Tories are 'party of the poor', Letwin claims

Friday, 18 July 2008 12:00 AM

Former Conservative frontbencher Oliver Letwin says his party is "leading the way on low pay".

Writing in the New Statesman, Mr Letwin - now chair of the Tories' policy review and research department - claims the 'party of the poor' tag by championing the Conservatives' "focus on lifting people out of multiple deprivation".

"Quite a lot of political water has flowed under quite a lot of political bridges," he writes, reflecting on the change of attitude seen in the opposition party since John Major lost power in 1997.

Mr Letwin says on schools, welfare reform and the voluntary sector the Conservatives are showing how progressive goals can be met with social and entrepreneurial ends.

Such changes, reflected in "crunchy policy", are a "good thing" because social disparities are increasing under Labour, he writes.

"During the past decade, contrary to what you might expect under a Labour government, there has been virtually no change in the proportion of the population on low income. Indeed, the income of the very poorest has fallen," he writes.

Mr Letwin concludes: "It is one of the ironies of the political scene that the leading advocates of radical change to achieve progressive goals are now to be found in the Conservative party."

This is not the first time the Conservatives have claimed they are better placed to further progressive goals. Policy Exchange director Anthony Browne and shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt argued left-wing methods of state intervention were "wrong-headed" at a debate in Westminster last month.

But Mr Hunt hinted his party's process of attitudinal change was still incomplete, adding: "The Conservative party is going on a journey and we have a long way to go. You need to be prepared to enter a debate about the means."

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