Denham: 'Egalitarian ideal' is redundant

Wednesday, 1 July 2009 12:00 AM

By Liz Stephens

The old ideal of equality that has "dominated much left-liberal thinking since the 1960s" is now over, communities secretary John Denham will warn today.

In a speech to the Fabian Society this afternoon, the senior cabinet minister will say that Labour's traditional emphasis on the poor leaves the majority of the population alienated.

He is also expected to warn that the equality bill, backed by cabinet colleague Harriet Harman, needs to be careful not to make middle-ground voters disaffected.

"If you think you are in the middle, policies and language aimed at 'the poor' leave you out," he will say.

"And if you are in the middle, you are more likely to be concerned about whether 'the top' is doing better than you, than you are about 'the bottom'."

The speech will suggest a majority now accept that a meritocracy will lead to disparities of income. However, he will call for the government to be more willing to condemn the unjustified rich, including bankers.

Denham has identified himself in the past as keen on representing the views of Southern voters.

New Labour has based its electoral success on wooing middle-ground voters in general elections.

Tags:
• domestic policy
,
• equality