It's started already: Cameron and his "deep social problems"

[vodkaandtonic]

In his first speech as PM, Cameron identified three key issues to address:

• budget deficit (fair enough)
• electoral reform (whatever)
• deep social problems - WHAT?

Depends on your perspective, dear Mr C. Most people don't see that we have "deep social problems". Most people are leading normal, hard-working lives, trying to do the best for their future, their kids, their retirement...

Smacks of the ivory tower, elitist crap line you inevitably get from someone who wants to crush sort out the lower classes with their problems of indolence, teen pregnancy, knife crime, benefit cheating and binge drinking.

OK. Shit.

Does no one remember the 70s? It was awful. We had teenage pregnancies and stabbings at my school.

I remember jokes about the teachers and scout leaders who were 'bothering' kids in their care, but noone did anything about it. This was pre Childline.

Unsolved murders - even of kids - were common place. How long did it take for them to get the Yorkshire Ripper? We had two unsolved murders in our area, one of a little boy who had clearly been horribly abused. His body found in a bin bag.

Dishonest and oppressive police. The whole of society dominated by a macho bullying culture - whether it be management or the unions. My dad thought nothing of having his tyres slashed at work. No wonder - they were all pissed after lunch time. And all they drove home.

Abuse rife for kids in care. Plus at sixteen, children in care were put into bed and breakfast. Once you got to 16, the state's work was done. You were on your own.

Things are so much better now. If Cameron is really serious about mending broken britain, he needs to tackle the widening gap between rich and poor. But I fear this is another take on 'John Major's why can't everyone watch cricket and have tea and cakes.'

nikki1978 - the other thing that has happnened in the last 10-15 years is that you have got 10-15 years older - this changes your perceptions. There never was a golden age or even a gilded one.

We ARE - in general - wealthier, less likely to be victims of crime and living longer than we were 10-15 years ago. This doesn't mean that things aren't shit for a lot of people or that there aren't real social problems.

maria1665 - I'm not really sure what the 70s have to do with it? I don't think Cameron is trying to say that things were better in the past (unlike Major). He is just saying, there are some problems with the way things are now.

Minipie - Cameron certainly is saying things were better in the past. And that's the way - even in this thread - that people are interpreting his comments.

Mine is not a pro Labour/anti Con view. I'm from Hull and am delighted to see the back of the likes of Prescott et al.

But sing this siren song of 'Broken Britain' is pernicious, because it ignores the massive improvements that have been made, and plays into the hands of the 'Its all awful, lets change everything' reformers.

Things were bad in the 70's Maria - but my very average school would have come down extremely hard on the sort of behaviour that seems to be commonplace today.
I think people have far less respect for each other now.
I just hope that this change - and the flexibility that the party leaders have had to show in forming a government - will bring forward a positive feeling in the country for a new start, rather than the depression that's been hanging around for some time now.
Finger's crossed.

So were "Back to Basics" again are we?

Vodka and Tonic - where do you live? In an Enid Blyton story?

I think the phrase 'Broken Britain' was ill-advised because the majority of people are decent, getting on with their lives and helping others where they can. From climate change campaigners to Tory ladies rallying their friends for fund raising lunches - people help.

But I used to live in Homerton where some nights the pavements were spattered with blood from knife fights, DH's colleague was narrowly missed in a drive-by shooting, we were burgled three times, a car was set on fire outside our house (by joy-riders) and blew up, the park was full of spent needles, very piece of new play equipment - paid for by our taxes - was burned within days, my mate had his mobile nicked 5 times on the bus...etc etc

These are all anecdotal rather than statistical but hear enough of this - and Cameron will have heard much more and you're a fool not to think there are some major problems to sort out. My parents were from Hackney - my grandad's pub is still there, my other grandad was the market inspector. Broadly speaking, it is much, much worse now. No sane person could argue with it.

We now live in a rural area where there was an outcry because some boy sprayed silly string at the village hall. There are many Britains. Surly we should be focussing on the ones that need most work?

MAria1665 - But I fear this is another take on 'John Major's why can't everyone watch cricket and have tea and cakes.'

Ken Livingstone said his ideal socialist state was one where everyone worked all day in the fields and then retured to lie in the shade sipping Chilean chardonnay.

Not so different. A big step forward would be to stop highlighting differences and start looking at common ground. If people can't bear to put aside their tribal assumptions they are part of the problem.

What is really refreshing is the good manners and respectful, cooperative behaviour demonstrated by those whose presently lead us. An excellent example and so much better than the boorish obstructiveness we generally see. Behaviour that would not be tolerated in the classroom.

But as for things been worse in the class room now than in the seventies - no, sorry, not true.

I remember Barry S spending the whole biology lesson sharpening his pencil at the sharpener attached to the teachers desk. Only for him to whack into Mr A's backside at the end of the lesson.

Likewise, Joanne S locking the creepy music teacher in the music cupboard and not letting her out until she said pretty please.

Did anything happen? Music teacher too much of a wimp to report it. And I know Barry S did his A levels a couple of years later, so he certainly wasn't expelled. And anyway, we were the top set, the high achievers. These days Barry's pencil antics would be a police matter.

On a sadder note, I also remember feigning headaches, in order to get to stay in the library because of the noisiness in some of the lessons.

And ours was a reasonably good school. My son's school is the same - some teachers are fab, most are OK and others are hopeless and their lessons are chaotic. But the pastoral care is brilliant, and far better than I remember as a kid. And I don't think there have been any bottom stabbings.

So don't throw out the baby with the bath water. And who knows, improved behaviour by our leaders might set a better example for those of us who follow. Cameron should perhaps look closer to home when he looks for a Broken Britain.

'surely' not 'surly' !

sallyJayGorce - bit's of Hackney are worse, bit's of Hackney are better. Same as for London, same as for the country. On average things have got better. This is a good thing. But it is no comfort to those who live in the bits that have got worse or no better.

(When did you live in Homerton btw? My impression is it has got a good deal better over the last 5 years or so)

Of course we have deep social problems, 30 kids murdered on the streets of London last year, over 100 rapes of girls under 18 in South London, of course we have 'social problems'.

It was 7 years ago - it might have improved but still have friends there who feel very unsafe for good reason. I moved to Whitechapel where things have certainly improved since Jack the Ripper via the Kray Twins but not a fast moving improvement.

ronshar
That case is about to be dismissed, the child made up the allegations.
It's still depressing though that an 8 yr old has the knowledge to make up such a story.
No good way of looking at it except she wasn't actually raped.
Can't provide link from iphone but check today's (sorry) DM.

Mint
Remember Jamie Bulger?
That was early 90s
These horrible, improbable criminal acts are not restricted to the New Labour years

Alcohol and violence in the home are the two big elephants in the room, as far as our society goes. When I am at work, I work in criminal justice, and particularly for the young offenders, alcohol and violence is almost always a major factor at home.

That's where broken britain lies. It will be a brave prime minister who takes on either or both of the issues with any real purpose, because both are so ingrained in our society. Far easier to blame it on the education system, drugs, even computer games.

Does anyone know what the Tories have said they are planning to do about these social problems?