Cameron calls for new 'social responsibility'
Sunday, 1 October 2006 12:00 AM
Labour's obsession with managing people's lives has led to a "culture of irresponsibility", David Cameron has said.
In his opening speech to the Conservative conference, the party leader warned that the government's "nationalisation of everyday life" had taken away personal responsibility from individuals to improve society.
By contrast, he wanted to create an ethos of "social responsibility", where local authorities, teachers and healthcare workers were trusted to improve public services and parents would take responsibility for instilling "the right values" in young people.
"We need people, families, communities, businesses to step up to the plate and understand that it's not just about stopping the bad things, it's about actively promoting the good things," Mr Cameron told delegates in Bournemouth.
"Not waiting for the state to do it all, but taking responsibility, making a difference, saying loudly and proudly - this is my country, this is my community, I want to play my part."
He called for a "new spirit of social responsibility that will succeed where Labour's old idea of responsibility has failed".
Mr Cameron has been criticised for failing to come up with any formal policies in his first ten months as leader, but today he insisted he had created a "vision of a Britain we want to see" and that, for the moment, was enough.
He admitted that in the past, the Conservatives were not in tune with many people's concerns, noting: "While parents worried about childcare, getting the kids to school, balancing work and family life - we were banging on about Europe."
But he said: "For years, this country wanted - desperately needed - a sensible centre-right party to sort things out in a sensible way. That's what we are today.
"In these past ten months we have moved back to the ground on which this party's success has always been built. The centre ground of British politics. And that is where we will stay."
Mr Cameron also stressed the need for more corporate responsibility, saying firms must create their own solutions to social and environmental challenges "because those are the solutions most likely to last".
However, he used his speech today to announce his party's support for new regulation on the use of dangerous chemicals, saying: "We must stand up to big business when it's in the interests of Britain and the wider world."
Next week Conservative MEPs will vote to strengthen proposals requiring companies to replace dangerous chemicals with safe ones, and shadow environment spokesman Peter Ainsworth said the EU had a "shared responsibility" to deal with the issue.
"The EU has come forward with proposals that would begin to make manufacturers and users of these chemicals more accountable. I welcome that," he said.
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