--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fighting poverty is nothing new for the…" description: "\"Fighting poverty is nothing new for the Conservative Party, but during the 1980s the emphasis placed on individualism and prosperity was sometimes seen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/grant-shapps-6145_conservative-party_fighting-poverty-is-nothing-new-for-the_1369091.jpg" --- # Fighting poverty is nothing new for the Conservative… ![“Fighting poverty is nothing new for the Conservative Party, but during the 1980s the emphasis placed on individualism and prosperity was sometimes seen to crowd out social issues like helping the most vulnerable in society.” quote by Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/grant-shapps-6145_conservative-party_fighting-poverty-is-nothing-new-for-the_1369091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/grant-shapps-6145_conservative-party_fighting-poverty-is-nothing-new-for-the_1369091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/grant-shapps-6145_conservative-party_fighting-poverty-is-nothing-new-for-the_1369091.jpg) > “Fighting poverty is nothing new for the Conservative Party, but during the 1980s the emphasis placed on individualism and prosperity was sometimes seen to crowd out social issues like helping the most vulnerable in society.” [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The party’s focus on individual success and wealth sometimes eclipsed commitment to aiding society’s most vulnerable. **In simple terms:** Emphasis on wealth can ignore the poor. Key Takeaway Balance prosperity with social responsibility. Themes politics social welfare individualism economics Mood concerned critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government budgeting - community outreach - social programs - public debate Key Concepts neoliberalism policy trade‑offs Questions to Reflect On - How can policies promote both prosperity and aid for the vulnerable? - What mechanisms ensure social issues aren’t sidelined? A Different Perspective Economic growth may be prioritized over equity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-party/) [Fighting Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-poverty/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Social issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-issues/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [It looks like caring for the most vulnerable in our society could be yet another casualty of Brexit, with over-stretched and potentially unsafe care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/it-looks-like-caring-for-the-most-vulnerable-in-our-society-could-be/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [Mr. Trump had campaigned on attacking the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bari-weiss/mr-trump-had-campaigned-on-attacking-the-weakest-and-most-vulnerable/) [Bari Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bari-weiss/) > [The people who do not get jobs are often the most vulnerable in our society, and joblessness is a terrible plight for anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-bishop/the-people-who-do-not-get-jobs-are-often-the-most-vulnerable-in-our/) [Tim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-bishop/) > [Who needs the protection of the Bill of Rights most? The weak, the most vulnerable in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-kaye/who-needs-the-protection-of-the-bill-of-rights-most-the-weak-the-most/) [Danny Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-kaye/) > [Making loans and fighting poverty are normally two of the least glamorous pursuits around, but put the two together and you have an economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/making-loans-and-fighting-poverty-are-normally-two-of-the-least/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [We must appreciate that all over the world, right down the centuries, there have been great religions that have encouraged the idea of giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-appreciate-that-all-over-the-world-right-down-the-centuries/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [When I want to explain why empowering girls and women is critical to fighting poverty, I often tell a person's story. It's easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-d-gayle/when-i-want-to-explain-why-empowering-girls-and-women-is-critical-to/) [Helene D. Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-d-gayle/) > [I see the Conservative party becoming more and more attractive to people from all different backgrounds, particularly because so many of the immigrant communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/i-see-the-conservative-party-becoming-more-and-more-attractive-to/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [If I were president, I would want to spend a lot of time going to the legislatures and telling them about best practices, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/if-i-were-president-i-would-want-to-spend-a-lot-of-time-going-to-the/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [While government clearly plays the major role in fighting poverty through policies on things such as education, tax, and trade, business creates the wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ermotti/while-government-clearly-plays-the-major-role-in-fighting-poverty/) [Sergio Ermotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ermotti/) > [Whether our task is fighting poverty, stemming the spread of disease or saving innocent lives from mass murder, we have seen that we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/whether-our-task-is-fighting-poverty-stemming-the-spread-of-disease/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In 1995, world military spending totaled nearly $800 billion. If we redirected just $40 billion of those resources over the next 10 years to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/in-1995-world-military-spending-totaled-nearly-800-billion-if-we/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [There are people in communities who are actually out there fighting poverty eye-to-eye, soul-to-soul, in neighborhoods that actually do well, that succeed. But for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/there-are-people-in-communities-who-are-actually-out-there-fighting/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Left-wing politicians take away your liberty in the name of children and of fighting poverty, while right-wing politicians do it in the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/left-wing-politicians-take-away-your-liberty-in-the-name-of-children/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [“Fighting poverty has huge benefits that we have been blind to until now,” Shafir points out. In fact, he suggests, in addition to measuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/fighting-poverty-has-huge-benefits-that-we-have-been-blind-to-until/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More by Grant Shapps > [It is often said there is a great deal of talent in the Conservative Parliamentary Party. This is true, but too many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/it-is-often-said-there-is-a-great-deal-of-talent-in-the-conservative/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Struggling to start a small business is all-encompassing. It is a 24-hour job that places strain on those involved. As well as worrying about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/struggling-to-start-a-small-business-is-all-encompassing-it-is-a-24/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Chemo is properly punishing, and it's hard to do things at the usual level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/chemo-is-properly-punishing-and-it-s-hard-to-do-things-at-the-usual/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [MPs are only elected thanks to the help of ordinary members - activists on the ground who traipse the streets, post leaflets and engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/mps-are-only-elected-thanks-to-the-help-of-ordinary-members-activists/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [No government can maintain the public's confidence if it is outwardly split.