The Social Thatcher

Posted by Chris on August 19, 2008 at 9:34 am.

cameron-as-thatcherDavid Cameron:

I’m going to be as radical a social reformer as Mrs Thatcher was an economic reformer, and radical social reform is what this country needs right now.

Margaret Thatcher in her time realised that the big challenge was reviving Britain’s economy, and we should recognise that the challenge for the modern Conservatives is reviving our society.

It’s dealing with the issues of family breakdown, welfare dependency, failing schools, crime, and the problems that we see in too many of our communities.

As much as I applaud the sentiment, as social reform is definitely the challenge for any incoming Conservative government, comparing himself with Margaret Thatcher seems a bit like blowing the dog whistle.

It also, really, seems a bit silly. Thatcher was - and is - an incredibly divisive figure. Claiming the be the “new Thatcher” will alienate a great many people. That Cameron is making such comparisons demonstrates that he is confident of having a greater claim on the votes of the majority than Brown and is instead intending to ensure that he keeps his core voters on side.

With the use of the ‘T-word’, Cameron is laying a claim to being both a Conservative and a social reformer with it. He’s using his dog whistle to try and have his cake and eat it. If he’s lucky, he may well succeed.

Image: The Sun

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