than big top-down projects Will our conference change things andhi called poverty the worst form In the past, there have been legitimate directed by the state. overnight? Of course not. Can we ever truly of violence. Nelson Mandela said concerns over aid money propping up eradicate poverty? Maybe not. But that G none of us can truly rest as long as dictators, and feeding corruption and Through my political group, the European should not stop us trying, or from looking Gpoverty persists in our world. complacency rather than helping the Conservatives and Reformists, I organised a at whether our efforts so far have been as needy. We have heard of donated funds Global Summit on Poverty last Friday, to look effective as they should be. There will be those who believe that spent on “white elephant” factories, at local community non-state solutions for eradicating world poverty may be a damaging dam projects, and roads to fighting poverty. We heard from experts from Jesus may have cautioned that “the poor challenge we never fully meet, but I believe nowhere. across the country, Europe, and the world. you will always have with you”, but he was it is incumbent upon us to do our best. not telling anyone to leave them to it, or to While statistics show that the number of Nearer to home, there have been cases There were video messages from former leave stones unturned in seeking the best people living in extreme poverty globally where the EU has been inadvertently Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, ways to help. • has declined, most of us agree that more responsible for similar follies through needs to be done. its social fund and regional development budget. Some also have concerns over So how come, despite the billions raised donations to large NGOs funding generous in taxes to spend on the welfare state or salaries of chief executives and press donated to large NGOs, there is still so officers, rather than those providing aid on much poverty? Could it perhaps be because the ground. we tend to measure the success of our response by input rather than output, in This misallocation may stem from the fact terms of money given, or proportion of that we often focus more on how much GDP redistributed, rather than by results money we spend, rather than what – and produced? how – we spend it on. syedkamall.co.uk

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CONSERVATIVES AND THE BIG

SOCIETY syedkamall.co.uk

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do anything except through people, and gives examples of the role friendly and people must look to themselves first. It’s our mutual societies played in helping the poor. duty to look after ourselves and then, also Unfortunately, many of these societies were David Cameron’s Big Society concept to look after our neighbour. People have got crowded out by the advent of the welfare was launched in the middle of the the entitlements too much in mind, without state. General Election campaign of 2010. When the Coalition came into being the obligations. There’s no such thing as after that election, there was a pressing entitlement, unless someone has first met The New Labour project at least recognised need for the new Prime Minister to an obligation.” the shortcomings of the welfare state – explain and continue to sell the idea although I suspect Labour will now return to our own party members as well as When you read what she said in its full to its default position of “the state knows the public. I attempted to help him in context it is clear she meant that you should best” under the leadership of Ed Miliband. this article for Conservative Home. not turn to the state to help people out before They tend to view society as a set of distinct first asking what they can do for themselves communities, valuing the collective interest or what others can do for them. You have that they share rather than the individuals to leave a space for self-help or voluntary that comprise them. They treat these help, or else the state takes over our lives. If communities as monolithic with identical people can look after themselves, they need needs, aspirations and even behaviours REDISCOVERING not look to the state to do so. e.g. the gay community, the black community, the MISES AND SOCIAL David Cameron reiterated banking community etc. this idea said when launching the Big Society We have to look Yet we do not see society COOPERATION project: “There is such a beyond the as being composed of a set monolithic welfare Conservative Home 25/10/10 thing as society. It’s just not of groups with common the same thing as the state”. state to tackle some characteristics, rather as of the big problems individuals who cooperate Society is much more in our broken with others to seek a than the state. It is people, society by reminding common purpose. The families, neighbours, people that social Austrian economist Ludwig ne of the reasons the Conservative tackling poverty in this country, and he community groups, cooperation is a Von Mises stated that: Party failed to win an absolute has managed to turn Nick Clegg into an networks, charities, far more effective “Society is concerted action, Omajority at the General Election enthusiastic supporter of the Big Society as companies, spontaneous tool than top-down, cooperation. Society is the Owas that many people did not know what well. acts of empathy and taxpayer-funded outcome of conscious and we stood for beyond not being a tired out kindness between strangers bureaucracy in purposeful behaviour.” party, being “not Labour”. The Left repeat ad nauseam Margaret even. If society left tackling social ills. Thatcher’s quote that “there is no such thing everything done by these In other words, society is the We did stand on a clear set of policies but the as society”, and use this to try to badge the groups to the state, we would end up living product of intentional individual action; it is problem was that they were not understood Conservatives as a party which has no idea in a pretty cold atmosphere of obedience to not the consequence of social categorisation widely and nor did they really inspire and what society is. You never hear anyone on the state. by socialist government. Society, according motivate people to vote enthusiastically for the Left actually completing her quote to to von Mises, is a cohesive entity precisely us. put it in its proper context: The Left are too quick to assign a role to the because it is created by individuals and state before first assessing what could be the groups interacting in the pursuit of their Our so-called “Big society” agenda is a case “I think we’ve been through a period role of individuals and civil society. They own interests: “Over the centuries an in point. It was not clearly defined at any where too many people have been given to conveniently seek to erase from history the alternative to economic self-sufficiency has stage of the election campaign and so it understand that if they have a problem, it’s role played by civil society, for example, in evolved to deal with the problem of scarcity. became a meaningless slogan in which we the government’s job to cope with it. ‘I have tackling poverty before the advent of the This alternative is social cooperation, the had to invest our trust without knowing a problem, I’ll get a grant.’ ‘I’m homeless, modern welfare state or in the education basis of what is called society.” quite what it meant in practice. the government must house me.’ They’re of the young. Victorian Britain had higher casting their problem on society. And, you standards of literacy than modern Britain Societies only function well when human To his credit, David Cameron has been know, there is no such thing as society. but far fewer state-funded schools. And in beings form groups to involve other human keen to put meat on the bones and define There are individual men and women, and his 1994 book Recreating Civil Society Dr beings in their enterprises. The initiative what could be a revolutionary project in there are families. And no government can David Green, now of the think tank Civitas, to form groups cannot be replicated syedkamall.co.uk

