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Recession 'can help communities' Recession 'can help communities'
(about 19 hours later)
The recession can be a "catalyst for communities to come together", Hazel Blears will say in a speech later. The recession can be a "catalyst for communities to come together", Hazel Blears has said.
The communities secretary will argue the effects of economic crisis can have the "constructive" effect getting people more involved in politics. The communities secretary argued the economic crisis could have the "constructive" effect of getting people more involved in politics.
Ms Blears will also say the "democratic recession", involving voter disillusionment, preceded the downturn. Ms Blears said a "democratic recession", involving voter alienation, had preceded the downturn.
The mistakes of previous recessions, where "distrust" between people grew, must be avoided, she will add. The mistakes of previous recessions, where "distrust" between people grew, must be avoided, she added.
In a speech to Community Service Volunteers, Ms Blears will say the downturns of the 1980s and 1990s resulted in the fracturing of communities and an over-reliance on the state by many. In a speech to Community Service Volunteers, Ms Blears said the downturns of the 1980s and 1990s had resulted in the fracturing of communities and an over-reliance on the state by many.
"Our welfare system must not allow anyone to withdraw from society as the consequence of forced withdrawal from the labour market." Hazel Blears"Our welfare system must not allow anyone to withdraw from society as the consequence of forced withdrawal from the labour market." Hazel Blears
Charities and other voluntary groups have to "play a hugely important role" in ensuring this is not repeated, such as providing more skills training, she will argue. Charities and other voluntary groups had to "play a hugely important role" in ensuring this was not repeated, such as providing more skills training, she argued.
Ms Blears is expected to say: "Economic recession has the power to do one of two things to a society. Ms Blears said: "Economic recession has the power to do one of two things to a society.
"It can either drive people apart, with an increase in distrust between individuals or it can be a catalyst for communities to come together.""It can either drive people apart, with an increase in distrust between individuals or it can be a catalyst for communities to come together."
She will add: "We simply cannot allow a recession to mean another generation reliant on benefits, more estates where few adults are in work, and where children live in families where no-one has a normal job. She added: "We simply cannot allow a recession to mean another generation reliant on benefits, more estates where few adults are in work, and where children live in families where no-one has a normal job.
"Our welfare system must not allow anyone to withdraw from society as the consequence of forced withdrawal from the labour market.""Our welfare system must not allow anyone to withdraw from society as the consequence of forced withdrawal from the labour market."
Ms Blears will say: "In some ways the democratic recession started many months before the economic one. Ms Blears said: "In some ways the democratic recession started many months before the economic one.
"We'd already seen the collapse of trust in politics, long before the collapse of confidence in the financial system."We'd already seen the collapse of trust in politics, long before the collapse of confidence in the financial system.
"I am in no doubt whatsoever that the row over MPs' allowances, and the leaked emails, are as corrosive to our democracy as the row over bankers' bonuses and the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, Woolworths and so on is corrosive to our economy."I am in no doubt whatsoever that the row over MPs' allowances, and the leaked emails, are as corrosive to our democracy as the row over bankers' bonuses and the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, Woolworths and so on is corrosive to our economy.
"My hope is that the public's response to the crisis of legitimacy characterising our politics will be as constructive as at the moments of fulcrum in our democratic development: when rejection of the Rotten Boroughs led to the Reform Acts, or when women's demands led to us getting the vote."My hope is that the public's response to the crisis of legitimacy characterising our politics will be as constructive as at the moments of fulcrum in our democratic development: when rejection of the Rotten Boroughs led to the Reform Acts, or when women's demands led to us getting the vote.
"I am optimistic that the long, loud howl of outrage at the state of our politics can find practical expression through positive reform of the political system.""I am optimistic that the long, loud howl of outrage at the state of our politics can find practical expression through positive reform of the political system."
For the Conservatives, shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Hazel Blears talks about community empowerment to combat recession. This is exactly what David Cameron and the Conservative Party have been calling for for years.
"Unfortunately the government record is completely at odds with today's warm words."