Tories push for greater corporate responsibility

The remuneration and bonus packages paid to senior executives should be linked to their employer's corporate social responsibility rather than its profits, say the Tories in a policy report unveiled today.

Under Conservative Party proposals, businesses would be required to do more to tackle social problems such as obesity, binge drinking and climate change, or face penalties, by way of pay or bonus cuts to company bosses.

The system proposed, referred to as a ‘responsibility deal’, would be voluntary, but Tory leader David Cameron did not rule out legislating if businesses failed to co-operate in the measures.

In his speech at the Spring Conference on Saturday, Cameron vowed to make Britain more family friendly. He criticised companies, which he said made parents' lives more difficult, singling out supermarkets who stocked chocolates at the counter and media outlets who broadcast programs unsuitable for children during inappropriate hours.