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I am the proud founder of Anti-Poverty Conservatives, a new organisation devoted to reaffirming the deep-rooted compassion that lies at the heart of conservative values. Conservative Party members have responded with enthusiasm, often welcoming our efforts as an example of ‘compassionate conservatism’. Yet the label of ‘compassionate conservative’ implies a troubling distinction – that compassion is not inherent to all conservatives. This is a misconception we must put to rest.
Conservatism, as envisioned by its intellectual forebears like Edmund Burke, Michael Oakeshott, and, more recently, Roger Scruton and Russell Kirk, has always contained within it the seeds of compassion, duty and responsibility toward the less fortunate. Scruton argued that the primary belief of conservatism is to conserve what is good – and how can a society be good if it neglects its weakest members? Kirk, whose profound understanding of tradition and moral order informs much of modern conservative thought, similarly believed that society must be ordered and just, recognising that the dignity of every individual is paramount. This is not an offshoot of conservatism – it is the core.
Free Markets and Prosperity for All: The Conservative Tradition
To some, the term ‘Anti-Poverty Conservative’ may seem paradoxical. After all, the free market is often blamed for driving inequality and leaving some members of society behind. Yet this argument rests on a profound misunderstanding of both free-market principles and conservative philosophy. It is precisely through free markets, alongside pragmatic governance and sound institutions, that we can create a society in which all have the opportunity to prosper.
From the days of Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party has advanced economic policies that – when correctly applied – empower individuals, lift people out of poverty and expand opportunity. Thatcher’s belief in ‘popular capitalism’ was not driven by cold utilitarianism but by a moral conviction that empowering people to own homes, start businesses and participate in the economy as free agents would benefit the many, not just the few. She understood that free markets, properly regulated, generate wealth that benefits all, creating the tax base that funds public services and social safety nets.
George Osborne, during his time as Chancellor, introduced policies like the increase in the personal allowance of income tax. By raising the threshold at which individuals start paying tax, Osborne ensured that lower-income workers would keep more of their earnings. This reform was not merely a fiscal adjustment; it was an expression of Conservative compassion in action – designed to reward work, reduce dependency and empower individuals by giving them greater control over their financial destiny. This policy benefited millions of workers, lifting many out of income tax altogether and demonstrating that free markets and tax reforms can work to alleviate poverty while fostering a sense of self-reliance.
It is easy for critics to claim that the Left holds the moral high ground on poverty because they champion state intervention. What conservatives have long understood – and what Anti-Poverty Conservatives seeks to reaffirm – is that big government and extensive welfare programs often do more harm than good. They can create a culture of dependency, sap individual initiative and trap people in cycles of poverty. The Left too often measures success by the amount of money spent, while conservatives look to outcomes – real improvements in people’s lives, underpinned by personal freedom and responsibility.
A History of Conservative Compassion
The Conservative Party’s tradition provides some of the strongest examples of how free markets and a compassionate approach to governance can work hand-in-hand to address poverty. Disraeli, with his idea of ‘One Nation’ Conservatism, recognised the dangers of a divided society and understood that economic stability and growth must benefit all parts of society. His reforms extended beyond economic prosperity to encompass social welfare, housing and education.
Winston Churchill, during his tenure as Minister of Labour, introduced measures to improve working conditions, limit unemployment and establish the foundations for a welfare state that would support – not stifle – individual enterprise. He once remarked, ‘The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.’ Churchill’s wit encapsulates a deep conservative truth: markets create prosperity, but it is a moral society that ensures prosperity is broadly shared.
More recently, David Cameron’s government embraced the ‘Big Society’ ethos, aimed at empowering communities to take control of local services, a model of decentralisation that championed civil society over the bureaucratic state. By redistributing power to local communities, Cameron’s Conservatives tapped into the vital role of family, neighbourhoods and charities in poverty alleviation – again highlighting that market forces and civic compassion are not mutually exclusive but complementary forces for good.
Anti-Poverty Conservatives is not here to create a splinter group of well-meaning Conservatives. Instead, we seek to remind our fellow citizens and policymakers that conservatism has always contained the tools to build a more equitable society. Pragmatism, fiscal responsibility and patriotism are not antithetical to addressing poverty – they are essential to it.
A healthy society must balance free markets with social responsibility, and this balance is at the heart of conservatism. As Burke so wisely observed, ‘the situation of man is the preceptor of his duty’. It is our duty – our conservative duty – to extend a hand to those in need, not through ideological posturing but through practical, effective policies rooted in our tradition.
Conservatives are not indifferent to the poor; we seek to create the conditions in which all individuals can flourish. In the final analysis, it is the Conservative way – grounded in the wisdom of our ancestors, the power of markets and a deep sense of duty – that offers the best hope for a prosperous and just society.
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