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Conservatives 'put society first' Conservatives 'put society first'
(about 4 hours later)
Society is at the heart of David Cameron's Conservative Party, party policy chief Oliver Letwin has said.Society is at the heart of David Cameron's Conservative Party, party policy chief Oliver Letwin has said.
In a speech setting out the party's principles he said the old economic arguments were over and that society was the new ideological battle ground.In a speech setting out the party's principles he said the old economic arguments were over and that society was the new ideological battle ground.
Labour says the Tories have no new significant policies and David Cameron has been dubbed the "heir to Blair".Labour says the Tories have no new significant policies and David Cameron has been dubbed the "heir to Blair".
But Mr Letwin said the Tories differed "radically" from Labour's top-down approach towards society.But Mr Letwin said the Tories differed "radically" from Labour's top-down approach towards society.
From Beijing to Brussels, the free market has won the battle of economic ideas Oliver LetwinFrom Beijing to Brussels, the free market has won the battle of economic ideas Oliver Letwin
In the speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Mr Letwin, the Conservative policy review chair, said the old arguments about capitalism versus socialism had practically ended with the Thatcher government.In the speech to the Policy Exchange think tank, Mr Letwin, the Conservative policy review chair, said the old arguments about capitalism versus socialism had practically ended with the Thatcher government.
"From Beijing to Brussels, the free market has won the battle of economic ideas," he said."From Beijing to Brussels, the free market has won the battle of economic ideas," he said.
He said the victory had left a "hiatus in political thought", with which the Conservatives had struggled to deal during "a decade of disarray and enforced reflection".He said the victory had left a "hiatus in political thought", with which the Conservatives had struggled to deal during "a decade of disarray and enforced reflection".
'Socio-centric' politics'Socio-centric' politics
But the party had now recognised that "politics, once econo-centric, must now become socio-centric".But the party had now recognised that "politics, once econo-centric, must now become socio-centric".
He said Labour saw the state as the "proper provider of public services and of well-being through direction and control".He said Labour saw the state as the "proper provider of public services and of well-being through direction and control".
Targets, reorganisations and initiatives have been imposed on schools, hospitals, the police and councils, he said.Targets, reorganisations and initiatives have been imposed on schools, hospitals, the police and councils, he said.
It undermines and ignores the essential role of government in helping liberate peoples' potential Ed Miliband, minister
But the Conservatives would put in place frameworks to allow individuals and organisations to "act of their own volition in ways that will improve society by increasing general well being".But the Conservatives would put in place frameworks to allow individuals and organisations to "act of their own volition in ways that will improve society by increasing general well being".
Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband said the speech showed the Tories opposed an "enabling state".
"It undermines and ignores the essential role of government in helping liberate peoples' potential through strong and well-funded public services," he said.
While Labour wanted "a partnership between an enabling state, voluntary sector and communities", a Conservative government would use individuals "as an excuse... to abdicate its responsibilities to fund public services".
Mr Cameron set out to change the Conservative Party when he took over as party leader in December 2005 and has faced opposition from within his own party ranks to some of his reforms.Mr Cameron set out to change the Conservative Party when he took over as party leader in December 2005 and has faced opposition from within his own party ranks to some of his reforms.
Following the party's performance at the local elections last week he said there had been a "move towards the Conservatives".
But Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the Conservatives have failed to find a "strategy for government", preferring to "charge off in any direction which the popular bugle sounds".But Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the Conservatives have failed to find a "strategy for government", preferring to "charge off in any direction which the popular bugle sounds".