What happened to the Rishi Sunak I knew at school?
This is a fairly blatant pitch for the wandering female vote, which is exercising Cameroon minds at present. It’s a clear attempt to say: We’re going to help you to protect your
children. The policy is an expression of Cameron’s social conservatism, which has been much in evidence of late. His conference speech was at its strongest when he spoke of rescuing children
from care and yesterday’s immigration speech included firm passages on forced marriages and sham weddings. And, all the while, the rumours about recognising marriage in the tax system
persist.
But, perhaps Cameron has been a little too keen to display these credentials, especially where the internet is concerned. I’m told that internet service providers have not yet met to discuss
the proposals announced today, which implies that the government is very keen to be seen to be doing something. When the service providers do meet, they’ll have little to say because most of
them already offer opt-in parental controls and site-blocking software is already available for domestic use.
So, there will be those who ask if government is really necessary here. The means to protect children from sexual images online already exist; so perhaps the government’s emphasis should be on
educating parent groups and ensuring that companies market their products more effectively. This appears to be the archetypal Big Society issue, rather
than something that requires yet more centrally authored regulation.
Keir Starmer wasted no time on entering 10 Downing Street in appointing his cabinet that same day. But taking longer are the junior ministerial posts – some still vacant – and the appointment of special advisers. Such aides often get a bad rep around Westminster, thanks, in part to the mythology of The Thick Of
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