David Cameron hid personal links to Common Purpose

David Cameron is facing questions over his ties to a charity linked to the campaign for tougher regulation of the Press.

The Prime Minister officially declared in a newly published register of ministerial interests that he is patron of an initiative run by Common Purpose, a leadership organisation whose founders set up one of the most vocal lobbying groups for media regulation.

The initiative, Dishaa Venture, aims to build links between India and Britain and was launched in Bangalore by the Prime Minister in July 2010. He addresses participants in its programme each year.

However, Mr Cameron failed to declare the post for at least two years despite two opportunities to do so in official registers.

It is inconceivable that Cameron is unaware of the controversy and question marks over Common Purpose, and its secretive activity to recruit ‘leaders’ which it ‘educates’ to ‘lead beyond authority’.  So if this report is correct this is a very disturbing development.

Common Purpose’s origins are solidly Marxist and its activity is designed to circumvent democratic control and accountability.  It seeks to take control of the establishment by recruiting middle managers who are helped into senior positions from where CP’s influence can be exerted and its graduates given support and cover from being held to account.

It has increased its sphere of influence throughout local government, the civil service, the police and other pillars of the public sector.  That a nominally Conservative Prime Minister has been involved indirectly with CP for the last two years – an organisation that has worked tirelessly in support of the EU and been behind various left wing initiatives and campaigns – and has just happened to omit this from the register of interests, shows the rot goes to the very top.