An Introduction to Political Philosophy: critical
contemplation in the run up to the election.
David Carpenter
University Ethics Adviser
Principal Lecturer in Social and Political
Philosophy
A fourth way? Community
responsibility and cohesion
Session 6: May 13th 2015
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/05/david-cameron-absolutely-clear-about-priorities-in-cabinet-address/
‘Before we start, I want everyone around this table to be
absolutely clear: what we are here to do and who we are
here to do it for. I think it is absolutely vital that in every
decision that we take, every policy we pursue, every
programme that we start, it is about giving everyone in
our country the best chance of living a fulfilling and good
life and making the most of their talents. That’s what this
government is going to be about.
‘Now some pundits might call it blue collar Conservatism
or being on the side of hardworking taxpayers. I would
call it being the real party of working people: giving
more and more people the dignity of work, the dignity of
having a pay cheque, being able to keep more of their
money to spend as they choose, a home of their own, the
peace of mind and security that comes from being able to
raise a family and have a decent and secure retirement.
about giving everyone in our country the best
chance of living a fulfilling and good life and
making the most of their talents
Is it everyone or every one? Sounds rather Lockean
A fulfilling and good life – think back to Aristotle and Kant
Talents are rather transitory in modern Britain
American dream - meritocracy
Our political life would be equally
enhanced if it were possible to speak
about markets, business and the profit
motive as an impressively effective
system of distribution in a complex
society and hugely liberating of human
creativity – but one which also tends to
entrench inequality, diminish human
sympathies and, unchecked, damage the
conditions for its own flourishing. (para
39)
What type of conservativism?
• Low tax – strong economy – small state
• Blue collar conservatism – only conservatives meet the
interests of aspirational hard workers
• Compassionate conservatism – emphasis on minimal states
and personal responsibility – but seen as compatible with
concern for the needy
• Progressive conservatism - policies and ideas that are firmly
rooted in the conservative tradition but also reflect the
progressive values of personal and community
empowerment, combating poverty and tackling inequality.
the real party of working people: giving
more and more people the dignity of work,
the dignity of having a pay cheque,
Rhetoric of work
Most people, when asked, subscribe to some
version of the idea that all people are created
equal. Yet this is contradicted in the way that
some categories of people are spoken about –
people who are sick, disabled, terminally ill or
otherwise unable to live the life that a consumer
society celebrates; people who are unable to
work, materially poor or mentally ill in ways which
challenge “acceptable” ways of being unwell.
(para 61)
being able to keep more of their money to spend
as they choose, a home of their own, the peace of
mind and security that comes from being able to
raise a family and have a decent and secure
retirement.
The State
Instead of treating politics as
an extension of consumerism,
we should focus on the
common good, the
participation of more people in
developing a political vision
and constructive ways to talk
about communities and how
they relate to one another.
Common Good
A Christian approach to politics must be driven by this vision:
enabling all people to live good lives, with the chance to realise
their potential, as individuals and together as a people (para 13)
Instead of treating politics as an extension of consumerism, we
should focus on the common good, the participation of more
people in developing a political vision and constructive ways to
talk about communities and how they relate to one another.
(para 32)
Today, a fundamental question is about the extent of social
solidarity in Britain. Are we a “society of strangers”, or are we a
“community of communities”? (para 43)
And today, attempts to address the shortage of suitable housing
will create new problems if they neglect people’s attachment to
particular places and the social networks they create there.
(para 50)
‘Those are the down to earth, bread and butter issues that
we were elected to deliver on and that is what we’ve got
to do in this Parliament.
‘Of course, we must also support those who can’t work, as
I said on the steps of Downing Street five years ago, those
who can, should, and those who can’t we always help.
That is the principle we always pursue.
‘I want our reforms in education and welfare to be about
true social justice and genuine compassion, helping
people to get on and make the most of their lives and
supporting those who can’t and the agenda of bringing
our country together, whether that’s making sure the
economy works for everybody and every part of our
country, or the agenda of bringing the United Kingdom
together, that is going to be absolutely key to the success
of this government.
support those who can’t work
Economy
But the Synod set down three criteria by which any austerity
measure ought to be judged. …………………They were: Is it
fair? Does it give priority to the vulnerable – the young
struggling to enter the labour market, and the elderly living on
fixed incomes; people in poverty both within Britain and
globally? Is it generous? Does it embody the obligation to give
and share our resources with others, especially those less well
off? Does it promote fair trade and global aid? Is it
sustainable? Have the medium and long-term implications
been taken fully into account so that the interests of our
children’s and grandchildren’s generations are factored in?
