It is now becoming quite clear what the Con-Lib coalition’s approach to governing is. Essentially, the same as all the Conservative governments that preceded this one, only smarter. And the quicker the Liberals realise this, the better.
Behind the facade of “Big Society” consultation exercises, the devolving of decision-making and power-to-the-people democracy the Conservatives are still seeking ways of handing over as many money-making opportunities to private companies as possible.
Idea (1). Take the health of our nation. Reduce the power of the Food Standards Agency, but increase the influence of food manufacturers in the “Change4Life” campaign.
Idea (2) The environment? Give decision-making powers to local communities. A great idea in principle, allowing local people votes on regional planning policies. This could lead to more affordable homes in your area But amidst the publicity for this policy is the mention of permitting the building on green belts – if the local people want that, of course. The difficulty with this is that green belts are there for the good of the many, not just a small community. And will local people really end up with “affordable homes”? Instead, I suspect this is a very canny way of allowing building firms to finally encroach onto the precious green spaces around London and other large cities; a way of giving back to those very same firms what was taken away from them in the first few weeks of this government, when they were pandering to the NIMBYs of Richmond by making it more difficult to build on “brown” land.
Idea (3) The “Big Society”? Oh dear. Let’s face it, who will actually get involved in these great debates? Will there really be a wide cross-section of people interested in community and town life, or will it simply be the same old busy-bodies and fuss-pots that already run the local councils? The vast majority of us would rather write a blog article, send a Tweet, update our Facebook profile or send an email than go down to the village hall. Unless this sort of participation is taken into account, a large chunk of us will miss out.
These are just three recent moves which, to my mind, are very cunning, very cynical; ways which make out that this government is all for openness and innovative policies; but, behind this front, they are as much in favour of opening up British life to those out to make quick profits, or stemming progress where it doesn’t match conservative (small ‘c’) values as any previous bunch of Tories would have done.
Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, wake up. Charles Kennedy, Simon Hughes, speak up.