Tories vow an end to UK’s health and safety culture
CONSERVATIVE leader David Cameron yesterday promised to reform Britain’s “over-the-top” health and safety culture, saying it had become a straitjacket on personal initiative and responsibility.
A Tory government would bring back “common sense, discretion and personal responsibility,” he told the Policy Exchange think-tank.
The Trades Union Congress accused Cameron of distortion and urged politicians not to undermine a consensus over health and safety in the run up to the general election.
Cameron acknowledged Britain’s low workplace fatality rate, but said something had gone wrong when children had to wear goggles to play conkers and trainee hairdressers were not allowed scissors in the classroom.
He blamed a growing compensation culture for over-cautiousness.