22 23 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician efficiently by the state because the state is work of the many think tanks and charities allows members to expand their network While many on the Left will continue to not possessed of the knowledge to know which are pioneering more effective of contacts whilst also acting as a support denigrate the “Big Society” as a piece of what kind of group should be formed and social solutions than can be delivered by group. A job club nurtures self-esteem partisan rhetoric, in practice they know for what beneficial purpose. The state centralised state. and optimism which are essential for job they have to embrace social cooperation – cannot supplant the leadership role of seekers. Their efforts are strengthened by because it delivers better social outcomes individuals in a well functioning society. In recent years, we have seen the emergence belonging to a group, rejection is shared, at less cost. On one of my visits on behalf of As Von Mises put it: “A society that chooses of a number of projects which highlight successes celebrated and the search for a the CSJ, I visited a mosque which received between capitalism and socialism does how we can move towards a smaller state job shortened. GB Job Clubs was formed in a grant from the local Labour council to not choose between two social systems; it and a Bigger Society: response to the fact that only 10 per cent of provide local services at a third of the cost chooses between social cooperation and people find employment through Jobcentre to local people regardless of their faith, the disintegration of society. Socialism is 1. The work of the Centre for Social Plus. GB Job Clubs believes that ‘Who more effectively. This was universally not an alternative to capitalism; it is an Justice which celebrates the work of local you know’ still counts and that Job Clubs recognised as saving local council tax alternative to any system community-led projects enhance individuals’ social networks and payers money and providing better value under which men can live in tackling poverty in give them much needed motivation and for money. as human beings.” deprived areas. As an support during difficult times. associate of the CSJ, I have The task for Conservatives over the next five A Big Society is one in which The task for seen examples where the 5. The many Conservative Party social years is to champion the Big Society and to individuals take the lead in Conservatives over state can sometimes crowd action projects up and down the country ensure that the public sees the difference defining what they want out the next five years out local community-led which show that rather than talking between the Big Society and the Big State, of life and in determining is to champion the projects. about tackling poverty, Conservatives are between what tends to help people and what the mechanism by which Big Society and to rediscovering social cooperation. crowds out voluntary action and initiative. we are to achieve them. ensure that the public 2. Civitas, which goes Social cooperation should be easier to We recognise, as Adam sees the difference beyond the traditional This idea of social cooperation need not encourage than taxing people and setting Smith did, that self-interest, between the Big think-tank to become a do- be the preserve of Conservatives alone: up mechanisms to distribute their money, practised by all classes Society and the Big tank in starting its own it is far bigger than that – an idea that and we should look to social cooperation – of people, is a powerful State, between what schools for children in areas every political party should embrace. not the state – as a first resort.• motivational force and tends to help people where the state is providing works to the benefit of and what crowds poor quality education. society as a whole. But we out voluntary action also recognise that empathy, and initiative. 3. The work of Professor philanthropy and kindness Social cooperation James Tooley who has are all best practised by should be easier to demonstrated in his individuals or smaller encourage than taxing wonderful book The groups of individuals than people and setting Beautiful Tree how by a monolithic state. up mechanisms entrepreneurs in poor to distribute their communities across the We have to look beyond the money, and we world are setting up non- monolithic welfare state should look to social state schools to provide to tackle some of the big cooperation – not the education where state problems in our broken state – as a first resort. schools do not exist, are society by reminding people too far away or where little that social cooperation is teaching goes on. He cites a far more effective tool than top-down, Ghandi’s criticism of the role the British taxpayer-funded bureaucracy in tackling played in destroying small private village social ills. A Big Society leaves room for schools across the country and replacing social cooperation while seeing a role for them with state schools, many of which the state when other forms of help have not provide little or no real education. delivered a better social outcome. 4. Chris Neal who set up GB Job Clubs as a It is a pragmatic concept which does not put charity to help groups of individuals to meet its faith in one single solution to society’s on a regular basis to support each other ills. It manifests itself in practice in the through the job hunting process. The club syedkamall.co.uk

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responsibility for their surroundings, and, complete for government. A policy wonk at by doing so, look after their neighbours and a leading think tank – a man who should environments and strengthen the social be as adept with paperwork as anyone- It was not long before the fabric of their communities. once told me that though he wanted to take Opposition had successfully up an invitation to help a rehabilitation conflated concept of the Big Society with the Government’s policy of The Home Office’s efforts to map crime programme by coaching a football team controlling public expenditure. online, although they are suffering some of young offenders, had declined after It was an easy criticism to make teething problems, are a useful way he was sent around 150 pages of forms to against a backdrop of a government of showing which parts of the country complete. The cost of liability insurance seeking to control spending, but the are plagued by crime and anti-social was prohibitive to volunteers in my friends’ idea of a Big Society has huge merit behaviour. This will encourage citizens to village who had wanted to start up an and new ideas take time to bed in. demand better police accountability and amateur dramatic club which would have allocation of resources. But provided an alternative the responsive deployment for local youths who spend of police addresses the their time loitering around symptoms not the cause of the main street. these communities’ ills. The local citizens with the time, When I discussed these The Big Society can be commitment and issues surrounding barriers OVERCOMING BARRIERS preventative medicine. It good faith to get to entry at an event which offers an antidote to the involved must not brought together a lot of TO VOLUNTEERING atomisation and entitlement let themselves voluntary organisations, I culture which plagues some be held back by heard the repeated refrain Conservative Home 25/2/11 sink estates and fosters the perception that we should simply cultures of delinquency and of an unhelpful attempt to abolish the criminality. But it can also bureaucratic health and safety and child help strengthen happier environment, for protection infrastructure, communities. Whatever these are barriers as it has gone too far, and is the socio-economic starting which we must enforced out of a mistaken ith the grating repetitiveness of consequences of controlling and curtailing point, by fostering a sense overcome if we are assumption that is possible scratched records, the Left in the national debt, which far outweigh what of citizen investment and truly to deliver the to regulate away risk. Wthis country are hard at work is lost when a budget is trimmed. It is a responsibility the real value Big Society. However, such an attempt Wattempting to smear the Big Society project useful exercise to regularly seek savings of the Big Society will be to tear up the rulebook as merely a smokescreen for ‘devastating in government budgets. Letting the front realised across Britain’s and start again on these cuts’ to services. line have more control over the delivery of communities. matters would likely fall foul of EU laws. As services and liberating local services from Since I wrote my last article on the Big a government, we should be investigating Let’s get the so-called ‘cuts’ into perspective. the dead hand of centralised control do have Society, I have been contacted by a number whether there is any flexibility in the The spending plans that the Coalition a part to play in getting Britain’s fiscal ship of people explaining how they want to help, UK’s interpretation of the relevant has published are aimed at bringing the back on course. But this is a potential bonus but detailing the barriers to volunteering directives. Exemptions for small voluntary budget back into balance. We have to of the Big Society, not its raison d’etre. The which they face. The stories I heard about organisations where the cost of compliance stop the appalling culture of profligacy initiative is a means of empowering citizens red tape and legal obstacles getting in the would be crippling or where contact with left by Labour, which has landed us in the to organise direct, specific local initiatives way of their good intentions chimed with children is not intensive, for example, are awful fiscal state we are in. Just recently to provide local services and address local my own experience from talking with ideas worth pursuing. we found out how the Audit Commission, needs. friends in the past. the very quango which was supposedly The laws on child protection have come there to ensure prudent and responsible Even if reality were reversed and Labour I remember a lady I knew some years ago about from perfectly legitimate concerns spending, was itself recklessly wasting tens had bequeathed the Coalition times of who ran a Sunday School for children in about the dangers of sex offenders of thousands of pounds on items such as plenty as the Conservatives did for Labour Barking, East London. She had run the slipping through the net. We will always excessively expensive office furniture. in 1997, the imperative to build the Big popular programme for thirty years but face a challenge to weigh security risks Society would still be just as great. The was reluctantly forced to close it down in a sensible way so that understandable Continuing to spend like Labour is simply Big Society is about more than economics. when she became suddenly overwhelmed caution is not a slippery slope to stifling not an option. There are myriad benevolent It is about encouraging people to take by the mountain of paperwork she had to bureaucracy. syedkamall.co.uk

