Centre for Local Policy Studies

BEHIND THE HEADLINES OF THE NoW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE COALITION’S REFORM PROGRAMME ?

Professor John Diamond (University’s Centre for Local Policy Studies) looks at two important developments in the Coalition’s plans which are (arguably) more important than who owns a national newspaper: ” The headlines for the past 10 days have been dominated by the phone hacking scandal and the fall out from that. But, really whilst there is a story of individual politicians or corporate bosses feeling a little discomforted this story is masking much more important changes in social and welfare policy and practice. And it is these changes which are likely to have a long term impact on individuals, their families and their neighbourhoods. In part, these changes can be seen as part of the Cameron’s Big Society as well as the wish of the Right to effect longer term changes in social, welfare and economic policies. It is for these reasons that we need to look at what has happened beneath the radar offered by the Murdoch stories.

There have been two important developments last week (w/b 11 July) which I think we need to remind ourselves of : the first was the announcements in relation to the Work Programme and the second was the publication of the White Paper on public service reform. The Work Programme represents a really important set of changes in relation to welfare benefits. As Heather Stewart (The Observer 10 July) observed : The Work Programme is a promising idea with one tiny flaw – there isn’t any work. As she says in her article : ” In former industrial areas where there are few new sources of employment, providing a spot of job coaching and tarting up CVs is just not going to be good enough. And if, as seems increasingly likely, the economy slides into a double dip at the end of this year, Duncan Smith’s contractors will need a lot more than a “black box” – they will need a magic wand”. Leaving aside the allusion to Harry Potter the point that Heather Stewart is making is important. The Work Programme is about changing the ways in which employment advice / guidance and welfare benefits are structured, assessed and awarded. In order to make it happen the Government are (in effect) hoping that the contact holders – of this newly privatised service – will sub contract to those agencies and organisations (charities, voluntary sector organisations) who can make it work. But no work and a weak economy reminds us that the impact not just of a double dip recession  but also of a  public sector recession are still to be felt. And this is important too for another set of reasons. This week the Office of Budget Responsibility published a report looking ahead over the next decade. It is not good reading. We can assume – with little or no growth – the squeeze on the public sector to continue.

And the likely consequence of that will be to increase the desire to reduce spending and open up public services to the market. If the Big Society is voluntary sector like then this will be private sector heavy ! As Patrick Butler (The Guardian 13 July) put it in his piece: The reform agenda is fast losing allies  – “The public fears that reform is a cover for spending cuts and privatisation. Staff working in public services fear it’s about cutting pay, pensions and job security. Charities worry they are being taken for a ride. Trust is in short supply. There is a case for innovation and reform, but it is beginning to feel as though this government no longer has the authority to make it “.

I think this opens up the space for a different set of discussions: What would an alternative set of policies and ways of working look like. Since May 2010 through the blog and the seminars / open events and the Summer School last month we have been seeking to create a space for these discussions. At our Summer School both the session on the Big Society and the presentations from Anna Coote (New Economics Foundation) and Hilary Wainwright provided a whole set of examples where dialogue, discussion and debate do create and stimulate different ways of thinking. For those of us working in the Centre for Local Policy Studies this work needs to carry on. And we will – for as long as we can – promote it and provide support for those who want to part of the conversation.”

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 6:28 am and is filed under Popular, Third Sector (VCS) / Big Society. The entry is tagged under CLPS, professor John Diamond. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.