Charity begins at home. Umm, let's think about that one...

I feel I have to start this by admitting (yes, it is a crime) that I have just written an essay on a similar subject. So, right here and right now I shall apologise if any of this article begins to sound remotely like an academic essay. Turgid language and all...

That aside Mr Relations’ favourite MP, Caroline Spelman made The Guardian’s diary the other week (I know, I know... our wires aren’t quite up to Sky News quality yet). She’s decided, being the moral and political torchbearer, to brand Conservatism in quite a new light – ‘Conservative Socialism’.

(Just quickly, how many e do you reckon were taken to form that idea? Answers on a postcard please)

Quite aside from whether Conservative Central Office considers this a blunder is interesting. So is the notion recently put forward by the leader in waiting, Master Cameron, that charity is an answer to Britain’s welfare services deficit? Chris Graylin, Gray by name, grey by nature, recently concluded:

“Potential of our voluntary sector to tackle the difficult social problems in our most deprived areas is huge”.

Huh?

Reviewing these figures brings some interesting results.

1. Charitable donations, during the coming recession, are predicted to slump by 52%

2. Voluntary sector successes are largely driven by massive investment from the Government of the day.

3. What charity provides is 'minute' compared with the state- and what would happen to the poor when donors peg back as in a recession?

So, the idea of charity simply being able to pick up the slack and save the rate-payers pocket is, to be frank, utter shit. It smacks of being driven by economic doctrine more prevalent to the 70s and 80s – monetarism.

And as Grand Old Bird Toynbee concludes, of course there is a role for charity. To stifle the endeavours of social entrepreneurs is pointless but it does underline the need for government to ‘give a toss’.

It does lead to this question though, if the new ‘Caring’ Conservatism of Dave is really embedded in helping social mobility and aiding the breakdown of educational and class challenges why does he still see the government as playing as little role as possible?