Bradford MPs are split over David Cameron’s Big Society.

The Prime Minister said today the Big Society was his “mission” and central to the social recovery of Britain - something the district's Tory MPs agree with.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “I do not see why anyone would be against it. All it is saying is that we are looking to people in local communities to help each other rather than rely on the state to do everything.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: “This is an idea the Prime Minister has long been committed to, and he is right to encourage people to take more responsibility for the direction of our country.

“It is easy for Labour to be critical but, of course, it was 13 years of Labour misrule that left us with a broken society and the public finances in a state of ruin.”

Labour MPs, however, say the Government is cutting too far and too fast and undermining the idea Mr Cameron is trying to champion. Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said: “I have always felt the Big Society does not mean anything. Voluntary action and groups have been working with people for years.

“This is just a cover up for cuts.”

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: “We cannot have a Big Society when there is so much fear surrounding cuts. The idea is simply a cover for the cuts the Government is carrying out.”

Lib Dem Bradford East MP David Ward added: “The Big Society is what you make it. You can be cynical and sceptical about it or you can recognise that it is probably referring to things that have been going on for a long time. Many communities have come together over the years with the intention of doing what they do best.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday’s T&A