The limits to localism: tensions on the road to reform

1. The limits to localism: tensions on the road to reform Gerry Stoker University of Southampton http://www.southampton.ac.uk/C2G2/

2. why localism? • the case for localism is strong and widely suported in general terms by citizens and experts • responsiveness to diverse local needs • easier and more accessible base for citizen engagement • away from the hothouse of national politics can be more strategic, long-term,non-partisan

3. Evidence of public support • citizens generally sense they have more influence over local governing agencies • 24% feel they have some influence on local decision-making compared to only 12% at the national level • citizens feel they can influence local agencies to a greater degree • 56% agree that when people like them get involved in a local community they change things, only 32% say the same about potential to influence the country • Source: Audit of Political Engagement, 2012

4. Localism as a strategy • In 2000s under New Labour as part of a strategy to reform public services • Always part of the rhetoric of the Lib Dems • Taken forward by Cameron Conservatives as part critique of top-down New Labour, part expression of renewed interest in society and anti-state rhetoric

5. We have some experience of different forms of localism in England • Managerial localism:conditional devolution of decision-making based on achieving agreed objectives • Community localism: Rights and support given to citizens in communities to engage in decisions and action • Representative localism:Provision of powers and responsibility to local government agency elected on universal suffrage • The last option has been relatively under-used because of unwillingness to grant powers to existing local government but mayors and commissioners could be seen as exemplars

6. Yet localism not setting the world alight • turnout in local elections is fairly low and appears difficult to shift up • mayoral referenda have seen low turnout and low levels of support; police commissioners a similar path? • limited embrace by citizens of opportunities created recently • difficult to point to a great wave of innovation in service delivery stimulated by localism • Its sister concept of the BIG society has also struggled

7. Why? Answers • Citizens like the idea of localism but not the effort involved • The localism on offer is hedgedand flawed : makes for risk adverse response • Citizens‘ mood is strongly anti-politics and engagement • The implementation practice of the Coalition Government is shambolic

8. How interested are citizens? • Strong evidence of trade off thinking when it comes to engagement • But if politics on offer better then interest increases • Interest not fixed and could be mobilized by an effective localism • A realistic understanding of the extent of direct engagement is essential

9. what people say vs what they do Q In principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? Q And would you personally be interested in getting involved? Involvement Support Don’t know Don’t know/no opinion Depends Yes No, oppose Actual Proportion = 2% Yes, support No Base: All residents (1,021) Base: All respondents who support the idea (835)

10. A positive trigger increases interest in politics by a third

11. Weak localism on offer • Negative freedom from rather than positive capacity building • Context of spending cuts and weak economic growth make it hard • Strings, complexities and hedges abound

12. Police commissioners • Police commissioner elections: creating a weak , marginal actor ... constrained by national priorities, agencies, and parties... • With limited reach into many communities: the spectre of low turnout • Confused or complex accountability? • The case for local democratic accountability can be made but this appears a far from perfect vehicle

13. Cynicism and disengagement is high • A mountain to climb in terms of disenchantment • The 2012 Hansard survey results tells us that for the first time in the survey’s history less than half the population are certain to vote in the next general election. • Interest in politics has dropped to an all time low of 42 per cent and only a third of citizens have even been bothered to discuss politics in the last year. • Only a quarter of citizens think are system of government works well • The same survey shows that over half of citizens engaged in no political activity beyond the act of voting in that or the previous two years

14. Public fell out of love with Coalition quickly: worst and shortest “competence” honeymoon Source: Jane Green And Will Jennings “Governing in the Crisis: Public Opinion and Perceptions of Party Competence”, 2012

15. Problems of Coalition • The difficulties of Lib Dem-Tory relationship • Splitswithin Tories also key: metro liberal, super dry right wingers, euro skeptics, county set, maverick A listers • Implementation focus is weak: "young self absorbed boys, out of their depth“ as one senior business representative put it

16. A way forward • don't give up- but clarify the value in localism • work from successful interventions in localities • build on the tide of history and comparison rather than the trials of the present