Big Society

The “Big Society” cropped up again at Prime Minister’s Questions today, and Cameron attacked Labour for their dismissive attitude towards what passes for the coalition government's new overarching philosophy.

The State ‘crowds out’ social participation, say the Tories and Lib Dems. Remove the State, and business and the voluntary sector will fill the void – and encourage social cohesion and a sense of community into the bargain.

“We will do everything we can to help what used to be called the ‘third sector’, rather condescendingly, but I believe is the ‘first sector’ – and that is the excellent charities, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises that do so much for our country,” said Cameron.

The trouble with the “Big Society” philosophy is this: most voluntary sector workers will tell you that charity often represents a last ditch effort to plug the gap where government and markets have failed – and that the State should be providing these services, funded from general taxation.

How does the coalition expect to convince voluntary organisations to take up the slack as government retreats, when most charity workers want government to do more not less?

The coalition has offered no evidence to show that voluntary organisations will fill the void. They are already taking what most economists agree is a massive gamble by saying that the private sector will make up for lost jobs in the public sector. Now we are seeing a similar leap of faith in social policy.

Their economic programme is likely to leave millions unemployed, and their social programme will leave a new underclass with nowhere to turn. Love-bombing the voluntary sector is merely a strategy to create cover while the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats turn their backs on the poorest.