IAIN DUNCAN SMITH'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIVAL (06/03/02)

Speaking at the Local Government Conference, Saturday 2nd March, Ian Duncan Smith outlined his vision of ‘community government’, making life better.

He said, ‘We Conservatives at Westminster put our faith in local councillors, those closest to the people. Blair does not trust the people who deliver the services. He does not trust those who elect them. He sees local government as a buffer between ministers and the people.’

The majority of county councils in England are Conservative-led. By Labour’s own statistics, we know that these councils are the best run in Britain.

Conservative County Councils have fewer empty council houses, cleaner streets and fewer complaints about misadministration. The best rates of recycling are in Conservative controlled authorities.

Conservative group leader, John Smeaton, commented, ‘the figures speak for themselves. Conservative councils run more efficiently. The only statistic this Government can boast is being this country’s largest spender on advertising! Surely it’s time they entered the real world and got on with running the country, and finding out what the public think, rather than paying people to lie for them.

‘The Conservative party recognises Labour’s tactic that if councils do what the Government wants, they will be given the freedom to do what the Government wants. What nonsense! Conservatives at Westminster are pushing for greater freedom for councils.

‘We in Somerset are also arguing for the right to continue local democracy and not stifle it with centralised power in London. What do pen-pushers and Government quangos know about what would be best for the people of Somerset?’

One Taunton man, who wishes to remain anonymous commented, ‘all this talk about getting rid of County Councils. It’s change for the sake of change. If the Lib Dems can’t run County Hall, imagine what a mess they’d make of a different system. Heaven help us!’