In today's Observer, David Cameron makes another pitch to capture the votes of the "liberal left" under the title No-one will be left behind in a Tory Britain. The Guardian and Observer are rapidly coming to occupy the same space for Cameron's Blue-Labour as the Daily Mail and Sun did/do for Tony Blair's New Labour - gaining approval is the party's badge of change in its bid to capture centrist votes.

Cameron outlines what he sees as the problem:

I want the Conservative party to stand for a broad and generous vision of British identity. In a speech in Birmingham tomorrow, I will argue that questions of social cohesion are also questions of social justice and social inclusion. Cohesion is as much about rich and poor, included and left behind as it is about English and Scot or Muslim and Christian. Inspiring as well as demanding loyalty from every citizen will require a new crusade for fairness. A society that consistently denies some of its people the chance to escape poverty, to get on in life, to fulfil their dreams and to feel that their contribution is part of a national effort: such a society will struggle to inspire loyalty, however many citizenship classes it provides.

Leaving aside the issue that I suspect much of the Conservative Party has a much narrower vision of British identity than the one Cameron seems to espouse, there is little that anyone could disagree with there. So what is Cameron proposing to do about this situation?

Fairness will be our most powerful weapon against fragmentation. In America, new immigrants feel part of something from the moment they arrive because they feel they have the opportunity to succeed. It is that belief in equal opportunity that we need in Britain today and it is why the denial of quality education to so many is such a vital part of the cohesion argument.

Again, lets leave aside the issue that the "American Dream" that Cameron alludes to is an illusion for many for exactly the same reasons as he identifies - the lack of a level playing field in terms of opportunity, Cameron does at least here put his finger on one of the biggest levers we have to ensure equality of opportunity - quality of education.

So, one might expect that he would then go on to set out how exactly he will improve education to ensure that equality of opportunity is adressed. But no, not a bit of it. Cameron's exhortations for change amount to just these:

Building cohesion is a social responsibility. Government must enforce the rules of the road - speaking English, teaching history, upholding and celebrating the symbols of nationhood - and we will be absolutely clear about what needs to be done. If the government brings forward these measures, they will have our full support.

But this is about much more than government and politics. We must each do all we can to make this a fairer and more just society - helping others, creating opportunity and ensuring that no one is excluded from it.

Which loosely translates as:

(i) a dogwhistle to Edward Leigh (Faith, Family, Flag, anyone?), and
(ii) actually its nothign to do with us, but its up to all of you.

No policies, then. Nothing to show how he plans to set about improving the quality of education in this country. Nothing about how to adjust the tax an benefits system to lift the poorest out of poverty. Just, once again, a few warm words about a problem.

I highlighted yesterday a thoughtful piece about how the Tory and Labour parties are stuffed with careerists furthering their own ambition. Cameron is trying to talk the language of liberalism. His own party are distrustful of it, and in terms of practical liberal policies, there is nothing there. Clear evidence, then, that it is mere puff to garner votes and thereby advance the career of D Cameron Esq.

There is only one way to ensure Liberal policies are implemented in Britain - and that is to elect Liberal Democrats.