DOCSLIB.ORG

FABIAN REVIEW the Quarterly Magazine of the Fabian Society Winter 2013 / Fabians.Org.Uk / £4.95

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
FABIAN REVIEW the Quarterly Magazine of the Fabian Society Winter 2013 / Fabians.Org.Uk / £4.95 FABIAN REVIEW The quarterly magazine of the Fabian Society Winter 2013 / fabians.org.uk / £4.95 NO TIME TO LOSE Why 2014 is the last chance for Labour’s radicals, with Emma Burnell, Sunder Katwala and Labour MPs p8 / Mary Riddell interviews new shadow cabinet star Tristram Hunt p14 / Stewart Lansley writes that redistribution is not enough p18 / Colin Crouch explains how Labour can flourish in post-democracy p22 #fab14 Can Labour Change britain? FEATURING ED BALLS Fabian New Year Conference Saturday 25 January 2014 Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.fabians.org.uk Contents FABIAN REVIEW Volume 125—No. 4 Leader Andrew Harrop 2 Small footsteps to big changes Shortcuts Dianne Hayter 3 Bringing back socialism? Nick Butler 3 Labour into power Diana Johnson 4 Due north Sean Kippin 5 Reviving reform Lara Norris 6 Popular politics Andrea Westall 7 The power of association Feature Last chance saloon John Healey, David Lammy, Lucy 8 2014, Labour’s year of … Powell, Chi Onwurah, Steve Reed Sunder Katwala 10 Who will speak for England? Emma Burnell 12 Ever closer union? Interview Mary Riddell 14 Class wars Policy Pitch Karen Rowlingson 17 A savings safety net Essay Stewart Lansley 18 The economic imperative Feature Colin Crouch 22 The possibility of post-democracy Books Anya Pearson 25 Clean break 26 Fabian Society section FABIAN REVIEW FABIAN SOCIETY Editorial Finance and Operations Fabian Review is the quarterly journal of the 61 Petty France Head of Editorial, Ed Wallis Head of Finance and Fabian Society. Like all publications of the Fabian London SW1H 9EU Editorial Assistant, Operations, Phil Mutero Society, it represents not the collective view of 020 7227 4900 (main) Anya Pearson the Society, but only the views of the individual 020 7976 7153 (fax) Media and Communications Fabian Women’s Network writers. The responsibility of the Society is [email protected] Manager, Richard Speight Ivana Bartoletti, limited to approving its publications as worthy of www.fabians.org.uk [email protected] consideration within the Labour movement. Research General Secretary, Senior Researcher, Natan Doron Editor, Ed Wallis Andrew Harrop Researcher, Rob Tinker Editorial Assistant, Anya Pearson Deputy General Secretary, Printed by DG3, London E14 9TE Marcus Roberts Membership Designed by Soapbox, www.soapbox.co.uk Membership Officer, Events and Partnerships Giles Wright ISSN 1356 1812 Head of Events and Local Societies Officer, [email protected] Partnerships, Kate Godfrey Deborah Stoate 1 / Volume 125—No. 4 Leader © Kenn Goodall / bykenn.com © Kenn Goodall / bykenn.com Small footsteps to big changes Where once the belief in a gradual path to social progress was a cautious doctrine, now it makes Fabians the radicals—Andrew Harrop ABIANISM HAS NEVER been a dogmatic creed, which is not because we believe in small footsteps, but because we why the Society has been able to provide an intel- see them in a strategic context, where many incremen- Flectual home to so many famous political figures tal steps can form the road to transformative social and since it was founded, 130 years ago this January. But there economic change. has been an essence to Fabianism amid its diversity – a This is the perspective Labour must rediscover at the constellation of beliefs and an approach to politics – which start of 2014, for the time to plan for power is fast running must be at the heart of Labour politics in 2014 if the party out. In 2013 the party made real progress in defining its is to embrace a radical governing project. ‘doorstep’ offer. It set out a handful of clear reasons to In the first half of our history the Fabians’ defining vote Labour that mark it out from the coalition and which political project was collectivism: the Society famously it could start to implement in its first 100 days. But what championed the guiding hand of a strong, expert state; comes next? Promising to freeze energy bills cannot be but also promoted collectivism in the town hall and the seen as the risky outer limit of Labour’s economic ambi- workplace. In the second half of our life, from the 1950s, tions, but as a downpayment for five years of reforms to the hallmark of Fabianism has been its egalitarianism: reshape the relationship between government and market. it is Fabian thinkers who have continuously argued that The same is true across almost every area of policy: the fight against poverty and inequality is the first duty of Labour needs a radical five year programme of govern- Labour politics. These twin interests explain