I hope the debate will not confine itself to the consideration of
aspiration as a means by which individuals can escape poverty as if that
were the only mode, but will start from the recognition that the
government, particularly a Labour government, has a political and
economic responsibility to prevent income poverty in the first place by
ensuring that minimum wages and benefits are adequate for the purpose,
and to protect all inhabitants against poverty, especially those whose
aspirations, however sincere and forceful, are not recognised by the
labour market or are indeed inappropriate to it.
Presumably one aim of the book launch is to celebrate Mr Murphy's recent
public rejection of this core Labour Party belief, so it is very
apposite to publicise it, coming just before the local elections as it
does. It is powerful electioneering for the Reactionary Tendency, in
whichever party that may now be. I'm afraid I'm too far away to attend,
but I do hope that plenty of well-informed people will take part to
press the necessity of encouraging government aspiration to prevent and
protect people against poverty by guaranteeing adequate incomes in or
out of work. If Mr Murphy responds that the economic conditions,
globalisation and the like, are not auspicious for government action,
perhaps he should be reminded that until his government ensures that the
local economic conditions are equally auspiciously poverty-proofed for
aspirant workers, no amount of individual aspiration will raise -- what
is it? 1.7 million? -- people out of poverty.
Oh dear, it's all so redolent of 1899, isn't it? Where is Seebohm
Rowntree when we need him? Perhaps the DWP is a reborn COS, and Mr
Murphy is the Mrs Bosanquet de nos jours.
John VW.
---------------------------------------------------------------
From Professor J H Veit-Wilson
School of GPS -- Sociology
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England.
Telephones -- office: 0044[0]191-222 7498;
-- home: 0044[0]191-266 2428.
Fax -- office: 0044[0]191-222 5241.
email <[log in to unmask]>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Social-Policy is run by SPA for all social policy
>specialists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>Valerie Johnson
>Sent: 10 April 2007 16:07
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: The Guardian's Jackie Ashley in conversation with Jim
>Murphy, MP on the politics of aspiration
>
>The Guardian's Jackie Ashley and Jim Murphy MP discuss the
>politics of aspiration at the Social Market Foundation in London.
>
>Monday 30th April 2007 1-2.15 pm
>
>The SMF is extremely pleased to invite you to this lunchtime
>seminar, taking place at our offices at 11 Tufton Street,
>London SW1 (nearest stations Westminster and St James's Park)
>marking the launch of the publication "The Politics of Aspiration".
>In an in-depth discussion, Jim Murphy, MP, Minister of State
>at the Department for Work and Pensions and one of the
>contributing authors, will talk to the Guardian's Jackie
>Ashley about the politics surrounding aspiration and discuss
>why he feels we need to reframe the poverty debate.
>"The Politics of Aspiration" also brings together valuable
>contributions from Trevor Phillips, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan
>Sacks and several other important advisers and academics on
>the importance of aspiration as a driving force in ending
>poverty and increasing social mobility in the UK.
>Places are limited; if you can join us please contact Miriam
>Ammar on [log in to unmask] or call 020 7 227 4401
>
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