Sajid Javid's first speech to the Police Federation as home secretary was a revelation. Less than a year ago, he made his maiden speech to the LGA as the-then secretary of state for communities - and struck a very different tone.In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Mr Javid delivered a controversial monologue in Birmingham, warned of a 'crisis of confidence' in local government and told an austerity-riven sector to up its game. It did not go down well.Speaking to police officers last week, Mr Javid was in a far more conciliatory mood. He called for a new, improved relationship with the boys in blue and vowed to prioritise police funding in the Spending Review.Perhaps Mr Javid has learned a lesson on maiden speeches - or perhaps it was just local government's perennial image problem. Westminster has too often believed there is little political capital to be made from supporting the sector. Quite the opposite, in fact.
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