This review of Tory Party David Cameron's speech at the Conservative Conference this week gave me a flashback to almost every Tory conference I've been aware of.
David Cameron has promised to create "the responsible society" by rolling back the "culture of big government bureaucracy" installed during Labour's 12 years in power. (Note the key word 'responsibility' - this has been one of core elements of Conservative discourse for the last 30 years. Responsibility is to the Right what Rights are to the Left. Also, his use of rolling back the state is a direct reference to Margaret Thatcher's policy of the same name.)
In his final conference speech before the general election, the Conservative leader said he had the character, temperament and judgment to be Prime Minister.
He told the party faithful gathered in Manchester that getting Britain out of recession and paying off the massive state debt would be "painful" but the nation had brighter times ahead if it took the tough Tory medicine. (Ah- tough Tory medicine. Like the 1980's and most of the 1990's when, using neo-liberal economics of maniacs like Friedman and Hyek as a justification, they destroyed the miners for political revenge, sold off state assets and did away with our manufacturing base leading eventually to the burst of the housing bubble, huge inner city poverty, the £ out of the ERM and black Monday)
"If we cut big government back, if we move society forward and if we rebuild responsibility, then we can put Britain back on her feet," Mr Cameron said. (Tripple whammy suggestions from Cameron except I bet he wouldn't like to go into too much detail about how to move society forward or rebuild responsibility)
"I know that today there aren't many reasons to be cheerful. But there are reasons to believe. (Invocation of belief here will please the 'Tory-party at prayer'.) Yes, it will be a steep climb. But the view from the summit will be worth it." (For those invested in the kind of dystopian ultra capitalist society they have in mind for us)
In a deeply personal speech, Mr Cameron returned repeatedly to what he described as "my DNA: family, community, country".
Mr Cameron accused Labour of allowing Britain's economy, society and politics to be "broken" because its response to every issue was not to trust individuals and families but to rely on big government to solve problems. (Labour = big government doesn't trust individuals. Tory = Small Private Government only cares about individuals who can produce wealth)
And he told activists: "Here is the big argument in British politics today, put plainly and simply. Labour say that to solve the country's problems, we need more government. Don't they see? It is more government that got us into this mess. We are not going to solve our problems with bigger government. We are going to solve our problems with a stronger society, stronger families, stronger communities, a stronger country. All by rebuilding responsibility." (Wave my magic wand and la la la .. see how the rainbow of responsibility shines so bright across the sky? Now let's all chant together "This is my rainbow. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rainbow is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rainbow is useless. Without my rainbow I am useless. I must use my rainbow true. My rainbow must be brighter than my enemy, who is trying to make of me irresponsible. Before God I swear this creed: my rainbow and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen." Courtesy of Full Metal Jacket.)
Setting out his case to enter 10 Downing Street in the election expected in the spring, Mr Cameron said: "Family, community, country. Recognising that what holds society together is responsibility and that the good society is a responsible society. That's what I'm about. That's what any government I lead will be about."
Anyone got a final figure on the number of times Cameron used the word 'responsible' or its variants in one speech? If I remember rightly, Tony Blair rode that horse quite successfully for a while too.
