David Cameron has declared that he wants his vision of a 'big society' of community work and social enterprise to be one of the 'great legacies' of his Government. The Prime Minister set out his plans alongside Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in their first joint public engagement since their press conference last week.
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Mr Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, had strongly criticised the Tories' 'big society' proposals during the election campaign. But he has now attempted to smooth over any differences on the issue, saying:
"What I'm discovering is we've been using different words for a long time. It means the same thing. Liberalism, big society. Empowerment, responsibility. It actually means the same thing."
The coalition partners were speaking to community leaders invited from across the country to a meeting around the Cabinet table in Number 10. The Government was publishing its proposals on civil society as the first chapter of a more comprehensive coalition agreement document.
Mr Cameron said: 'It's a big signal that the first part to be published is actually that part about having a big society, decentralising power, about empowering communities, about all the work you do to help build the big strong society you want to see in the United Kingdom. I hope this is the start of something very big.'
Mr Clegg told community leaders that the fact Tuesday's meeting was taking place so early in the new government was "expression ... of how much importance we, together in this new coalition government, attach to what you do".
"What I'm discovering is we've been using different words for a long time. It means the same thing. Liberalism, big society. Empowerment, responsibility. It actually means the same thing."
The coalition partners were speaking to community leaders invited from across the country to a meeting around the Cabinet table in Number 10. The Government was publishing its proposals on civil society as the first chapter of a more comprehensive coalition agreement document.
Mr Cameron said: 'It's a big signal that the first part to be published is actually that part about having a big society, decentralising power, about empowering communities, about all the work you do to help build the big strong society you want to see in the United Kingdom. I hope this is the start of something very big.'
Mr Clegg told community leaders that the fact Tuesday's meeting was taking place so early in the new government was "expression ... of how much importance we, together in this new coalition government, attach to what you do".
The Press Association
