Responsible Capitalism Theme Echoed In Leader Speeches

Three leaders, three speeches and one theme. That was the status of British public speaking last week. Not dissimilar to watching clone reality TV across all the new digital terrestrial channels. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband all took the crisis of capitalism as their theme for responsible capitalism speeches during the week.

The speeches didn’t exactly detail the problem beyond vague slogans. In fact that was a feature of all three responsible capitalism speeches. Not much clarity.

We heard rhetoric. And we heard oratory. But we didn’t hear substance or policy in these capitalism speeches. Of course, it was Ronald Reagan’s speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, who said:

Speeches are not magic and there is no great speech without great policy.

Speeches Ringing With Rhetoric

That’s something the party leaders might choose to consider for their next speech. But each speech did ring with rhetoric. For example, there was repetition in Ed Miliband’s responsible capitalism speech:

If he is serious about tackling irresponsible capitalism he needs to clamp down on the fact that train companies are ripping people off.

If he is serious about tackling irresponsible capitalism he needs to take action to break up the rigged energy market.

If he is serious about tackling irresponsible capitalism he needs to take action to stop those exorbitant bank charges.

and in Nick Clegg’s responsible capitalism speech:

That is the route to a safer, more stable, more prosperous economic future. This is how we will spread wealth and share rewards.

A more responsible capitalism. A more liberal capitalism.

and in David Cameron’s speech,

An economy where people who work hard get rewards which are fair in the true Conservative meaning of the word.

An economy where people feel in control of their destiny…

…because they’ve started their own business, or are shareholders in the company they work for, or are part of a co-operative.

An economy where everyone has the chance to build up assets and pass something on to the next generation

Word Pairs In David Cameron Speech

David Cameron used a whole series of word pairs throughout his responsible capitalism speech. These are less pronounced than lists of three. But equally effective…

I want these difficult economic times to achieve more than just paying down the deficit and encouraging growth.

I want them to lead to a socially responsible and genuinely popular capitalism.

One in which the power of the market and the obligations of responsibility come together.

One in which we improve the market by making it fair as well as free, and in which many more people get a stake in the economy and share in the rewards of success.

But there were some issues with all these speeches.

Style Choices For Responsible Capitalism Speeches

Ed Miliband’s speech style still has the resonant style of an earlier Labour party leader. So, we heard.

But what I say to David Cameron is…

It’s an antiquated way of speaking that was in character with party leaders 20 or 30 years ago.

Nick Clegg was in some danger of sounding like a young liberal debating society member when he noted:

As this debate moves forward, we need to be clear about what we mean. Because, whether you call it a new economy, an ethical economy, moral markets, responsible capitalism, there is a big difference between having strong views on bonus culture or excessive top pay and wanting real change in the practices and principles that guide corporate life.

It wasn’t lost on his audience that Nick was far from clear.

And David Cameron’s enthusiasm for the short list of mini-sentences remains undimmed:

One that recognised what’s gone wrong with capitalism, and which freed people to make something of themselves…

…to get a good job. To own a home. To start a business.

Three speeches. Three leaders. One theme.

Yes, I can do it as well.

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