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While many voluntary organisations are constructing their own snow plough as a concerned that the spectre of health and community enterprise. safety regulation has taken on a life of its own, I am equally concerned that the The good news is that we now have a Whether it was the circumstances or the perception, which may be much worse than government committed to reducing red tape explanation offered for the the reality, could also stop people being a and cutting through bureaucracy to allow concept, the Big Society part of the Big Society. people to make their Big Society visions never quite captured reality. So our message to citizens should the imagination of the Consider the heavy snow fall which caused be not to be deterred from volunteering media, nor of the general chaos over the last two winters. We have but rather to get stuck in and keep your public. After a number of attempted relaunches, the all heard the warning that we should not representatives informed when you feel Big Society was quietly clear snow in front of our house, in case unreasonably hindered. dropped as a theme of the someone slipping over sues the public- Cameron government. I spirited homeowner. Even though I heard There are thousands of Big Society projects regretted this, as my letter a lawyer on the radio explain that the in action all across the country, but the to the Times made clear. GROUNDHOG DAY FOR last example is an urban myth, this has voluntary organisations I speak to feel that undoubtedly stopped some home owners there could be many more. The local citizens THE CONSERVATIVES’ from clearing the pavements. There have with the time, commitment and good faith been a number of cases of councils being to get involved must not let themselves be sued over the alleged incompetence of held back by the perception of an unhelpful BIG SOCIETY their gritting. Fortunately, this has not bureaucratic environment, for these are The Times, Letters, 24/5/11 prevented citizens of England’s highest barriers which we must overcome if we are market town, Alston in the Pennines, from truly to deliver the Big Society. •

he relaunch of the “big society” will require less state intervention than the have to happen time and time again taxpayer-funded, bureaucratic schemes Tbecause it really does represent a new favoured by the previous prime minister. Tapproach to politics from the Conservative Citizens can and do already get together party (Fourth time lucky? Cameron to to solve problems affecting them and relaunch his big society, 23 May). their local communities, often without seeking the help of the state. The trade For several decades there has been a union movement is a classic example. The missing piece of the Conservative narrative, test of the big society initiative will be the which is to define clearly the objective: extent to which more people come together the kind of society that the party wants to voluntarily to address the broken society create. Neighbourliness, respect for the that blights some of our towns and cities. individual, acceptance of different cultural norms, social inclusion and cohesion are all The relaunch of the big society under this part of the big society vision. government may become as repetitive as Groundhog Day was in the movie, but both David Cameron’s means of achieving these ultimately serve the useful social purpose of objectives are classically liberal; they bringing communities and people together. • syedkamall.co.uk

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programmes, libraries, evening classes, those who lose their jobs, especially in health schemes and mutual savings groups. single-factory towns, to fend for themselves.

The concept holds true that Membership of trade unions has declined We must consider how we can create the Government-run solutions to for many reasons. While well-paid trade space for trade unions, mutual societies social problems do not always provide the best answers. The Big union bosses are seen as wanting to run and other cooperatives to offer advice Society is the antidote to the ‘big the country or opposing and retraining to those state’, and it is only just starting change, many employees who lose their jobs rather to gain momentum. In my visits no longer see the relevance than leaving them to a life to charities and clubs around of membership. of benefits and job centre London, I have witnessed how appointments. enterprise and initiative hold Even if we stay in the key to overcoming even the The changing nature of the same job, it’s most difficult social challenges. work offers trade unions a nature and skill Consider the worker who Charities, friendly societies, chance to re-focus on the requirements are has been laid off by a credit unions and trade unions long term needs of their likely to change. company but is given a all have a part to play in building members. As people change grant or a loan by a trade a big society. jobs or become contractors, union to start up a business, unions can advise them how to proceed. along with training and support. Newly They have a history of helping working empowered entrepreneurs benefiting from THERE IS POWER people and they need to find their true this assistance are more likely to be open to purpose again. retaining membership of a trade union and encouraging their staff to join a union too. IN A UNION And what does the government need to Conservative Workers and Trades Unionists - 11/4/17 do? First, government needs to get out of It would be wonderful to see government the way and not stand in the way of new, trade unions and cooperatives work disruptive technologies - either by intent together on lifelong support and training or accident. They must let new industries for our workers. come forward. They should do what they can to make sure the same encouragement We Conservatives saved this country from hings are changing fast in the world disappear to be replaced by others. Some and climate for innovation is available the tyranny of the trade unions in the 1970s of work - in response to advancing may adapt... as must we. outside London and the South East too. and 1980s. An even bigger challenge might Ttechnology and social pressures. be to save trade unions from irrelevance T As well as changing jobs and roles in the But then government must think hard about by encouraging them truly to serve their Whereas many people of my parents’ course of our working lives, we can also those who lose out from this disruption and members throughout their ever-changing generation worked for the same employer expect more people to pursue ‘portfolio’ from globalisation. We cannot simply leave working lives. • in the same sector for 30 or 40 years, this careers. They will have multiple sources of will become increasingly rare. income at the same time, possibly in very different fields and probably into later life. Even if people remain in the same line of work, it will probably not be for the same So we will need to be serious about company. If it is for the same company, lifelong learning. We used to think an then it may not be under the same apprenticeship or degree would equip us arrangement. with all the training and knowledge we would need to do a certain job for the rest Fixed employer-employee relationships of our working lives. Not any more. Even if will increasingly be replaced by more we stay in the same job, it’s nature and skill flexible arrangements. In some firms, requirements are likely to change. workers may well become self-employed contractors instead of salaried staff. This is where I believe trade unions and mutual societies still have a major role to As newer disruptive technology emerges, play; by doing what they used to do so well, some sectors may just decline, some may offering their members access to retraining syedkamall.co.uk

