The thin blue line Without implying any suggestion of political bias on their part, it is, nonetheless, sensible that senior local government officers, especially after last week's Crewe and Nantwich by-election, factor into their plans a possible change of government from 2010. After all, what is to become of the CAA, RDAs, LAAs, the Standards Board, the 14-19 changes, LEAs, elected mayors, cabinets, the new unitaries – not to mention the contents of the Hazel Blears White Paper expected in July – should David Cameron be PM in 2010? There must be policy officers up and down the country busily preparing various scenarios for their cabinets. A local government Bill must be expected, although much of the above can be amended without legislation. On more fundamental issues, such as public spending and balance of funding, there will be less scope for early changes, although a Conservative Government might demand tougher efficiency targets. However, with councils – and the LGA – dominated by Conservatives, there will be some serious lobbying against centralist tendencies by Cameroonies. The LGA Tories, in particular, will have an especially-powerful role to play, at least in the early stages. But, in turn, to suggest that we are in for a repeat of the last two years of the Major Government, a period of governmental paralysis, is mistaken. First, Gordon Brown maintains his absolute majority. Second, the word from Number 10 is that, far from abandoning policy-making, the legislative timetable must be stepped up and brought forward. As one local government insider ruefully remarked to The MJ recently: ‘Having a period of paralysis, instead of constant interference, would actually be welcome.' Conservative leader, David Cameron, is, himself, well aware of the dangers of hubris, repeatedly warning that there is a long way to go before 2010. He knows the path before then is strewn with political mines. Not least of them is that voters, disenchanted with Labour, will want to know more details of just what a Cameron Government would mean for them. They, and local government managers, still have two years to find the answers. Michael Burton Editor, The MJ
