David Cameron, in his speech to the Conservative Party conference, no doubt wanted everyone to come away thinking he had made an apparent 11th hour conversion to social justice. From almost anyone else, this would be welcome – but Cameron’s empty rhetoric will fool no one.
If you want to understand this Conservative Government you have to look at what they have done, and not the promises of a seasoned PR man. In this case actions truly do speak louder than words.
This, after all, is from a Government that has already scrapped the child poverty target, demonised refugees, cut benefits for asylum seekers and slashed housing benefit for large families.
It is the most extraordinary chutzpah for Cameron to claim to be a poverty champion at the same time he is picking the pockets of the very poorest workers by slashing their tax credits.
The Prime Minister might spin a decent line about prison reform too but this is from a party that banned prisoners’ reading books.
And if he was really concerned about racial discrimination he would publicly denounce his Home Secretary’s shameful attack on immigrants.
Liberal Democrats welcome the Prime Minister’s change of tone but it has to be backed up by actions – not just easy words.
Nowhere is this more clear than in two of modern Britain’s most pressing issues: the housing crisis and the upcoming EU referendum.
Liberal Democrats have long called for action to tackle the national housing emergency.
But typically the Conservative focus is on helping the few not the many. They seem only interested in helping better off renters and not the 1.6 million people on waiting lists for a home of any sort.
When it comes to Europe, it is time Cameron comes clean about his vague “renegotiation” package.
We are a modern, free, prosperous country, respected the world over and this is Britain’s time to lead the EU – not runaway.
Cameron is clearly too scared of his own party to make the case for the EU and too scared of the public to set out what he wants to achieve in his renegotiations.
The Liberal Democrats are clear – we are the only party that will fight whole-heartedly to stay in Europe.