Global poverty: is it really on the Conservative agenda?

Maddy Fry reports on Conservative Party leader David Cameron’s speech from her local town hall.

''His speech was undoubtedly a testament to the changes in the attitudes and opinions of the British public with regards to global poverty.'' Image: Helen Atkinson 2006 ''Like most politicians, David Cameron likes to talk big. But will he really follow up his noble words with action?'' Image: Helen Atkinson 2006

On 29 June 2006, David Cameron appeared at the Oxford Town Hall to discuss what the Conservative Party’s approach to poverty and exploitation will be, should they get into power.

His speech was undoubtedly a testament to the changes in the attitudes and opinions of the British public with regards to global poverty. It not only included an assurance of the Conservative Party’s support for an international Arms Trade Treaty, but also a commitment to pushing for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. There was even admittance – shock horror! - that neither the Labour or Conservative Party had done enough in the past to ensure that poverty and development were high enough on the political agenda.

The times they are indeed a-changin’. Ask yourself, would there honestly have been a chance of any of this coming from the lips of Michael Howard, Iain Duncan Smith or William Hague? Our campaigning is working, and David Cameron’s speech was just one of many indicators that poverty has become a central issue to the mainstream political agenda in the UK.

However, from my point of view, Cameron’s speech didn’t do much else. Whilst his promises of increased aid and fairer trade sounded convincing, the statements were simply too broad. He gave few details as to how the Conservatives, still with their hostile stance towards Europe, planned to negotiate the abolition of agricultural subsidies - something that can only be achieved through cooperation with other European countries.

He also, it seemed, sent a slight snub towards aid agencies by claiming that, instead of entrusting money purely into their hands, Africa would benefit more from the introduction of an aid voucher system. I regard this as naïve, and not much of a declaration of trust in the amazing role that aid agencies play on the ground for people living in poverty. Fair enough if there is distrust in the international agencies that have supplied aid in the past, such as the World Bank and the IMF - but Cameron’s lack of acknowledgement of the role that aid agencies must continue to play was a weak point of his speech.

Cameron is a charismatic speaker, and incredibly good on his feet, but I did not leave the event feeling wholly convinced. Like most politicians, David Cameron likes to talk big. But will he really follow up his noble words with action? Even though we are one step closer to ensuring that politicians are someday elected on the basis of what they will do to help alleviate poverty, his performance contained more style than substance. Is it naivety or reality that he represents? I’m sure I’m not the only one who left Oxford with more questions than answers.