Reading Volunteers Challenge Tories 'Big Society'

Conservative candidate Alok Sharma faced fierce criticism over his party’s ‘big society’ policies at the Reading Faith Forum last night.

The question and answer session organised by local religious groups, featured the candidates for Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in the Reading West constituency.

Many of those in attendance are involved in voluntary work and several members of the forum questioned the feasibility of the Conservatives new style of localism, with Mr Sharma being told to “get real” in one heated exchange.

Mr Sharma told the forum: “We need an agenda of localisation; we need to have an agenda of the big society. A change that will make people sitting in this room and others feel really involved in government.”

One audience member said: “I am involved in voluntary work and it is very difficult to get others involved. I seriously doubt a sudden rush of volunteering.”

David Cameron has made the ‘big society’ the main pledge of the Tory campaign, promising to improve local services by empowering people to run them themselves.

Another member of the audience said: “It sounds like the big society would mean relinquishing responsibility and would create a survival of the fittest situation where those who can organise themselves will do well and those that really need help could get left behind.”

Mr Sharma defended arguments that much needed but unpopular infrastructure may be delayed or scrapped if opposed by empowered individuals. He said: “If you give local people the opportunity to decide, I think you will find that they are pretty sensible and pragmatic. To say that everyone is going to be a nimby and object to any development they do not like is wrong.”

Naz Sarkar, local candidate for Labour, said: “I think that government should work in partnership with faith and voluntary groups. You cannot expect government to creep back and work in isolation.”

The largest applause of the evening was given to the Liberal Democrat candidate, Daisy Benson, when she said: “The Tories talk about localisation but I have heard nothing from them about devolving more power to local councils. Local councils empower people and are accountable and
democratic. The Conservatives have said nothing about reforming local government finance which is why this just sounds like more empty words from politicians.”