A reader writes:
It's interesting to go back and read a speech David Cameron gave in July 2006, when he was leader of the opposition. Though he never uses the phrase, it became famous as his "hug a hoodie" speech, as Labour disparagingly called it at the time. Everyone disparaged it really, and apparently it's come to be seen by Tories as a big blunder of Cameron's early years as leader.
The thing is, the speech is full of good points.
The Cameron of 2006 doesn't excuse wrongdoing – "Individuals are responsible for their actions, and every individual has the choice between doing right and doing wrong" – but he acknowledges that "there are connections between circumstances and behaviour". He recognises that you should punish a criminal, but that it's better to prevent people becoming criminals in the first place, and to do that you look at improving people's lives. He advocates compassion and justice, trust and responsibility, optimism and purpose. Hell, he even uses the word "love" a few times. How rare is it to hear a political speech that does that?
Whatever good points it contains, though, that speech is gone. There's no way a UK politician of any stripe could make it now without being jumped on for justifying thuggery. The riots will be eventually be over and Britons will have to figure out where we go from here. When that time comes, someone ought to be giving the hoodie speech. But I don't think it's possible that anyone, least of all the man who originally gave it, will.
Earlier thoughts of understanding here. The above image is from a series of remixed ads we posted during the election.
The Dish 