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/no-government-can-maintain-the-public-s-confidence-if-it-is-outwardly/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [People like me - who set up a homelessness foundation, worked with all the homeless charities, authored probably six of seven homelessness papers -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/people-like-me-who-set-up-a-homelessness-foundation-worked-with-all/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Look at the growing middle class in India. Small businesses are not just a source of jobs and prosperity: they are the driving force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/look-at-the-growing-middle-class-in-india-small-businesses-are-not/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Look, ideally I'd like to have free money to give to everybody. The reality is in government you have to choose and make decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/look-ideally-i-d-like-to-have-free-money-to-give-to-everybody-the/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [I think it's absolutely extraordinary that any Conservative MP considered even for one minute installing Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/i-think-it-s-absolutely-extraordinary-that-any-conservative-mp/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [The reality is that it would be wiser and even kinder for politicians to be responsible about what they claim the NHS will do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/the-reality-is-that-it-would-be-wiser-and-even-kinder-for-politicians/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Businesses create every penny of the wealth we need to pay for our nation's schools, our NHS and our pensions. They are our only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/businesses-create-every-penny-of-the-wealth-we-need-to-pay-for-our/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [We may forget it, among the glitz of the Christmas lights, but capitalism can be a profoundly moral force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/we-may-forget-it-among-the-glitz-of-the-christmas-lights-but/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [Our brave servicemen and women sacrifice so much for us all - whether they're spending months away from their families and friends or putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/our-brave-servicemen-and-women-sacrifice-so-much-for-us-all-whether/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [One of my priorities is getting the trains to run on time, and as a commuter myself I understand all too well the frustration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/one-of-my-priorities-is-getting-the-trains-to-run-on-time-and-as-a/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) > [I've always thought that the level of homelessness in society is likely to be a truer measure of how civilised we are then almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-shapps/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-level-of-homelessness-in-society-is/) [Grant Shapps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) [Explore all 100 Grant Shapps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-shapps/) ## More Conservative party quotes > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [My experiences led me to the Conservative Party which embodied my belief in helping everyone reach their potential regardless of their background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/my-experiences-led-me-to-the-conservative-party-which-embodied-my/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [Straight out of college, I worked at the Conservative Party but that was just a couple of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/straight-out-of-college-i-worked-at-the-conservative-party-but-that/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [I think that the principle of the Conservative Party is jealousy of liberty and of the people , only qualified by fear ; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-gladstone/i-think-that-the-principle-of-the-conservative-party-is-jealousy-of/) [William E. Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-gladstone/) > [I was delighted that by campaigning throughout England, Scotland and Wales, addressing in all 39 public meetings, I had contributed to the victory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-heath/i-was-delighted-that-by-campaigning-throughout-england-scotland-and/) [Edward Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-heath/) > [Is this the situation in the modern Conservative party? That women should be seen and not heard?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-harman/is-this-the-situation-in-the-modern-conservative-party-that-women/) [Harriet Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-harman/) > [Conservative Party membership has almost halved since David Cameron become leader. The truth is the Tories are financially reliant on, and as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-mccluskey/conservative-party-membership-has-almost-halved-since-david-cameron/) Len McCluskey > [56,000 companies have already benefited from the schemes that we have brought in. If we have taken the advice of the Conservative Party, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/56-000-companies-have-already-benefited-from-the-schemes-that-we-have/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [I was the original moderniser in the Conservative Party, telling it, 'No change, no chance.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-redwood/i-was-the-original-moderniser-in-the-conservative-party-telling-it-no/) [John Redwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-redwood/) > [If political correctness has achieved one thing, it’s that it has made the Conservative party cloak their inherent racism behind more creative language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-lee/if-political-correctness-has-achieved-one-thing-it-s-that-it-has-made/) [Stewart Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-lee/) > [The Conservative party under my leadership will continue to be an inclusive, welcoming party that welcomes not only immigrants but also refugees and ensures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-scheer/the-conservative-party-under-my-leadership-will-continue-to-be-an/) [Andrew Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-scheer/) > [Spain is an example of how hard it is for a conservative party to campaign for elections if the suspicion is fueled that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/spain-is-an-example-of-how-hard-it-is-for-a-conservative-party-to/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [I don't subscribe to this view that the far-right is somehow in control of the Conservative party from top to toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/i-don-t-subscribe-to-this-view-that-the-far-right-is-somehow-in/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [In the absence of honesty from the Conservative party leadership, it is Labour's duty to spell out the very real consequences of a no-deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keir-starmer/in-the-absence-of-honesty-from-the-conservative-party-leadership-it/) [Keir Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keir-starmer/) > [I believe that the Conservative party is at its best when it's a pro-business, pragmatic party, so to appeal to the country, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-believe-that-the-conservative-party-is-at-its-best-when-it-s-a-pro/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) [Browse all 173 Conservative party quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-party/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fighting poverty is nothing new for the Conservative Party, but during the 1980s the emphasis placed on individualism and prosperity was sometimes seen to crowd out social issues like helping the most vulnerable in society.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Grant Shapps" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": 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