Localism: Liberator or fraud?

A fair question perhaps, but not one expected from Tony McNulty MP, whose Ministerial portfolio has previously included housing, planning and transport (he is currently Home Office Minister of State for Security, Counter-terrorism, Crime and Policing).

McNulty: Devolution my ass, Major.*

McNulty wasn't shy in stirring the pot at ippr's first event in Manchester, strongly challenging the effectiveness of public service devolution in practice and citing example upon example of the shortcomings of localism in public services over the past decade.

Firm in the belief that public service localism doesn't actually matter the majority of people in increasingly autonomous communities, he also added that devolution of public services often benefits public service professionals far more than the public service users.

Anna Coote, Commissioner for Health, Sustainable Development Commission, suggested that with the economy dipping into possible depression, the Government needs to find other resources within local communities to boost public service outcomes. She said the Government must re-engineer public services and draw more heavily from the 'core services' in local communities: skills, knowledge and time from the individuals in the community.

She said the state must invest in mechanisms to allow new partnerships and co-productions with community groups to improve public services.

Susan Anderson of CBI spoke of the need for improved access to public services and a stronger emphasis on customer satisfaction. She also addressed the need to build new and better relationships between private service suppliers and government.


*Gratuitous reference to The Wire because I can't be at The Wire Weekend at the Curzon Cinema in Soho. One McNulty in exchange for another.