The Trojan Horse of Tory localism: an open letter to John Denham
‘Localism’ is such a hard thing to argue against. Either you’re genuinely in favour of devolving power and resources, or you can’t really say you’re not.
That’s why the Tories are using it as cover for their plans to introduce, ‘within weeks of coming to power’, says Cameron, sweeping legislation that will allow councils to sweep away a raft of commitments to their residents, and start to compete gleefully with each other for which one can deliver the LEAST services.
I’ve been banging on about this for a bit, but no-one’s heard. Indeed, I’ve come to feel like Laocoön, with my plaintive ‘Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes’ (brief classical education available here); my voice has been ‘strangled’ in a blogosphere that pays more attention to who you are than whether what you say makes any sense. Hopi Sen, you are a blogospheric Poseidon.
Fortunately, John Denham MP has heard my faint call, and we may still be saved. In that spirit, I have written to John, and this is what I’ve said:
Dear John
I understand from the #rsadenham twitter feed that in your RSA speech last night you recognised the ‘Trojan Horse’ element of the Tories’ proposed General Powers of Competence, and how it looks to use the cover of ‘localism’ as a means of sweeping away all that is constructive in the Local Government Act 2000 (including the duty to prepare and implement a community strategy which actually meets the needs of residents, including the vulnerable ones) and of introducing EasyCouncils of the type even Nicholas Ridley would have thought twice about.
Well done, John.
I and my ‘blogging comrade’, Dave Semple, have been banging on about this pernicious proposed legislation for a couple of months, including to the New Local Government Network (NLGN) (who are supportive of the proposed legislation, like the Local Government Association). No-one has to date taken any notice, either I’m not important enough to be listened to, or NLGN are trying to stay out of trouble with the people they think may be their new masters in 2010.
My view is that this the proposed legislation is far more insidious than anyone (perhaps not you) seems to think it is, and that both Labour and the public sector unions need to get on top of it as soon as possible, and bring the reality of Tory local government to wider notice.
Incidentally, at the very moment you were speaking at the RSA, the leader of Barnet Council was preparing to set out his plans for his ‘pay for all the extras’ service, and the relevant cabinet papers are clear enough on how they have a keen eye on the legislative environment. See the report here, and especially Section 7 on ‘Legal Issues’ at pp. 78-79.
My most recent blogpost on all of this, should you be interested, is here.
I am happy to talk over this matter (and suggest ways forward) with you and/or your team.
Best regards
Cllr Paul Cotterill, Leader of Labour Group, West Lancashire Borough Council
Hi Paul,
“Localism” in theory might be popular, in practice it is not.
I’m still a bit confused about what John Denham would be able to do to prevent a Tory government from passing general powers of competence legislation.
Surely this is one for good, ol’ fashioned democracy – if Tory councils start slashing services for the most vulnerable, let’s organise to defeat them in elections and then use any general powers of competence which local government is given to do new, popular and exciting things.
The best defence against service cuts are not laws, but popular mobilisation.
What would be much more of a worry would be any more constraints on councils raising revenue – even the most leftie councils have to cut services if there is no way that they can raise enough money to pay for them.
Dan
I agree. I’m not asking John Denham to do anyhthing legislative. I’m asking him to use his profile to raise the issue of what the Tories are up to, so that popular mobilisation against the kind of discriminatory cuts that would come with the aid of this legislation can be organised, both before it happens and when it is happening (if the Tories win).
I think it’s important to highlight the fact that they are using deviously the positive vibes that localism gives off to hide their real service cutting/vulnerable person hurting intent.
I take it, then, that you don’t like EasyCouncil?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/22/barnet-council-conservative-david-cameron
I have no understanding of this issue, at all. So am willign to be led by the last Guardian article I’ve read . ..