Mr Hague, who has made a point of addressing evangelical Christian gatherings this year, is known to have been influenced by the ideas of compassionate conservatism floated by advisers to George W. Bush in the US, placing increasing reliance on private charities and religious foundations for welfare provision. I think that is a very powerful lesson. The churches have been cautious about being embroiled in the political debate and are deeply sceptical about the degree to which their charitable organisations could take over wide-scale provision. The Tory leader thanked religious groups for their support in opposing repeal of the section 28 legislation outlawing the promotion of homosexuality and claimed the Tories were the only party with serious policies to support marriage. A recent poll of Anglican bishops found not a single one prepared to name a Conservative politician as a moral role model while evangelicals and nonconformists believe many of their adherents are more likely to be impressed by other parties' commitment to social justice.
Compassionate conservatism is a bankrupt idea.
In Texas it has only made the poor poorer.