Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Society – it’s nothing new Mr Cameron!

by Sean

The recent launch of Equalities and Human Rights Commission a 700-page report, How Fair Is Britain? is the latest in a line of news stories relating to fairness, equality and a Big Society.

Big Society is David Cameron’s contribution to a long raging debate on the extent to which humans need society – or put the other way round, to what extent we are individuals.

For many people this is the defining difference between left and right wing politics. In the UK, the ‘left’ have seen society and state as almost synonymous, while the ‘right’ have seen society as a collection of individuals and the state as a necessary evil to manage some functions of government.

But it seems to me the basic human traits of compassion and solidarity prove the existence of society. The miners stuck in a collapsed mine in Chile didn’t think – “oh dear, we’ll just have to sort this out for ourselves then!”

Politicians talk almost as if fairness is a new construct, something dreamed up by them to solve current problems. Thankfully, many of us have been concerned about creating a fairer, more equal or dare I say ‘better’ society for quite some time.

Personally, I don’t care which adjective is used before ‘society’ I’m just pleased that at long last it is high on the political agenda. But how should society look?  What makes a good one?

Many of our clients can be seen as part of the Big Society, charities, co-operatives housing associations and social enterprises. But surely every business regardless of sector is part of society? If a big retailer decides to purchase cups and saucers from the Far East rather than supporting manufactures in the Potteries then they (and policymakers) need to understand that has a direct effect on the way our society develops.

I’m proud to have played my part in society. For example I was involved in getting fair-trade coffee stocked in a high street retailer some years ago. Not just because it ticked a CSR policy box but because it was the right thing to do.

Our mission statement has always emphasised that social objectives should work alongside business objectives. We have not come new to the fairness agenda - it’s our ethos (pun intended).

Posted at 2:55pm on 11^th October 2010