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We know that the Left theorise that throwing Most Conservative-minded people are also ever more taxpayers’ money at poverty community-minded. We have to ask why will simply solve the problem. But on the they join the Conservative Party today? For The Conservative Party right, we often take an equally theoretical many people they complain that they join, itself can be a force for good, view that rolling back the frontiers of the get a letter, and then only really hear from not just as governing party at a national level, but as state will see civil society flourish to fill the the local party when they want something. an agent for positive social gap or encourage people People don’t join political change in neighbourhoods to help themselves. But we parties for the raffles; they across the country. don’t live in the theoretical join to make a difference. world of economics text By giving them that books which assume every The Conservative opportunity, perhaps we individual is a “rational Party has pushed can reverse the decline in economic agent”. Some itself into a mind-set our local Associations and people don’t see an that there are no-go tackle some of the problems alternative to the state and communities, either in local communities. while a welfare state does demographic or offer help to many people, it geographic. For example, instead HOW THE CONSERVATIVE can also trap them or even of complaining about fail those in need. If we are immigrants in the local PARTY CAN DELIVER to roll back the state, the Conservative Party area not speaking English, why can’t local must play its part in stepping forward to fill Conservatives offer free lessons? Where FOR EVERYONE that gap. the local job centre seems not to be helping people back into work, let’s set up a local jobs Conservative Workers and Trades Unionists - 11/4/17 Conservative Home 21/7/16 In the past the Conservative Party was club. I know Conservatives who have done visible in many communities, not just this for local voluntary organisations, why through Conservative clubs, but also not do it as part of the local Conservative through the local Associations as well. We association? need a discussion on how we can rediscover the sense that our local party organisations I believe that this sense of Community he past few weeks have shown how Over the years, I have worked with fellow are not just there to push leaflets through Conservatism, as opposed to top-down the Conservative Party can pull Conservatives to win the confidence of doors and run away before the occupant Conservatism - would help to tackle the together and unite in the best interests those who may not, at first appearances, be T gets to the door. sense that politics is the preserve of a Tof our country. On the steps of Number natural Tories. Many of these people share privileged few. Ten, Theresa May set out an ambitious exactly the same values as Conservatives. How can we make our Associations mission of opportunity for all regardless of They want opportunities for themselves and part of our local communities again? As By all means, let’s make the state more your background - a Britain that works, ‘for their children; they understand the value of hubs of voluntary and community work, efficient at delivering services, but where everyone, not just the privileged few’. hard work; they want life to be a little easier, fundraising, and even incubators of local the state is a hindrance rather than with their hard work rewarded by a home of enterprise. I know that many people a facilitator or crowds out voluntary Her mission was backed up on these their own and a good standard of life. reading this will say that their Association initiatives, let’s roll back the state, roll pages by our new Party Chairman Patrick Membership has dwindled, and that it’s forward society and place Conservatism McLoughlin who said the Party machine The Conservative Party has pushed easier for me as a London politician to truly at the heart of our local communities. will do what it can to keep us in power and itself into a mind-set that there are no- say that we should open up offices that With Labour in its current state of turmoil delivering that ‘One Nation’ agenda. go communities, either demographic are usually on busy high streets. I’m not and its local branches being hijacked by or geographic. That must change. Ruth pretending that this will be easy or that it trade unions or national campaign groups, However, just as Conservatives believe in Davidson has shown in Scotland that even can happen in every city, town or village, but we have a huge opportunity to rebuild the the ability of individuals and communities areas that we thought were lost to the surely we now need some radical thinking Conservative Party’s presence in neglected to solve their own problems, we should Conservative cause can be regained. to stop an inexorable perception that communities and to demonstrate that there not leave the mission of delivering grassroots Conservative Party membership are alternatives to the state in helping those opportunities, for those from less privileged We might be able to win elections by showing will decline. in need. • backgrounds, to just those Conservatives in that we can manage the economy better government. It should be a mission of our than Labour, and that our pro-enterprise entire party, making full use of the resources policies will generally trickle down to help Continuing the theme, I challenged those attending the Conservative

and infrastructure that we enjoy. more people than Labour’s policies. syedkamall.co.uk Progress conference in 2018 to be a force for good at grassroots level.

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language, instead of moaning about it - why And here is my strongest message to you: not offer free English classes and make There is no reason why we cannot start this our local associations hubs of the local process now. Continuing the theme, I community? challenged those attending We who believe in small government and the Conservative Progress conference in 2018 to Some EU citizens are expressing worries decentralisation should not be caught be a force for good at about the registration process they will waiting for some edict from the party grassroots level. face post-Brexit to achieve hierarchy to get on with settled status. Rather than this. It is entirely within our just tell them their fears own power to start today on are groundless, why not our local turf, to re-engage help them ourselves to fill As a party, we also with communities and - not in the forms or guide them need be careful to to put too fine a point on it through the apps? make sure that the - to make ourselves useful. task of governing Where bright young does not mean we Instead of being those people people find their path to neglect both long- who are seen as only turning CONSERVATIVE employment blocked by term campaigning up before every election inequality of opportunity, and supporting the to put a leaflet through the RENAISSANCE why not work on ways to grassroots. door, we must become those link them with the funding people who cared enough to that might help them help. Instead of highlighting AND RENEWAL become the entrepreneurs of the future? Labour’s national failings we should be Conservative Progress conference magazine, April 2018 highlighting our own local successes. If we see younger voters and minority ethnic communities as hard to reach, here That can be the driving force to a is how to start reaching out and to be seen transformation that could reinvigorate not as relevant. only the Conservative Party, but the whole country, community by community. • s our Government and our Prime Younger people and voters from some Minister guides the country through minority ethnic communities have been Asome challenging times, not least correctly identified as sections of society Athe Brexit negotiations, as the party of where our message is met with disinterest government we need to remain in touch and distaste. with the concerns those who elected us may have. So where should our attention focus? For me it has to be on grassroots, community For a governing party that starts to seem Conservatism. It has to involve our members remote from the electorate - or significant and activists identifying problems, but sections of it - will not remain a governing instead of simply calling on governments party for long. or local councils to address them, where possible, we should look to roll up our As a party, we also need be careful to sleeves to tackle the problems ourselves. make sure that the task of governing does not mean we neglect both long- If we truly believe in a smaller state and in term campaigning and supporting the individual responsibilities, we must not ape grassroots. Labour or the Lib Dems by looking to public money and the state sector to solve every Time in opposition offers the perfect problem or to maximise every opportunity. opportunity for political parties to reinvent and reinvigorate themselves. Our challenge For example, where there may be local is to do the same while in power. people who struggle with the English syedkamall.co.uk

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tackling problems in their neighbourhoods The instinct is spot on. We already know, and communities, who often don’t get the however, that Labour will offer the wrong recognition deserved, but who definitely solution. Every party of government gets make a huge impact on the lives of those accused by its detractors of being around them. Because it only ever really has one course remote and out of touch. By virtue of their role as chief critic of treatment. You can rest assured it of Government, it is easier for Often these are individuals with bright will encourage locals to lobby for more Oppositions to position themselves ideas and dedication addressing specific government intervention and taxpayers as the people’s tribunes, demanding problems at grassroots level, community by money, rather than to solve the problems more action from Government. community. locally. They may even organise some Often, to solve social problems, it is protest marches. not more action from Government that is needed but action at a local One of the concrete proposals from the level. Community activists and MPs summit was the creation of a “do tank” (not It will be yet another campaign based on need to remain close to the changing a think tank) to link different grassroots the familiar Labour doctrine of - “There is nature of social challenges, and it is projects and use their shared expertise and a dire problem here, the government needs vital to keep strong the link between contacts as the incubator to grow them and to employ more public servants, and the the community activists in our party create new ones. taxpayer needs to pay for it.” and the politicians in Government.