(paras 108-9)
reforms in education and
welfare to be about true
social justice and genuine
compassion
Welfare
The Biblical tradition is not only “biased to the poor”, as often noted,
but warns constantly against too much power falling into too few
hands. When it does, human sympathies are strained to breaking
point. (para 17)
The way in which state welfare and market economics have been
polarised in political debate has obscured an important point on
which both Thatcher and Beveridge might well have agreed. Both
understood that their approaches to the well being of the nation
could not succeed unless social relationships were marked by
neighbourliness, strong voluntary commitment and personal
responsibility. (para 40)
For instance, when those who rely on social security payments are
all described in terms that imply they are undeserving, dependent,
and ought to be self-sufficient, it deters others from offering the
informal, neighbourly support which could ease some of the burden
of welfare on the state.(para 62)
David Cameron to reduce benefits
cap to £23,000 immediately if he
wins the election
The Prime Minister says in an interview with The
Telegraph that his plan to reduce the cap from
£26,000 to £23,000 will lead to a renewed
"stampede to the job centre
Peter Dominiczak, Political Editor, Telegraph 26 Jan 2015
bringing the United Kingdom together
One Nation
Our nation faces deep divisions and the gulfs between
people and communities seem to be widening. At-one-ment
is as necessary a goal for public life as it is for the personal
dimension. (para 18)
Christians share responsibility with all citizens to participate
in the democratic structures of our nation. (para 21)
The aftermath of the recent Scottish referendum has thrown
the constitutional arrangements of the UK into sharp focus.
The idea that the future shape of the Union and the
relationship between its constituents can be solved in
weeks or months is a fine example of politics ignoring the
importance of history in favour of the calculated advantages
of the moment. It is a mirage to think there is a single,
logical and fool-proof structure which could be designed on
a clean sheet of paper. (para 98)
Democracy
The privileges of living in a democracy mean that we
should use our votes thoughtfully, prayerfully, and with
the good of others in mind, not just our own interests.
(para 5)
The declining number of people exercising their
democratic right to vote reflects a worrying level of
non-participation. (para 23)
Whether on the political right or the political left, it is a
long time since there has been a coherent policy
programme which made a virtue of dispersing power
and control as widely across the population as
possible. (para 56)
General election turnout since 1945, by region
Election
Year
UK
England
Wales
Scotland
N. Ireland
2015
66.1%
65.8%
65.7%
71.1%
58.1%
2010
65.1%
65.5%
64.7%
63.8%
57.6%
2005
61.4%
61.3%
62.6%
60.8%
62.9%
2001
59.4%
59.2%
61.6%
58.2%
68%
1997
71.4%
71.4%
73.5%
71.3%
67.1%
1992
77.7%
78%
79.7%
75.5%
69.8%
http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm
http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/heres-how-the-election-results-would-look-under-a-proportional-voting-system--gJenQmaW2gW
Europe
That history is not an argument for the
structures and institutions of the European
Union as they now exist. But it is an enduring
argument for continuing to build structures of
trust and cooperation between the nations of
Europe. Ignoring or denying the extent to
which European people share culture and
heritage suggests that questions of identity
and belonging have no currency except as
political bargaining chips. (para 68)
Michael Gove's attempt to repeal the
Human Rights Act faces almost
insurmountable odds
The new Justice Secretary's quest for a British
Bill of Rights will run into serious legal obstacles
- not to mention the political opposition
Matthew Scott, Telegraph, 11 May 2015
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11598319/Michael-Goves-attempt-to-repeal-theHuman-Rights-Act-faces-almost-insurmountable-odds.html
Stop Press
• Counter-extremism bill
– Powers to ban those who use hate speeches
– Extremism disruption orders
– Closure of mosques or other venues where radicalisation takes
place
– Ofcom to be given greater powers to stop the transmission of
extremist material
Cont.
• No room for migrants rescued from the Med.
– Will encourage thousands more
– Mainly economic migrants
– Stop the flow
– Need to deal with the criminals behind the trafficking
– Rejection of any assurance that no migrants, intercepted at sea
will be sent home against their will
Aspirations
There is a growing appetite to exploit grievances, find scapegoats and
create barriers between people and nations. The issues around the
election call for a fresh moral vision of the kind of country we want to be
(para 1)
to build the kind of society which many people say they want but which is
not yet being expressed in the vision of any of the parties (para 3)
Our country is hungry for a new approach to political life that will “change
the political weather” as decisively as did the administrations of 1945 and
1979. We need a new political story that will enable the people of Britain
to articulate who they are, what they want to become and how they will
work together to live virtuously as well as prosperously (para 90)
The Big Society stood for should not be consigned to the political dustbin
– they could still be the foundation for the new approach to politics,
economics and community which we seek. (para 95)
‘I also want you to remember what we were elected on: this document. In here is the programme we
have a mandate to deliver on. All of it. This will be a different government, it’s not a coalition
government so we can have accountability, no trading away of things that are in here, the ability to
deliver this. That is one of the most important things we can do to restore trust and faith in politics that
when you vote for something, you get it, and that is what we are going to do.’
No party would dare…..
• Make a real attempt to eliminate tax avoidance
• Ensure that older people are not continually advantaged
• Evict people from social housing which is excessive to their
needs
• Introduce systems of direct participatory democracy
• Demand all Policy to be evidence evidence based
• ……………………. (please join in!)
• ………………………..