I've just returned from a Fabian Society seminar: Social justice, conservatism and the state. Greg Clark, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, was the main speaker, with Sunder Katwala of the Fabians and me responding. Following Iain Duncan Smith's recent speech to the Smith Institute, this is another example of the left's interest in the Conservative Party's developing social justice agenda.
Greg attracted an impressive audience including the chief executives of two of Britain's largest poverty-fighting charities. He reiterated many themes from his recent excellent pamphlet Who's Progressive Now (co-authored by Jeremy Hunt) which argues that "The Conservative Party is not just catching up in regard to a truly progressive approach to poverty, it is beginning to lead the way."
Supporters of the End Child Poverty campaign were disappointed not to be given any suggestion that the Conservatives would commit an additional £4 billion to meet the Government's target to halve child poverty by 2010 (there is little chance of this extra money from Gordon Brown, either). The left's over-reliance on financial transfers in alleviating poverty is always going to divide them from most on the centre-right. However there may be scope for fruitful dialogue between left and right in areas such as the most effective interventions for vulnerable infants during the crucial first three years, and several aspects of welfare reform.
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