I hope the idea works, We as Conservatives can EYES, EARS AND because I think it do much better than that. exemplifies an ethos our We should embrace some Party needs to embrace. I also find it of Corbyn’s instincts for HELPING HANDS disappointing that community issues, but come when politicians Blueprint, January 2018 A short while ago I ruffled up with our own unique, some feathers when I or commentators lasting and genuinely wrote that Jeremy Corbyn’s discuss poverty, radical solutions. political instincts are so they tend to focus on well-tuned that we as what the state can I am convinced not only Conservatives could learn or cannot do or the that Conservatives care ne of the most inspiring parts of my We also brought to Central Hall, some lessons from him. role of large NGOs, deeply about poverty, but job as a Member of the European Westminster, some people who possibly tending to neglect that our principles are the OParliament for London is meeting brought even more-valuable testimony - Of course there was more the many thousands best ones to build a path Owith, sometimes helping or just reading individuals who are involved right now than a hint of deliberate of local community- away from it. about the many local community projects in imaginative and innovative grassroots provocation in what I said, led projects that that are tackling poverty or exclusion in projects to tackle poverty on the ground in but I also pointed out that inspire me. Perhaps individual their neighbourhoods, often inspired by their local communities across the world. the same cannot be said for Conservative Associations local people who want to make a difference. his proposed solutions. should lead the way. As I have written We drew a big audience and people told before - Instead of complaining about However, I also find it disappointing that me they found the event, which we styled He may have a nose for some of the real people who cannot speak English when politicians or commentators discuss a Global Summit on Poverty, not only challenges facing local communities, but properly, why don’t we volunteer to run poverty, they tend to focus on what the state instructive but truly inspirational. whatever the problem, he sees a larger free English classes from our constituency can or cannot do or the role of large NGOs, state and more government intervention as offices? tending to neglect the many thousands of I certainly heard and saw a great deal to the solution (funded by taking more money local community-led projects that inspire me. reinforce my firmly-held belief that Big State from working people). Instead of demonising single parents and Big Charity NGOS on their own will not who find it hard to work, why don’t we Towards the end of last month the eradicate poverty. Nor can trickle-down It is interesting, however, that Corbyn help set up creches and nurseries in our political group I lead, the European capitalism, which is just as much a top-down has set up a new team at Labour HQ to associations? Conservatives and Reformists, gathered “solution”. Gaps in private welfare was one encourage communities to organise around together commentators, politicians, reason the welfare state came into being. local issues and develop campaigns. It will Instead of criticising the jobless, why don’t volunteers and experts from across the target seaside towns and traditional Labour we offer them opportunities to start their globe to discuss tackling poverty in local I believe it is time to champion and recognise heartlands, where the party believes it own enterprises through crowd-funding or communities. the huge contribution made by those needs to rebuild support. specialist seed loans? syedkamall.co.uk

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Wouldn’t this renewed level of genuine Of course, Conservatives should play their local engagement be the ideal way to role in campaigning for Conservatives revitalise our network of local associations, to be elected, but we should also think help them to become hubs of their local about campaigning for improvements and communities, and give them a sense of opportunities - and to help deliver them. purpose once again. While the Labour Party will happily organise They should not just be our mouthpieces marches and protests, Conservatives could in their local neighbourhoods, but be our steal a march by actually delivering local eyes, ears and helping hands, helping not solutions. • only local Conservatives but also playing their part in local communities to tackle local problems and poverty. syedkamall.co.uk

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TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE

CONSERVATISM syedkamall.co.uk

40 41 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

The average national The prospect of walking reoffending rate for into a job as he left was criminals is 40 per cent, clearly nurturing him in The Conservative Party has survived as say the Brixton team. For Ex-convicts, or that ambition. the leading political party of the United Bounceback trainees it is “offenders” as the Kingdom for nearly two centuries by being pragmatic and open to changing just 15 per cent. criminal-justice One of the trainers confided with the times. It is wrong to dismiss new system likes to call in me that a lot of construction ideas and only to fall back into the comfort Its priorities are not on them, seem to be workers have been inside, zone of what is tried and tested down the paperwork, although largely undaunted including himself. years. We should always be examining if certificates in construction and ready to fill the there is a better way to organise society. work is a goal. The main vacancies. He had trained for building For over a hundred years, you might aim is to have people who work once outside and worked imagine that there has been a nationwide can walk out of prison on day one and be in the sector many years before hearing about consensus that the only way for most ready to work on site day two. the Bounce Back project and applying for the people to be educated is for taxpayers to chance to help others follow his footsteps to a pay for their education. While free state As participants told me, it gives them a productive and crime-free life. education has ensured everyone can be sense of hope, a sense of value and a skill to well educated in theory, the supposition that only the state can provide most apply when they come out. As one of London’s resettlement prisons, people with education is a myth. Millions Brixton is known for its drive in getting of parents now pay from their own Instead of this, many prisoners will leave people into work on release which, in pockets for private education in the UK prison with a £45 subsistence payment turn, helps prevent re-offending. It is the to supplement the state education which in their pocket and no idea what to do prison that politicians visit when there is they cannot regard as wholly adequate. next. Frequently this leads quickly to re- an announcement to be made and many Charitable, voluntary sector and private offending and homelessness. have visited Bounce Back and others over providers fulfil a vital role in equipping the years. But it would be good to see this people with skills they need to take into The training rooms which the inmates work approach rolled out further. THE QUIET their chosen career. While younger in at Brixton are pretty good: clean, bright people learn more quickly, it is never too and well-organised. Each prisoner gets a Like all organisations in this sector, the late to learn. Many of us regret not taking REVOLUTION AT booth to work on and builds it from scratch team behind Bounce Back would like to the chance to learn more first time round and are grateful for the second chance. - laying, painting, filling in holes, and so on. expand and believe that the more people BRIXTON PRISON They have a to-do list to work through and know about their success they might get lessons at each step. more funding to expand it.

I spoke to one trainee who was inside for But when they point to their 85 per cent inflicting Actual Bodily Harm. His fifth success rate in avoiding repeat offending child is on the way in a couple of months - together with the £50,000 annual cost of quiet revolution has been going on It involves training suitable inmates and he seemed quite determined to get it keeping a prisoner inside - they may well at Brixton Prison. in construction skills - a sector with a right upon release this time. have a strong case to put to the politicians particular labour shortfall. They also learn A who control the purse strings. • ANo need to worry. The inmates have not scaffolding - generally a high-paid offshoot taken over the institution; but instead of the building and demolition sectors. some under-the-radar trialling of a new rehabilitation programme has been It is known as a tough and rough working producing remarkable results. environment populated by a rough and tough workforce. Ex-convicts, or “offenders” So much so that prison authorities are as the criminal-justice system likes to call now starting to share it with the rest of the them, seem to be largely undaunted and prison system - and they would quite like ready to fill the vacancies. politicians and the public to know too. So Bounce Back differs from previous That is why I took up their invitation to go rehabilitation programmes by focusing not along there recently to take a look at the just on employability but on specific skills

initiative they call Bounce Back. and experience which are hotly in demand. syedkamall.co.uk

