David Cameron: anti-globalisation lobbies are teaching wrong lessons

By Alex Singleton | 8 November 2005

A speech by David Cameron MP picked up on a GI theme:

There is a danger that the anti-globalisation lobbies are teaching a whole new generation the wrong lessons.

Regrettably, even some of the most laudable campaigns against poverty in the developing world fail to understand the vital thread that links open markets, free trade, property rights, the rule of law, economic development and social progress. The latest poster from Christian Aid is deeply depressing. It reads: 'Aids, droughts, tsunamis. Can we add free trade to that list?'

Clearly, we still have our work cut out.

The Tories have traditionally found it more difficult than other parties to win hearts and minds on international development issues. So it was encouraging to hear Cameron say on Question Time last week that he thought his party needed to say more on issues like African poverty. A commitment to free trade is important, but the Tories now need to go further and adopt an alternative vision to the top-down approach that has plagued international development policies and failed to bring peace and prosperity to Africa. The vision they need is one of bottom-up, compassionate, enterprise-based solutions to poverty.