SELECTIVE COMPASSION, BROKEN TRUST...
David Cameron's speech to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) on 10.7.06 was labelled the 'hug a hoodie' speech by the media. It pictured the powerlessness of young people on sink estates where 'thou shalt not' seems to be the only commandment.

Cameron called for trust and understanding, not just law enforcement.

However, in the same week, Cameron betrayed his memorable leadership campaign pledge - to remove his MEPs from the federalist European People's Party grouping in the European Parliament (EPP-ED) 'within weeks, not years'.

Not only was this seen as a betrayal of trust, but those Conservative MEPs who might have been tempted to immediately implement his pledge of leaving EPP-ED themselves were threatened with the loss of Party whip ('membership').

Interestingly, his CSJ speech warned of 'shared responsibility' meaning a lack of accountability and urged truly 'handing over power' for people to improve their own lives. Shame he has a blind spot about EU membership, where institutions and heads of government that are unaccountable to the British people control everyone's lives.

Cameron wants youth organisations to be left to get on without state interference. It's a shame that his party dropped its policy of giving back hard-pressed British fishermen control over their own livelihood, instead placing faith in the mirage of EU reform that will just be blocked by vested interests or Treaty small-print. Many farmers and small businesses who suffer from EU interference also know how it can destroy lives.

At least Cameron is ever-consistent in his inconsistency. This will not be forgotten by either his political opponents or his many supporters who feel betrayed.

More Tory inconsistency