David Cameron has called for a new nationwide “responsibility revolution” after launching the Conservative Party’s detailed aims and values in a revised Built to Last document.
Following a thorough consultation with the Party membership, he unveiled an agenda under which individuals, communities, and corporations would be helped and encouraged to adopt more social and personal responsibility.
With the 12 page Built to Last document providing a framework for the future Conservative election manifesto, the Party Leader said: “The country needs a new direction and new answers. I am clear about the new direction we must set for Britain. To meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, and to satisfy people’s aspirations today, this country needs a responsibility revolution.”
Mr Cameron explained that the proposed revolution in personal responsibility would be aimed at providing every individual with the skills, resources, and confidence to take control of their life.
A revolution in professional responsibility would give all those who work in our public services the freedom to fulfil their vocation. While a revolution in civic responsibility would give neighbourhoods and communities the power to shape their destinies, fight crime and improve the quality of life.
Meanwhile a revolution in corporate responsibility would give the business community the encouragement and the incentives to help enhance the environment and improve well-being.
He declared: “That is the mission of the modern Conservative Party: a responsibility revolution to create an opportunity society – a society in which everybody is a somebody, a doer not a done-for. Ours is a message of change, optimism and hope. Our aims and values are built to last; they are as relevant now as they have ever been. In this document, we show how those aims and values apply to the great challenges our generation faces today.”
The Built to Last document is more detailed and specific than the draft paper published earlier in the year. This follows feedback from members, which included calls for a more specific explanation of how Conservative beliefs such as freedom, opportunity and responsibility are part of the modern Conservative Party’s mission, resulting in the final version being expanded to include references to the Party’s overall policy direction as set out in recent speeches and other announcements.
Party members will now have an opportunity to vote on Built to Last. Every member of the Party will receive a copy of the “Built to Last: The Aims and Values of the Conservative Party” at the end of August. In the same pack they will also receive a letter from David Cameron and a ballot paper setting out how they can vote on whether they approve the statement of aims and values. They can vote by phone, text, internet or post with the ballot closing at mid-day on Monday 18th September.
Find out more and read the documents