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Cameron backs 'Red Tory' think tank | Cameron backs 'Red Tory' think tank |
(about 20 hours later) | |
By Ross Hawkins Political correspondent, BBC News | By Ross Hawkins Political correspondent, BBC News |
They don't normally have to shut the doors at political philosophy lectures to avoid overcrowding. | They don't normally have to shut the doors at political philosophy lectures to avoid overcrowding. |
Blond ambition: Think tank chief wants to change political debate | Blond ambition: Think tank chief wants to change political debate |
But such was the crush of people trying to hear a speech by a former theology academic at Westminster, the great Victorian hall in which he was speaking proved too small. | But such was the crush of people trying to hear a speech by a former theology academic at Westminster, the great Victorian hall in which he was speaking proved too small. |
Would be listeners filed into an overflow room where there was a live TV feed. Outside photographers and spin doctors gathered. | Would be listeners filed into an overflow room where there was a live TV feed. Outside photographers and spin doctors gathered. |
The interest was not entirely down to the ideas of the speaker - Phillip Blond - who was launching a think tank named ResPublica. It had more to do with his role as David Cameron's favourite thinker. | The interest was not entirely down to the ideas of the speaker - Phillip Blond - who was launching a think tank named ResPublica. It had more to do with his role as David Cameron's favourite thinker. |
And as if to prove the point the Conservative leader served as his warm-up act - introducing Mr Blond's speech. "There has never been a more important time for deep and radical thinking about the change we need in our country," said Mr Cameron. | And as if to prove the point the Conservative leader served as his warm-up act - introducing Mr Blond's speech. "There has never been a more important time for deep and radical thinking about the change we need in our country," said Mr Cameron. |
'Broken society' | 'Broken society' |
That endorsement has given Mr Blond a certain local celebrity status. It is nothing compared to that enjoyed by his step brother - the James Bond actor Daniel Craig - but in the tiny world of political theorists and activists that staff Westminster think tanks he is a rising star. | That endorsement has given Mr Blond a certain local celebrity status. It is nothing compared to that enjoyed by his step brother - the James Bond actor Daniel Craig - but in the tiny world of political theorists and activists that staff Westminster think tanks he is a rising star. |
The Conservatives agree with much of Phillip Blond's thinking; the party has adopted his proposal to help community groups take over neglected local buildings. | The Conservatives agree with much of Phillip Blond's thinking; the party has adopted his proposal to help community groups take over neglected local buildings. |
Radical ideas can become political embarrassments just as quickly as they can become policies | Radical ideas can become political embarrassments just as quickly as they can become policies |
They share his faith in the ability of communities to take on roles currently performed by central or local government. Occasionally they appear to share a phrase book too. Both warn of the dangers of a "broken society", and think they can offer conservative solutions to the problems of poverty. | They share his faith in the ability of communities to take on roles currently performed by central or local government. Occasionally they appear to share a phrase book too. Both warn of the dangers of a "broken society", and think they can offer conservative solutions to the problems of poverty. |
But much of what Mr Blond has to say would raise the hackles of many in the party. He describes himself as a Red Tory, and to some traditional Tories he seems if not quite Red then at least a suspicious shade of pink. | But much of what Mr Blond has to say would raise the hackles of many in the party. He describes himself as a Red Tory, and to some traditional Tories he seems if not quite Red then at least a suspicious shade of pink. |
He has criticised Margaret Thatcher - accusing her of creating a "loadsamoney" generation that destroyed Victorian values. He is hostile to what he sees as supermarket monopolies - and wants to give suppliers and communities more powers to challenge them. He extols what he describes as the "great triumph of the left" : the post war Labour government which laid a foundation for the modern welfare state. | He has criticised Margaret Thatcher - accusing her of creating a "loadsamoney" generation that destroyed Victorian values. He is hostile to what he sees as supermarket monopolies - and wants to give suppliers and communities more powers to challenge them. He extols what he describes as the "great triumph of the left" : the post war Labour government which laid a foundation for the modern welfare state. |
'Insane' thinking | 'Insane' thinking |
The Conservative leader's careful disclaimer - that he did not agree with everything Mr Blond said or would say in the future - will be disregarded by some. Not least because two of his own front benchers are on the think tank's advisory board. | The Conservative leader's careful disclaimer - that he did not agree with everything Mr Blond said or would say in the future - will be disregarded by some. Not least because two of his own front benchers are on the think tank's advisory board. |
Embracing a group of policy makers that closely poses its own political dangers. Last year another think thank close to the Conservatives - the Policy Exchange - published a report suggesting cities like Liverpool, Sunderland and Bradford were beyond revival and their residents should move south. | Embracing a group of policy makers that closely poses its own political dangers. Last year another think thank close to the Conservatives - the Policy Exchange - published a report suggesting cities like Liverpool, Sunderland and Bradford were beyond revival and their residents should move south. |
David Cameron said that was "insane" - but not until lots of headlines linking his party to the idea had appeared. | David Cameron said that was "insane" - but not until lots of headlines linking his party to the idea had appeared. |
All this means both Conservatives and their opponents will study the output of Phillip Blond's new think tank. | All this means both Conservatives and their opponents will study the output of Phillip Blond's new think tank. |
Because radical ideas can become political embarrassments just as quickly as they can become policies. | Because radical ideas can become political embarrassments just as quickly as they can become policies. |