The news of the week is Stephen Bubb challenging the UK PM David Cameron on the consistency between rhetoric and facts of the Big Society – the Coalition government’s plan for active citizenship and welfare state reform. Stephen was all over the media, sticking his finger where I can’t really mention here, but for sure made the PM pretty uncomfortable.
I wouldn’t indulge in further ovation for Stephen who has a smile bigger than the Cheshire cat’s, championing the civil society cause like the old times of the Thatcher government. What I really like is how Stephen swiftly turned from government’s ‘best friend’ – he was the first one to acknowlede the newcomers with the Tory Summit – into its nemesis.
In London you can enjoy such a freedom and you are respected for doing that. You’re a not a servant here, but a player. Why would I leave such a place?
I was at dinner at the Caledonian Club on Tuesday; a sort of posh networking opportunity for small group of well selected invites from all sector.
The same questions came up: Why London? I actually raised the issue and made my point: despite the financial and economic crisis London is still a global hub open to diversity and innovation. You can be what you want and do what you like. If you have a new idea, London is the place where you can find the resources and environment to realize it.
I call it the most European capital in Europe because young people from across Europe move here to find their way. Not just in the City. There are plenty of young people from a working class background who move here to start their career with a job in the service industry. If you are skilled and work hard you climb the social ladder in London.
Everybody comes to London not just from Europe. London is a global hub at the crossroads between Northern America, Africa and Asia.
Above all London is the global hub for civil society, which even more connected to the rest of the world than NY today. The American foundations move here to open offices. It’s the capital of social innovation and social finance. This is the place to be to lead on the future of the sector.
I’m wondering if it is also the right place to reform Europe. The Centre for European Reform is based here. Is this a hint?
I’m not planning to move to Brussels but am keen on the reform of Europe. In history empires have always been reformed by foreigners.
