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An agenda that addresses the challenges of the 21st century is 'good for me and good for my neighbour' argues Iain Duncan Smith in keynote speech.

Earlier this week, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and CSJ founder, Iain Duncan Smith MP, laid out the philosophical underpinnings of a modern day 'One Nation Conservatism', in a keynote speech at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington D.C.

During his remarks, Iain Duncan Smith challenged conservative thinkers to put 'respect' for the poorest at the heart of a new centre-right agenda, calling for Governments to make measurements of social progress as important as measuring GDP and growth.  

Iain Duncan Smith challenged centre-right colleagues to dismantle so-called 'crony capitalism' arguing Conservatives should be more ready to criticise a system which rewards those at the very top whilst leaving the poorest behind. Conservative support for low taxation should be extended to the lowest paid and not simply for those at the top of the income scale.

Calling on Governments to support the family Iain Duncan Smith said 'the family is the best provider of welfare' and that support for the family should be a 'priority' rather than an 'afterthought', ensuring our interventions on the family 'are as bold as our rhetoric'. 

In delivering this wide-ranging philosophical speech, Iain Duncan Smith has challenged fellow Conservatives to ensure everything they do is measured against a passion for reducing poverty and supporting the poorest.

To read a copy of Iain Duncan Smith's speech to the American Enterprise Institute click here

To read Iain Duncan Smith's Times Op-Ed, 'Conservatives must be biased towards poorest' click here (£)

Former Housing Minister, Lord Young of Cookham launches 'Home Improvements: A Social Justice Approach to Housing Policy

Earlier this week MPs, Peers and housing experts gathered in the House of Lords for the launch of the CSJ’s recent landmark report on housing: ‘Home Improvements: A social justice approach to housing policy’.

Former Housing Minister, Lord Young of Cookham extended his backing to the important role Social Lettings Agencies have in a reformed private rental sector, describing them as ‘honest brokers’ for landlords and tenants. Lord Young endorsed the CSJ's call for Government to help Social Housing providers kick start a revival of Social Lettings Agencies, something he had worked to achieve as a Housing Minister in the 1990s.

Lord Young also underlined the importance of moving the default length of assured short-hold tenancies from six to 12 months, in providing housing stability for residents on low incomes and in tackling homelessness.

Following publication of this report, the CSJ will continue to work with Government to promote the benefits of Social Lettings Agencies and is calling on Ministers to free up new money to pump prime a new wave of Social Lettings Agents. 

To read 'Home Improvements: A social justice approach to housing policy' click here

Guest Comment from Home Group

Dr John Hudson, Chief Finance Officer – Home Group

The debate about what social justice looks like in the context of our present housing crisis is desperately needed and that’s exactly what Monday’s launch of Home Improvements was looking to do.

Housing, be that estate regeneration or the supported housing we provide to some of society’s most vulnerable, is at the heart of this report.

The debate which accompanied the report showed the sector at its best – acknowledging the need for reform and actively engaging in what that might look like, particularly in terms of taxpayer value and the need for a sustainable reform of supported housing.

Being involved in any thought leadership is a bit like sticking a target on your head and letting everyone else take aim. But it’s important that we have a robust debate. These are not easy times - far from it - but supplementing cuts, caps and the like with some of the coherence and collaboration in this report would be a massive step in the right direction.

New policies for supporting family life contained within the CSJ's Life Chances Strategy submission

In his speech to the American Enterprise Institute earlier this week Iain Duncan Smith called for the Government to do more to support the family, challenging the Government to match rhetoric to action.

In our recently published submission to the Government on delivering a Life Chances Strategy, the CSJ outlines three big policies for supporting family life;

Moving to a Family Hubs model in every local authority:

To support a new commitment to ‘closing the family stability gap’ the Government should incentivise local authorities to convert Children’s Centres to a Family Hubs model.

This would provide the framework for the delivery of relationship and parenting support programmes and refocus the delivery of local authority services around the Government’s commitment to stronger families and life chances.

To pump prime a move towards a Family Hubs model, the CSJ recommends that the Government considers launching a Family Services Transformation Fund for local authorities and a Civil Service team to advise local authorities on implementation and good practice.

A One Stop Shop for Parenting Support:

We are calling on the Government to establish an online ‘one-stop-shop’ for parents alongside a high profile national campaign to encourage up-take of parenting support services. 

By working with local authorities and charities, the Government could develop an online service that would ideally act as a one-stop shop for parents, covering all information parents need from local support to targeted voucher provision for parenting support.

Making relationship support an 'aspirational activity':

The Government needs to invest in couple relationship support
before relationships reach crisis point. The Government could make supporting couple relationships a key objective of the Life Chances Strategy.

The Government’s Healthy Relationship Fund should be 'upscaled' and resourced with a view to becoming a Universal Relationship Support service by 2025. The Government could encourage voluntary sector organisations to apply for funds to provide relationship support programmes with a view to scaling up relationship support in every local community by 2025.

To read the CSJ's Life Chances Strategy Submission click here

Upcoming Events:

The Centre for Social Justice has two public events coming up: 

The Launch and Briefing of our Report: ‘Military Families and Transition’ with Johnny Mercer MP

Tuesday 3rd May 2016  - 14.30-16:00 - Central London venue

'Home Improvements' Breakfast Seminar with a Government Minister and the Centre for Social Justice

Tuesday 3rd May 2016 - 08:00 - 09:30 - Central London venue

If you are interested in attending either event please email: 

dolly.theis@centreforsocialjustice.org.uk