David Blunkett and Frank Field join advisory council of the Centre for Social Justice

Paul Goodman

To date, the only politicians on the CSJ's Advisory Council have been Conservatives - Robert Halfon, William Hague, Syed Kamall, Oliver Letwin, and David Willetts.

Blunkett will actually co-chair the body - which confirms that the CSJ is seeking to extend its political reach.  Since this is so, when will a Liberal Democrat be co-opted?

Blunkett is quoted as saying -

 

“I’m very pleased to be joining with colleagues from all political parties and none to form the Centre for Social Justice’s Advisory Council. We face continuing challenges in this country when it comes to making sure that every child has the chance to grow up free from poverty and deprivation, strengthening families and communities, and putting people in control of their own lives.

No one party or group has a monopoly of wisdom on these subjects, and I am firmly of the view that we should spend more time thinking about the ideas, rather than where the ideas come from.

This is a moment in time when it is possible to engage with a wider audience than the usual political elite in a debate about where Britain will go following the coalition’s deficit reduction strategy – and the redefining and restructuring the of the relationship between the State and the individual, the market and public service ethos.”

And Field - most Conservatives favourite member of the Labour Party (not a label that necessarily pleases him) said -

 

“I am delighted to be joining the Advisory Council of the Centre for Social Justice. It is a premier think tank which does not wish to only debate social issues but comes up with radical solutions.”