Corporate Social Responsibility? I want profits

The suggestion from one of the Conservatives' policy groups that business should be "encouraged" to do more in terms of engaging in "corporate social responsibility" is wrong-headed. In the same weak that the Tories have said they cannot commit to lower taxes and when David Cameron has said he wants even longer periods of maternity and paternity leave, despite the impact on businesses, one wonders whether the Tories really ARE on the side of business. Clearly a Tory government would be better than any of the alternatives but that's not saying much.

Corporate social responsibility as far as a business is concerned is simple: to offer jobs to people. But businesses have only one purpose - to make money for their shareholders. Yes, a smart business in 2008 will do what it can when it can in terms of embracing the politically correct agenda foisted on it by politicians, the media and the chattering classes - if for no other reason than it might give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace. But if a business isn't making money, it won't be able to join in the posturing or to offer jobs to people.

So the Tory policy as regards business should surely be simple: lower taxes and less regulation. Some businesses will "do the right thing" (as defined by those who believe in corporate social responsibility) and others will not. Such is choice. Such is the marketplace.