The CPS seminar was an excellent contribution in a critical area. It's very, very important and central to putting together a convincing vision for the country. Yet is there not a risk that when we talk of bureaucrats, quangos, de-centralisation etc. it can sound a bit 80s? I do not feel we yet have the language that gets accross our ideas in a way that will really inspire people come 2010.
What I pick up on the doorstep is a feeling of "powerlessness". Whoever you vote for the Government always gets in and we can't change anything. Small wonder when ministers say "not us guv" and pass the buck to faceless local health chiefs for hospital problems or the faceless regional transport board for highways upgrades. Suddenly MPs and councillors seem completely pointless, so why vote for them? People tell me they want an ability to use the ballot box to get change - in other words "accountability" and "transparency".
Ministers should be accountable for things done at the central level. Local councils should have direct accountability at the local level. Almost all quangos should go. We could have a new covenant - you can understand, you know where you stand and the buck stops with someone holding elected office directly accountable to you or your MP / councillor. We can do localist things like move a whole load of healthcare services to local authorities. We can axe regional assemblies etc, and forge anew a real link between the electors and the elected.
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