David Willetts MP focuses Conservative policy renewal on hard-pressed communities
March 2002
by David Willetts MP

Beginning the One Nation Hearings - Willetts acknowledges 'The Reality of Poverty' (28.02.02)

Andrew Selous MP sent out the following message to CCF members about David Willetts' speech of 1st March (read it yourself by clicking on the 'Related link' at the bottom of this page):

Last night Conservative work and pensions spokesman David Willetts delivered a speech, 'The Reality of Poverty', to a gathering of Conservative Future at Central Office. Today David is traveling up to Birmingham with Tim Montgomerie, CCF Director, to meet those affected by poverty in some of Britain¹s most hard-pressed communities. The visit has been organized by Guy Hordern, a member of the CCF's Board of Directors. Together these events represent a powerful affirmation of the renewed desire in the party to vigorously pursue the creation of a more socially just society.

What were the key messages of the speech?

1. Poverty is still a reality for millions in Britain today. Conservatives must address the fact: David said "The renewal of our approach to poverty is not just essential for people living in our most hard-pressed areas. It is also crucial to the renewal of Conservatism itself. It forces us to think afresh about how our principles can be be made relevant to our poorest fellow citizens."

2. Labour understands poverty in narrow, materialistic terms. Their media-obsessed approach is characterized by complexity, change and instability rather than the constancy, commitment and stability most needed by the vulnerable. Their approach actively inhibits those doing the most effective work in hard-pressed communities in favour of large, bureaucratic organizations with the know-how to access the numerous different sources of state funding but not people who have deep local knowledge.

3. There is ever-increasing use of means-tested benefits, especially for those with middle-incomes. This has resulted in extra expenditure of billions of pounds without great increases in income for the poorest members of society. Means-testing also has corrosive effects on behaviour, giving little incentive to save, acquire training or work overtime, i.e. the sort of steps that can greatly increase a person's prospect of getting out of poverty.

4. During the O'One Nation Hearings', Conservatives will be seeking to establish whether there is scope for targeting help on younger families and older pensioners as a way of tackling poverty without such a heavy reliance on means-testing.

5. Conservatives also recognize the importance of bolstering the 'people-sized institutions' of civil society in efforts to tackle poverty. Central among these are two-parent families, churches and small charities that are often overlooked at present.

Many voters still wrongly believe that Conservatives are heartless and uncaring, one reason why we were the victims of pronounced tactical voting at the last General Election. We know that this perception is untrue; Conservative Party members and voters are often at the heart of initiatives to help the vulnerable. However now that Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis, Oliver Letwin and David Willetts are resolved to champion those living in hard-pressed communities, this perception may begin to change. Fundamentally we are concerned to help those left behind out of obedience to God. However in this instance, following a biblical mandate may eventually yield significant electoral rewards. Whether this happens or not, we must remember why we are involved in politics in the first place.

With every good wish,

ANDREW SELOUS MP
CCF Parliamentary Chairman"