Thatcherism unleashed an entrepreneurial spirit that set the stage for impressive economic growth and the well-heeled, comfortable lifestyles that many Brits enjoy today, which the "New" Labor Party of former Prime Minister Tony Blair was happy to continue nurturing. But critics cite a darker side to Thatcher's legacy, a nation unmoored from the value of societal responsibility.
There are signs that both the Conservatives and the opposition Labor Party are picking up on the theme of moral rot on both ends of the social spectrum, though how, or whether, the government will act on it remains to be seen.
In a speech last week, Prime Minister David Cameron categorically condemned the "pure criminality" recently on display and vowed to maintain public order, help parents, improve schools, foster a sense of responsibility and decrease welfare dependency among the poor.
But he added: "In the highest offices, the plushest boardrooms, the most influential jobs, we need to think about the example we are setting.... In the banking crisis, with MPs' expenses, in the phone hacking scandal, we have seen some of the worst cases of greed, irresponsibility and entitlement.
"The restoration of responsibility has to cut right across our society," Cameron said. "Because whatever the arguments, we all belong to the same society, and we all have a stake in making it better."
henry.chu@latimes.com
