Politics: Cameron is betting it all on BS

Those who hoped they had heard the last of ‘the big society’ should look away now.

Those who hoped they had heard the last of ‘the big society’ should look away now. A fightback has begun. Normally, power shifts within No. 10 are visible only to those who read between the lines of prime-ministerial speeches. But since Andy Coulson departed, the influence of the big society’s biggest champion, Steve Hilton, can be seen in headlines. This week there was even a ‘big society’ Cabinet meeting — with the Prime Minister and seven Cabinet ministers in attendance — before the normal meeting. Hilton, Cameron’s closest advisor, is now free to pursue his belief that the big society should define his boss.

Hilton’s task is far from easy. Polls show that 72 per cent of the public say that they don’t understand what the big society is — and the more Cameron talks about the idea, the higher that figure rises.