POWER TO WHICH PEOPLE?

27-09-2006

Never mind whether Cherie Blair thinks Gordon Brown is a liar - really, who cares? - the Labour party conference is actually throwing up somethought-provoking ideas, including proposals for more "localism". Edward Cameron needs to know more...

If you set aside the perpetually recurring issue of when Tony Blair will abdicate the throne of England in favour of his appointed-by-God successor there appears to be another main theme at this year's Labour party conference.

Hazel Blears, Ruth Kelly and Gordon Brown have all made mention of the idea of devolving power to ‘local communities' and ‘empowering local people'.

But just what does all this mean?

Will we see more local people elected as councillors? Will we see Who Wants to be a Millionaire style keypad voting brought in at council meetings? You think I jest - they're already doing it in Police ‘reassurance' meetings around the Lozells area.

More worryingly are we going to see a massive increase in the so-called ‘local activist'? You know the type, some busy-body who fancies him or herself a great revolutionary that can cut through the red tape and ‘get the job done'.

They could be the types of people who form ‘action groups' on particular issues who would jump at the chance of being legitimised by the government.

In some cases these people can be brilliant. Chairing neighbourhood watch groups, residents associations, getting a few people together to clean up a vandalised play area, they are the unsung heroes of our communities.

In others they may use a campaign or a community title simply to further their own ends independent of the council and therefore independent of scrutiny - yet totally endorsed and maybe even funded by the government.

If these people are empowered but aren't elected the people would most likely not be able to get rid of them.

And while I would be glad to see the back of party politics dominating local issues, at least with a councillor you have an idea of where their ethics and ideals lie.

With the Conservatives making similar noises about getting more people involved I just need to be reassured that if someone is going to represent me then their actions will be as open to scrutiny as every other aspect of a local authority.

So before I don my beret and scream ‘power to the people' someone, either Labour, Tory or Lib Dem, has to tell me where it's coming from and how it will be used.