42 43 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

year early and some of us also took Maths a I believe this was the kind of structure year early. We were all expected to aim for Theresa May had in mind when she nine or ten O levels. announced ending the ban on the creation I was pleased to see in Philip Hammond’s first budget a of new grammar schools. potential new fund to increase the amount of selective The uniform was strictly enforced. To me secondary schools in the UK. I was fortunate to attend Latymer School, a selective secondary school in that instilled discipline and some of the We also need to stress that schools outside Edmonton, North London, where I spent many happy, demands of the future workplace. It also the selective network must also be tasked busy days, learning and growing into who I feel I have meant the poorer youngsters with delivering excellence. become today. Expectations were high from strict rules dressed just like the better- It can no longer be “the on uniform, to a high level of academic expectations off and there was no place grammar school” and “the which were nurtured during my time there. for divisive luxury labels or rest”. When I speak to students now, I try to inspire them to designer logos. What matters is not a take on a similar attitude and push themselves to their monolithic education Perhaps the most powerful full potential. Of course, this means different things I am pleased to say the system, but a system riposte possible to those for different people and rightly so, but the important school thrives today. While that works across the who argue that we are thing is to always to allow students the time and the entrance exams have board – and allows trying to turn back the opportunities they need to develop as young adults, since been introduced, youngsters to achieve clock, came from Justine academically and socially. in place of primary- their full potential Greening when she said, I firmly believe there are benefits to grammar schools school recommendation, whatever their “There will be no return GRAMMAR but it should never be ‘grammar’ or ‘others’ or ‘them’ the method of selection background. to the simplistic, binary and ‘us’. It has to be about allowing the free flow of helpfully includes a modest choice of the past, where students between whatever institution, regardless of bias to help candidates from schools separate children background, they need in order to let them achieve SCHOOLS – difficult backgrounds. into winners and losers, successes or their full potential. New grammars should be based in areas where academic achievement is below par failures. This government wants to focus on A WINNING and tasked in developing relations with local schools I am even more pleased to hear news of the future.” and engaging with all students. In this article for potential funding for more selective schools FORMULA Conservative Home, I explain how we can build on the in Philip Hammond’s first Budget. I welcome the Prime Minister’s Prime Minister’s idea of ending the ban on creating suggestion that the new grammar new grammar schools. Conservative Home, 7 March 2017 What is important now is that we come up schools must set up feeder schools and with a 21st Century version of selectivism. locate them in difficult areas. They must One which delivers the best of the old also do the utmost to share facilities and grammar school ethos with a modern expertise to avoid all suspicion of elitism approach to flexibility and fairness. or separatism.

he motto on the school crest says ‘Qui He was a bus driver and a first generation Our priority has to be social mobility. It Sports grounds, activities events, even patitur vincit’. Who endures wins. immigrant. Seeing me in that uniform has always been a worry to me that the staff – all must be shared. Then when was an early confirmation of what he had T old 11-plus was a once and final cut-off there is movement by pupils they will TThat motto that has stuck with me always told me – that with hard work and – giving children at quite a young age already know the set-up and some of the throughout my life thus far and one I repeat self-belief there was nothing I could not just one shot at the golden ticket and no staff. when giving talks to schools and youth achieve. second chance. clubs in the hope of inspiring today’s youth Finally, we must not get hung up on to achieve their dreams. One of my abiding memories was my I would prefer at least three chances for names. It does not matter a jot whether first Founder’s Day, when the programme people to move to a grammar school: At 11- we call them grammar schools, advanced My time at the Latymer School, a selective included a list of all the previous year’s plus, then a further exam in Year 9 (aged 13) schools, academies or whatever. What secondary in my childhood neighbourhood sixth-formers listing the universities that which would allow them to take their GCSEs matters is not a monolithic education of Edmonton, North London, was busy, each had gone onto. The message was clear. at grammar school if the promise was there. system, but a system that works across happy and helped me on the way to where In seven years’ time, expect your name and the board – and allows youngsters to I am now. your university to be listed. Finally, the GCSEs themselves should give achieve their full potential whatever their them the chance to move to a grammar background. Winning a place at the Latymer was a great From day one the expectation was there. school for A-levels. The old direct-grant opportunity and I made the most of it. I I studied French, and a year later Russian schools used to work this way, until Labour To me that sounds like a winning formula remember my mother and father’s pride on and Latin – which helped me to decode the abolished them despite them working well. that will endure. •

my first day there. motto. All of us took our English O-level a syedkamall.co.uk

44 45 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

Long gone are the days when enterprises are “yet to be convinced of the apprenticeships were seen by some merits of apprenticeships”. So the campaign employers as a means to recruit a runner aims to challenge perceptions and has Some children are more or tea-bringer –indeed today’s apprentices funding available to help pay salaries for practical than intellectual. We already bring with them a skillset of their paid learning. need to improve their ability to develop their careers and own – particularly in the realms of multi- prosper. The Government’s work media. Many employers and employees The combination of experienced staff on apprenticeships in recent have as much to learn from the apprentice members who have finely honed their skills years has been instrumental in as the apprentice has to learn from them. over many years and apprentices, who bring creating new opportunities. raw talent, who are eager to learn and who Many of our young apprentices are inspiring, bring with them a skillset, particularly in ambitious, full of energy and passion – and multimedia, that might not be prevalent in a keen to bound up the ladder of more traditional workforce, opportunity to achieve their changes a staff dynamic. goals and be the best they can possibly be in their chosen London businesses are fields. Older apprentices We should be proud finding that the increasing WHY SHOULD WE SUPPORT can bring all these things as of our apprentices. the number of apprentices well as their experience of After many years in their organisations has APPRENTICESHIPS? working in another industry. of being belittled, had a tremendous impact apprenticeships now on the way they work. An array of events up and have the recognition An injection of youth or BECAUSE THEY WORK! down the country held as they deserve. experience, talent, passion, Huffington Post 20/04/2017 part of National Apprentices and a willingness to learn Week - some run by apprentices, some run has transformed their workplaces. by employers themselves – showcased the best of apprenticeships and the numerous Today’s consumers, clients and customers job roles and sectors they are available in. are very careful who they do business with. They want to see companies doing their bit hen I was growing up, my next such partnerships over the last ten years, The apprentices themselves addressed for their local communities – and hiring an door neighbour left school and to encourage even more people to audiences at events and demonstrated apprentice can be one way to demonstrate Wat sixteen since he was not choose this path as a fast-track to a great the benefits apprenticeships have brought this commitment. Winterested in the subjects being taught at career. Apprenticeships are seen to bring to their professional and personal lives. his school. Fortunately, he was offered an huge benefits to our young people, to older Recently a new campaign by the Department Supporting apprentices is increasingly apprenticeship as a printer. This allowed people looking to retrain, to our city and its for Education urged smaller companies to being seen as an important part of him to receive on-the-job training while vibrant economy, and to the country as a take on apprentices. strengthening the labour market as a earning a wage. Sadly, in the early 1990s whole. whole with apprenticeships expected to the focus on getting more young people One example in east London was Blue contribute a staggering £3.4 billion to the into university meant the popularity of They give people of all ages and all Engineering in Shoreditch. Apprenticeships UK economy by 2022. apprenticeships in the UK and vocational backgrounds the ladder of opportunity to were first tried at the company in 2012, in training declined. This was in stark get paid experience in work and achieve a programme that has expanded since then And let’s not forget, figures aside, these are contrast to countries such as Germany a top-class qualification at the same time. with its growing business. Past and present individual stories. Stories of empowerment, where apprenticeships were seen as a key We all know that bright and talented people apprentices now account for almost half success, passion and commitment. We factor in the success of their Mittlelstand are critical to the long-term success and the Blue Engineering workforce. should be proud of our apprentices. (small and medium sized) companies. sustainability of our economy. After many years of being belittled, But the government is concerned that almost apprenticeships now have the recognition Fortunately, over the last decade Apprentices taken on since 2012 in London three-quarters of other small and medium they deserve. • apprenticeships have become more have topped 46,000 - just over half of them popular in the UK. The recent 10th National women - with most companies reporting Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2017) brought how placings had improved productivity. Society has to contain champions of opportunity as well as ladders of opportunity to climb. The European Union is controlled by a political together employers and apprentices from Some 24,200 employers took on apprentices elite from which most people feel alienated, and it is important my across the UK to celebrate the success of in London last year alone. colleagues in the European Parliament realise this is how they are seen. syedkamall.co.uk

