Future is in the balance

摘要

What are the prospects for local government and for central/local relations as Labour, nationally, begins its third term in power? This is just one of many interesting questions which have been put to me over the past weeks since I left the Government after four lively, enjoyable and, I believe, productive years as local government minister. As The MJ has offered me die opportunity, through a regular column, to set out my thoughts on key local government issues, this seems a good point to start to offer some answers.