Wiltshire Liberal Democrats

Building a fairer Britain

Duncan Hames calls for a more sustainable economy

5.02.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Sep 2006

Duncan Hames speaking from the platform at the Liberal Democrat conference (photography: Duncan Hames)

"We have a moral responsibility to act for the greater good in the market" says Duncan Hames

Chippenham parliamentary candidate, Cllr Duncan Hames, was invited to speak from the platform at this week's Liberal Democrat conference. He took the opportunity to make the case for a more sustainable economy.

Addressing the policy paper: 'Trust in People: Make Britain Free, Fair and Green', Duncan said:

"We aim to ensure that sustainable development lies at the heart of economic policy. It is sustainable economic prosperity which comes first in achieving all our goals."

"If you take a look at our economy, there is plenty of economic activity which certainly isn't sustainable. Gordon Brown's economic growth has only been afforded by mortgaging our future: we have a consumer driven economy fuelled by personal debt. Overall, people now pay out nearly £1 in every £5 of take home pay just servicing debt. As consumers, we need to review our own consumption choices to reclaim our future."

"Businesses also have a role in redressing unsustainable consumption: so much of the billions of pounds spent on advertising is not to compete with substitute products but is designed to stimulate demand. Not just meeting our needs, but artificially creating need to generate sales growth. If we are to live within environmental limits, can we consider this behaviour an economic good?"

"The market is just a mechanism; it doesn't work exclusively for good, or for bad. Just because markets are amoral, doesn't mean that players in those markets - be they consumers, producers, or investors, do not have a moral responsibility to act for the greater good in those markets. What greater lever is available to people than through their investments in their pension funds? Higher ethical and sustainability standards for investments by public and private sector pension schemes could apply a reforming incentive for business that is too good to refuse. Otherwise, is it not completely self-defeating for the investments for our retirement to actually be undermining that future's viability?"

"As we develop these policy themes around sustainable prosperity, we should build a coherent vision of sustainable capitalism and share it with people."

Bookmark this story at: [del.icio.usdel.icio.us [DiggDigg [FacebookFacebook [LibDigLibDig [redditreddit [StumbleUponStumbleUpon
[Print this news story]
[Comment on this news story]
[Previous news story]: Childline reports the damaged caused by homophobic bullying (Wed 30th Aug 2006).
[Next news story]: Make the Green Tax Switch (Sun 24th Sep 2006).

Related News Stories:

Thu 29th Apr 2010:

Wed 7th Apr 2010:

Mon 15th Mar 2010:

Fri 15th Jan 2010:

Mon 11th Jan 2010:

Mon 7th Dec 2009:

Fri 27th Nov 2009:

Sat 7th Nov 2009:

Mon 12th Oct 2009:

Fri 25th Sep 2009:

Fri 18th Sep 2009:

Tue 15th Sep 2009:

Mon 14th Sep 2009:

Tue 18th Aug 2009:

Wed 29th Jul 2009:

Fri 19th Jun 2009:

Fri 1st May 2009:

Wed 18th Mar 2009:

Mon 9th Mar 2009:

Tue 3rd Mar 2009:

Wed 4th Feb 2009:

Sun 14th Dec 2008:

Fri 26th Sep 2008:

Sun 14th Sep 2008:

Wed 16th Jan 2008:

Tue 4th Dec 2007:

Mon 26th Nov 2007:

Fri 31st Aug 2007:

Fri 15th Jun 2007:

Sat 25th Nov 2006:

Mon 20th Nov 2006:

Thu 12th Oct 2006:

Sat 15th Jul 2006:

Tue 22nd Feb 2005:

Thu 27th Jan 2005:

Tue 2nd Nov 2004:

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY.
Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY. Published and promoted by Wiltshire Liberal Democrats, 17 St Mary's Place, Chippenham, SN15 1EN (01249 652602).
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.