46 47 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

Society has to contain I am attracted to the possibilities champions of opportunity as for governance that new THE EU’S well as ladders of opportunity technology brings. In this article to climb. The European Union I suggest that crowd funding is is controlled by a political elite not actually a new concept, but “SHOCKING” from which most people feel the technology that we use today alienated, and it is important makes it easier. It need not only CROWDFUNDING LACK OF RACIAL my colleagues in the European be used for private enterprises Parliament realise this is how but for funding government they are seen. schemes too – and it could make FOR PUBLIC DIVERSITY public finance more democratic. European Parliament 7/2/18 FINANCE

he EU has been urged to put its house “It is time to take action if the EU wishes n 1850, the merchants, bankers and Today’s crowdfunding is a long way from in order and address a “shocking” to truly live up to the motto of ‘United in traders of the City of London held a the Victorian system of local committees Tlack of racial diversity in the Diversity’”. Icrisis meeting. The original private coordinating subscriptions by hand. Today, TEuropean institutions. Icontract to stage the Great Exhibition had to the power of the internet has turbocharged On tackling economic inequality, Mr Kamall be scrapped. There was no public funding the old model. Dozens of online platforms Speaking today in a European Parliament stressed that the role local communities can available. allow ordinary people to lend or donate debate on rising socio-economic play should not be overlooked. money, collectively financing projects that inequalities, Syed Kamall MEP, leader of Was this extraordinary, visionary project would otherwise have been impossible. the European Conservatives and Reformists He said: “When we talk about socio-economic -- to share the wonders of modern arts, Kickstarter’s users fund experiments in group, pointed out the EU was still often inequality there are often two simple industry and commerce -- going to have to creativity. Experiment.com users back accused of being a rich white man’s club. solutions offered - make the richer poorer or be cancelled? original scientific research. Kiva lets an make the poorer richer. I believe we should entrepreneur in the developing world find He told MEPs: “I realise that I am the first non- focus on providing pathways out of poverty. The financiers needed a new idea. And with a pool of backers living wealthier countries. white leader of any political group, but I remain the ingenuity of desperation, they came up And here at home, crowdfunding’s shocked by the lack of racial diversity not only “Last month the ECR Group held a Global with a plan B, a funding plan just as cutting potential to support social enterprise is at in this house but across all EU institutions. Poverty Summit bringing together local edge as the idea of the Crystal Palace itself. last beginning to be taken seriously. community projects from across the world They would appeal to the people of the “If the EU is going to have any credibility on to tell their inspiring stories of how they country directly. The motion was proposed Since its launch in 2009, Kickstarter the issues of diversity and equality, it needs have offered solutions to poverty on a and seconded “to rest the success of the alone has helped raise over $2.5 billion, to get its own house in order. grassroots level. proposed exhibition entirely upon public successfully financing over 110,000 projects. liberality”. The Great Exhibition would be Kiva has provided over $880 million in “Let us, across the political spectrum, reach “So, whether the left call it co-operative crowdfunded. small loans. Imagine for a moment that this out to young people in all our countries socialism or the right call it community type of micro financing was available for and tell them whatever your colour, your conservatism or localist libertarianism, Today, funding for all kinds of public projects currently funded within the public gender, your religion, your orientation or I hope we can all champion the role of projects is hard going. The need to do sector. your background, you should not be afraid grassroots anti-poverty projects in our local something about our ballooning national to put yourself forward for political office. communities.” • debt has tightened the government’s How much more could we achieve if purse-strings, even as London’s citizens and community governments economic success keeps expanding its worked together to fund and prioritise population. what matters most to local residents?

And once again, crowdfunding can provide This is exactly the type of program that I am an alternative. striving to achieve. syedkamall.co.uk

48 49 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

The Purley Youth Project had its council directly, they support the projects that spending, could take years to achieve, what in the legislator, not in mankind; ours is in funding cut. So they too looked for a matter to them. And especially if you can can local communities do now? mankind.” plan B in crowdfunding. They are using promise it will happen if enough of their CrowdPatch right now to raise £3,000 so fellow citizens agree. In 1850, the great liberal economist London’s population will hit 9 million by they can continue to take children on Frederic Bastiat marvelled at the Great 2020 and 10 million by 2030. It’s time to educational trips throughout the year. If Take Grange Park in Old Coulsdon. The Exhibition’s funding model. And he have faith in the crowd. Crowdfunding you want to contribute, the campaign is playground was outdated, so a group of wrote about the spirit it expressed. “Our has the potential to bring together people running until November, and they have locals called ‘Friends of Grange Park’, took adversaries consider, that an activity which from all backgrounds and beliefs to work more than a third raised already thanks to it upon themselves to raise £100,000 to is neither aided by supplies, nor regulated as a community for the common good. It’s public generosity. develop a fully inclusive playground. They by government, is an activity destroyed. about making sure good ideas happen, crowdfunded, receiving funds from the We think just the contrary. Their faith is together. • Right now, there are crowdfunding BIFFA award, national lottery and other platforms for everything from publishing to businesses, all looking to support the local venture capital. But so far we don’t have one community. It was an incredible effort that specialises in raising funds for better from the community. Let’s make it easier local infrastructure. Wouldn’t it be great if for other groups to follow in their footsteps. there was a platform for local community groups and organisations Crowdfunding, as the where they could propose organisers of the Great capital projects to improve Exhibition saw back in their neighbourhood? For 1850, is democracy in the first time, people will No, crowdfunding action. When we are have a hub where they is not a long-term all directly involved in can find and contribute to solution for financing prioritising spending, we projects that are important in the public sector. make our government far to them. For that, we need more accountable. Today, smart tax reform. an activist group can tell its Imagine wanting a screen We need to give local district council that there showing the upcoming government greater is wide support for the bus arrival times at your control. We need to building of a new library, nearest bus stop. If that bring decisions about but unless there is an easy monitor is important to your tax and how to spend way to demonstrate that community, contributions it closer to local support, it is too easy to from nearby businesses and communities. overlook those claims. other users could make the project happen, fast. You And for council members can cut out a long and uncertain wait for and political parties, crowdfunding is government help that may never turn up. a new tool to reach out and hear from citizens. You will know in realtime your And for larger projects -- renovating a school constituents’ budget priorities. And there or extending a line of public transportation will be a greater incentive to be responsive into your neighbourhood -- agreements may to those priorities as they change. Through be made with district councils to partially many small contributions, citizens send a fund these developments. Londoners clear message: this is what we care about. would then only make up the difference where government funding isn’t enough. No, crowdfunding is not a long-term solution for financing in the public sector. For that, What if Redbridge Council wants to renovate we need smart tax reform. We need to give a park, but it comes up short on funds? The local government greater control. We need council could use a crowdfunding platform to bring decisions about tax and how to to reach out to its constituents to make up spend it closer to local communities. Given the shortfall. Because when you ask people that this great decentralisation of state syedkamall.co.uk

