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  1. Politics
14 February 2011

At last! The “big society” defined

Helping DC with the #BS.

By New Statesman

Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech to social entrepreneurs today setting out how his Big Society Bank will help fund voluntary projects underpinning his “big society”.

Today we learned – for those who have not as yet understood – that the “big society” is Cameron’s “mission”, an initiative that will get all his “passion”.

Still confused? We certainly were, so we asked for help from our 19,500 followers on Twitter. Here are our favourite replies (so far):

 

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quizeye (Quizzical Eyebrow)

.@NewStatesman Hmmm, @krishgm has some useful info on this subject! But actually you’ve summed it up quite well in your hashtag. #BS

 

stevconor (Steve Connor)

@NewStatesman #bigsociety The less well off help each other and the super rich help themselves. #bs

 

MarkDowe2011 (Mark Dowe)

@NewStatesman Shrinking state, self-responsibility and duty. #bs

 

vivslack (Viv Slack)

@NewStatesman Big society = let the weak fend for themselves, if it gets bad enough hopefully someone will volunteer to help. #bs

 

nicktheowl (Nick Drew)

@NewStatesman Citizen activity expands to fill gap left by shrinking state; we’re still not sure quite how. Maybe if we wish hard enough #bs

 

Pattisoapbox (Patricia Walker)

@NewStatesman Osbourne to Cameron ‘sack the plebs get working for nothing & we’ll laugh all the way to the bank’ #bs

 

BillyGottaJob (Stephen)

#bs: An illusion in which voluntary groups are dismembered, but arise Phoenix-like to take on government responsibilities. @NewStatesman

 

ByRICHaRD (Rarrowing)

@NewStatesman Big Society is someone else taking the credit for your life. I woke up today, congratulations to David Cameron. #BS

 

PatsRants (Patrick Osgood)

@NewStatesman The Big Society: ‘these aren’t cuts! They are negative-value self-enablement grants’ #BS

 

Knox_Harrington (Neil Atkinson)

@NewStatesman #bs Fur coat, no knickers. No money for knickers. And that’s my fur coat you’re wearing.

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
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THANK YOU