Has David Cameron earned the right to be a "moral leader"?

Cameron's speech today in Glasgow takes an explicit stance on the importance of politicians setting moral parameters. So a Tory government to make moral judgements on the fat, the umambitious and the lazy? Although he doesn't quite go this far, the subtext is almost: stop calling yourself victims.

This is a new area for Cameron. Has Cameron earnt the moral respect of the British people to start telling them what to do? Is this arrogance or plain speaking? Is it misguided Back to Basics or a politician finally setting a moral lead for a broken society?

Is this what people want to hear, or has trust in politicians generally sunk so low that such a message - straying into areas they have no direct control - will just not be respected by voters. What do you think?

"I think the time has come for me to speak out about something that has been troubling me for a long time. I have not found the words to say it sensitively. And then I realised, that is the whole point.

"We as a society have been far too sensitive. In order to avoid injury to people’s feelings, in order to avoid appearing judgemental, we have failed to say what needs to be said. We have seen a decades-long erosion of responsibility, of social virtue, of self-discipline, respect for others, deferring gratification instead of instant gratification.

"Instead we prefer moral neutrality, a refusal to make judgments about what is good and bad behaviour, right and wrong behaviour. Bad. Good. Right. Wrong. These are words that our political system and our public sector scarcely dare use any more.

"Of course as soon as a politician says this there is a clamour "but what about all of you?" And let me say now, yes, we are human, flawed and frequently screw up.

"Our relationships crack up, our marriages break down, we fail as parents and as citizens just like everyone else. But if the result of this is a stultifying silence about things that really matter, we re-double the failure. Refusing to use these words

right and wrong - means a denial of personal responsibility and the concept of a moral choice.

"We talk about people being "at risk of obesity" instead of talking about people who eat too much and take too little exercise. We talk about people being at risk of poverty, or social exclusion: it’s as if these things obesity, alcohol abuse, drug addiction are purely external events like a plague or bad weather."

Clearly he may revel in speaking the unspeakable, but he still can't quite call them 'fat'....

Comments

[Chuck Unsworth]

Actually I think the message was pretty simple - and that is that we should call a spade a spade.

Perhaps I ought to phrase that slightly differently......

[iain smith]

I know what he's getting at,but I have a problem with a man who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth preaching to people who wer e unfortunate enough to be born on a council estate.I just don't t hink he has the moral authority to preach in the way that someone who has experienced that poverty has.

[Dr W Ahmed]

Maybe he could give the same speech to his colleagues in parlaiment, who continue to fund their second homes and expenses via our taxes...

[Gavin Drake]

So David Cameron wants us to take a view on "right" and "wrong" yet he campaigns for David Davis in Haltemprice and Howden on a platform of doing away with CCTV and the DNA database so the police can't find out who has done "wrong".

What is the point of "right" and "wrong" if we don't allow the police to use the tools they need to keep us safe from those who choose to do "wrong"?

Surely in David Cameron's Hug-a-Hoodie philosphy there isn't much concept of "wrong"!

[Dom]

to all those ppl who have a go at him for being born wi a silver spoon in his mouth- how in gods name can he have prevented that? you cant blame the man for his childhood and school! those where his parents choices so shame on you for being so classist

[Robert Baker]

Absolutely spot on!
Lets get rid of all of this 'politically correct' garbge.
Let us hear more of this David!

[Bill Rees]

Another "Soundbite" from PR Dave.No details on how to solve the problem tho.

[Bill Rees]

Another "Soundbite" from PR Dave.No details on how to solve the problem tho.

[Mike Smith]

At last a politician who is prepared to speak the truth - something the UK has not been used to for quite some time. Could this be the beginning of the end for Political correctness and the start of common sense....here's hoping. He'll get my vote if I hear more of this and saya how he is going to stop this PC cultural disease ruining a once great Country.

[Bill Rees]

Look forward to seeing Cameron in Polzeath Cornwall to sort out the annual visit of the "Snob Yobs". Their rich parents dont seem to worry about it when they are holidaying in Rock.

[alex]

So Dave is happy now to answer questions about his own drug-taking past?

[alex]

So Dave is happy now to answer questions about his own drug-taking past?

[alex]

So Dave is happy now to answer questions about his own drug-taking past?

[Michael Asher]

I agree with Bill Rees: "Another "Soundbite" from PR Dave.No details on how to solve the problem tho."

These are just more platitudes from smooth-talking Dave which sound good at the time but which don't translate into coherent policy.

[AfricanSnowman]

Is Cameron suggesting that when a MP tells a porkie in the House be referred to as a "liar"??

Go on Dave, do it. Then some may actually start believing you.

[Craig Strachan]

After "hug a hoodie"..."chide a chubby"?

[Elizabeth Young]

Some of us tend to dismiss the message because we disrespect the messenger (as is the case in some quarters here, no doubting), but as far as I'm concerned, truth is truth and it matters not one iota who speaks it just as long as it is spoken. We all are or have been guilty of some misdemeanour, so based on what some are saying, does this mean therefore that none of us have the right to comment on the ills of society?

[Charles]

@Iain Smith: The problem is that there is *always* a reason not to chide. Too rich, not from round 'ere, different skin colour... there's always an excuse as to why we can't tell lard-arses and layabouts to get moving. Balls to that. Tell it like it is.

Bravo DC.

[Ray Adams]

At last, a politician appears to be sticking to the true values of their party. Conservatives are supposed to be right wing and yet there has not been much to show this [or any real difference between them and labour].

This is a typically right wing viewpoint and I must say it is refreshing. I couldn't agree more with David Cameron, it's about time individuals in society took responsibility for their poor choices! However of course words are easy to say, it's how you back them up that counts. It's all well and good telling people to be responsible and take action, but let's face it if these people were motvated then they wouldn't need our help. So, Mr Cameron.......great words.......but where do we go now?

[Ray Adams]

p.s. I also agree with Dom, it's hardly David Cameron's fault that he was born into the family he was! It's the things he say's and does now that's important, not where he comes from.

[Beverly]

They have that so-called tough love in the states and all it has done is given rise to more crime, more violent crime, more gangs and guns etc. Moving away from a welfare state and forcing people off benefits doesn't get a lot of them into work, just more organized crime. I disdain leechers of the system, but would prefer them to what there is in the states. Don't Americanise Britain even more! (from an American in Britain)

[Ray Adams]

I appreciate this might be hard for an American to believe but just because America can't get something right doesn't mean that the rest of the world can't do a better job.

I don't believe anybody mentioned getting rid of the welfare state? Those who truly need help deserve it so benefits should be in place. The problem is with the acceptance of benefit cheats within the system and this is born out of a loss of morality and personal responsibility within society IMO. Preferring one evil over another is not a solution.

Anyway....back to the point ;-)

[SUSAN]

PURE SPIN TO WIN VOTES.THE NOTTING HILL SET WERE PICTURED TAKING DRUGS AND CAMERON HAS THE AUDACITY TO FOIST AN ADVERT FEATURING A YOB SMOKING A SPLIFF ANDLECTURING ON BROKEN BRITAIN.IT GETS WORSE. BORIS HAPPILY LIED ON HIS C.V. HIS DEPUTY LIED. BORIS THEN LIES AGAIN AND SAYS RAY LEWIS IS A J.P. AND SO ON AD NAUSEUM HARDLY PARAGONS OF VIRTUE THESE SAINTLY POLITICIANS