Last week
the Prime Minister gave a speech on the Government’s Life Chances
Strategy. He outlined the principles
that will be used to drive more detailed policies that will be announced later
this year. I have heard him speak on
this topic in the past and his words strike a chord with me every time I listen
to them.
He began
the speech by laying out what he called the two forms of 20th
century thinking; “This fixation on
welfare – the state writing a cheque to push people’s incomes just above the
poverty line – this treated the symptoms, not the causes of poverty; and, over
time, it trapped some people in dependency.
“The second
approach is the more free market one – the idea that a rising tide will lift
all boats. Both approaches had one thing
in common. They focused on the economics, and ignored the social. They missed that human dimension to poverty:
the social causes, the reasons people can get stuck, and become isolated.”
I agree
with this analysis and wholeheartedly support the One Nation thinking that
means that the Conservative Government will tackle the causes of poverty, both
economic and social.
The Prime
Minister continued; “Work is – and always will be – the best route out of
poverty and with welfare reform, Universal Credit, tax cuts and the
introduction of the National Living Wage, we are making sure that it always
pays to work. And we’ll continue to
tackle the scourge of worklessness in Britain including by reforming the way we
support people who fall ill, so that they can stay in work and aren’t just
consigned to a life stuck on benefits.”
The
strengthening economy is important, but will only go so far, it is the social
issues that need to be addressed and social issues are harder to tackle than
economic ones.
The Prime
Minister identified the four strands of social reform that the Government will
be focusing on; “First, we must think much more radically about improving
family life and the early years. Second, when we know the importance not just
acquiring knowledge, but also developing character and resilience there can be
no let-up in our mission to create an education system that is genuinely fit
for the 21st century.
“Third,
it’s now so clear that social connections and experiences are vitally important
in helping people get on. And fourth, when we know that so many of those in
poverty have specific, treatable problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction,
poor mental health we’ve got to offer the right support, including to those in
crisis.”
I agree
with all of the sentiments, indeed I campaigned on them myself. I remain convinced that support for parents
and children in their early years helps pave the way for a life out of poverty;
that education supports this aim and that improving social connections will
help our young people to realize their dreams.
And when people need help, they should get it, we should fight to ensure
that issues like mental health and addiction no longer carry a stigma, but are
treated in the same way as other health issues.
I am
delighted that the Prime Minister has clearly set out his determination to
address these causes of poverty and I look forward to working with him to
bringing about the changes we need.