50 51 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician

more attractive. In simple terms, this higher density housing often points to means building more homes. Maida Vale as an example of where this has been done well. One of Mrs Thatcher’s Only last week a worrying report from successes as Prime Minister the Resolution Foundation warned that Imagine if our housing complex had a was to massively increase To fix London’s housing problem we must think potentially less than half of millennials will communal gym, or cinema or even a pool. big home ownership. Sadly, that dream is now out of the reach buy a home before the age of 45 compared Might that to be an attractive compensation of many young people. I with more than 70 per cent of baby boomers for accepting living space that is slightly London Weekly News 25/9/17 believe we all need to be more who had done so by that age. more compact? ambitious and think more creatively to help young people There is no magic wand that will calm the Can we do more to encourage shared to achieve their ambition of owning their own home. different drivers of house-price inflation ownership as a way of letting people own at a stroke. Instead we need a whole range their own bricks and mortar without of initiatives which together can form a shouldering the full weight of the entire concerted effort to turn the tide. mortgage?

Many builders blame a sclerotic planning And could we find ways to encourage TO FIX LONDON’S process for slowing down projects - and mortgage lenders to provide funds to people for making marginal ones prohibitively buying “off plan” - before a development HOUSING PROBLEM costly. Is there any way we can streamline goes up? Developers tell me that the reason the system while still protecting the rights so much desirable property in London of neighbouring residents and maintaining goes to overseas buyers is that they are WE MUST THINK BIG appropriate safeguards? either cash buyers or can take out off-plan London Weekly News 25/9/17 mortgages. Local “nimbyism” can also have a crippling effect - especially if developments are So property is gone - often sold before it is perceived to be high-density and low-cost. built but before Londoners applying for a Yet high-density and low-cost are exactly mortgage even get a look in. It might need what we need. some manner of intervention, possibly a o many young people these days have While their counterparts in other capitals form of commercial or even government one burning goal - to get a foot on the are happy to rent, young Londoners seek So can we come up with imaginative ways to underwriting to persuade reluctant banks Shousing ladder. greater security, They like the investment persuade people to be more tolerant of new and building societies to lend - but it could S element of home-ownership and they want development - particularly be a worthwhile way of Yet for millions of them it seems like that the freedom to personalise their homes, by making sure the opening up the market to ladder is moving further out of their reach. something that rental - at least in this appropriate improvements more Londoners. Or even as if previous generations have country - often does not offer. in local facilities, transport climbed it themselves - then pulled the and communications are Local “nimbyism” can Then developers might be ladder up and hidden it. But there are simply not enough affordable there to meet the increased also have a crippling persuaded to build more homes as house prices in London are demand? effect - especially if flats per floor instead of a Nowhere is that problem more acute than whipped ever-upwards by a confluence of developments are few penthouse suites. here in London. different factors - And while we are at it, the perceived to be high- same degree of creativity density and low-cost. On another front - is there Politicians tend to be of an age and from population increase, young people leaving will be needed to design Yet high-density and a place for more communal a sector of society that is doing quite the family home earlier, housebuilders high-density housing that low-cost are exactly accommodation tied to nicely thank you when it comes to having accused of catering only for the wealthy, allows people to live closely what we need. employment, especially for an affordable and secure roof over their printing of money by the Bank of England, together without feeling younger staff? Once upon heads. So for me it is really important that shortage of suitable land and local cramped, confined or compromised - and a time, the big high street banks used to we should put ourselves in the shoes to opposition to new or higher density housing still allows to people to feel their home is provide communal accommodation for these younger, hard-working, aspirational developments. their own little piece of England. All this their trainee managers in London. Londoners. We should consider the without trying to square the circle only by problem from their viewpoint and do all We need urgently to address these barriers building ever-taller tower blocks. Create Many nurses complain that they cannot afford we can to sort it out. as well as making the private rental market Streets which lobbies for well-designed to live in London. In the 60s and 70s nurses and syedkamall.co.uk

52 53 Syed Kamall MEP Upwardly Mobile - Progressive ideas on tackling poverty from a leading Conservative politician doctors would probably have lived in halls of Of course, I hope that those who call for a residence in the grounds of the hospital. re-examination of the green belt are not advocating a wholesale concreting of it, In both these cases the communal living but it is right to point out that not all of it also had the advantage of letting people is as lovely as people suppose. In some walk to work - thus cutting congestion at places, the green belt does not conjure up the same time. Perhaps the idea is due a images of green rolling hills of the English return. countryside, but neglected, dirty and unattractive scrub land. And speaking of transport - we need a two pronged approach to the rest of the country What if some form of trade-off could be outside London. brokered to allow appropriate building projects on some of the less attractive parts Firstly we should look to improve the of the green belt swapping land for more prospects of towns and cities outside the M25 beautiful parts not currently designated as to make them better places to live and work. worth preserving? Secondly we should continue to improve transport links to make sure people who This idea may not be popular or appropriate want to commute can do so in the quickest, or even feasible everywhere and would cheapest and greens ways possible. have to be managed carefully to avoid a land-grab by over-zealous developers and Finally - and possibly most controversially the urban sprawl seen in parts of the USA. - do we need to revisit our approach to the But it illustrates a key point - that to turn Green belt? Is its sacrosanct nature and the tide on housing we are going to have our inflexible approach to it causing more to think holistically, think creatively and harm than good? occasionally think the unthinkable. • syedkamall.co.uk

54 55 Syed Kamall MEP

Promoted and published by Syed Kamall MEP, ECR Group, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P 3EU. syedkamall.co.uk

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