Second voice puts regeneration first

摘要

David Miliband's appointment as minister for communities and local government gives regeneration a second Cabinet champion. However, there remain unanswered questions about how the ODPM's 'dual monarchy' will function in practice, given Mr Prescott's oft-professed scorn for New Labour's younger generation, of whom Mr Miliband is prime example. Nevertheless, observers at the first post-election meeting of the Central Local Partnership described what looked like an amicable relationship between the two men, with Mr Miliband apparently happy to let his senior partner take the lead. 'We could have done a lot worse,' says Local Government Information Unit policy executive Ines Newman. But it is unclear, yet, how much time Mr Miliband will be spending on the regeneration beat. His focus is likely to be on the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour trumpeted by Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Queen's Speech.