why today we ment, because nothing else will be sufficient to bring are as robust as ever in challenging all those who call into about the structural reforms we need if Britain is to be a question egalitarianism or the agency of the state. fairer, greener, more prosperous country in 20 years’ time. But above all Fabian thought has been defined by its The party must prepare for a huge increase in private and orientation to the future. The society is the home of a left public investment; a five year scheme of total tax reform; version of the Enlightenment tradition which champions much faster progress on decarbonising the economy; the social progress, rationality, expertise and evidence. This building of millions of new homes; the labour market and is reflected in the long-termist slant of our politics: our social security reforms required to narrow inequalities; and inclination to begin by asking how the world could look in major political reforms to reconnect people with politics. many decades time and then to work backwards, setting It won’t be possible to govern as radicals if Labour’s clear goals and seeking practical and specific tools to bring offer is stripped bare, with nothing beneath a few headline them to realisation. promises on a pledgecard. Nor does any of this fit neatly The Fabian belief in the gradual, long-term path to under the anti-statist banner of Blue Labour, because the social progress was once a cautious doctrine, in opposi- left can only bring about deep structural change through tion to revolutionary utopianism. But now it makes us strategic, long-term state activism. It is only by re-em- the radicals, in contrast to the left’s social conservatives bracing its Fabian roots that Labour can come to power in and timid managerialists. Fabian gradualism is distinct, 2015 as a government ready to transform Britain. F 2 / Fabian Review Shortcuts loan). The disadvantaged are often less able the low paid or those on benefit, so seeing to shop around and are disproportionately them not simply in their working lives, but hit by big price hikes. For example, poorer as patients, clients, shoppers, passengers, households that rely on Economy 7 tariffs, tenants or savers, and protecting their which offer one tariff during the day and interests, helps exactly those whose access to cheaper electricity at night, may shortly have a more equal and rewarded life has always to pay up to 35 per cent more for their night- been our focus. BRINGING BACK SOCIALISM? time electricity bills than 13 months ago. So does democratic socialism form a Today, Labour’s democratic Furthermore, for all consumers many cru- framework for Labour today? Of course. socialism means helping those cial markets are not as competitive as they We remain committed to democracy, and to should be. The Big Six energy companies, increasing participation in the democratic without consumer power get a fairer retail banks, transport providers – consum- process by all – including the Paxmans and deal, writes Dianne Hayter ers are constrained in exercising choice and Brands, but particularly the young. switching providers for something better. And we remain determined to shift One only has to think of people seeking to power and economic strength from vested buy or rent in a distorted housing market. interests to all citizens. Call it what you will. I remember, just after Tony Blair was elected House prices have risen nearly 6 per cent in It’s what I stand for. F leader of the Labour party, hearing of his a year, whilst private rents are now exclud- support for socialism. In fact, he spoke of ing all but the very rich from central London. Dianne Hayter is a Labour peer it as two words: ‘social’ ‘ism’, making the In other markets – with lawyers, or buying case that Labour’s concern was for a better pension products – either because the society which we all worked to improve. outcomes are long term, or because a client For myself, I like the words ‘democratic’ lacks sufficient knowledge in the service or ‘parliamentary’ preceding socialism, as it being offered, they haven’t the information marks out that changes come with the will required to shop around. of the people, who must be persuaded and vote for the policies we favour in our march We remain committed to democracy, towards a fairer, more equal and just society. Concern by the ‘haves’ for the ‘have nots’ and to increasing participation in the democratic process by all – including is again in vogue, but where I differ from LABOUR INTO POWER some earlier generations is in defining the the Paxmans and Brands, but Labour will find allies in the civil ‘have nots’ in terms of power as well as in particularly the young their economic relationships. So class, yes, service if it replaces the current remains important (since that is pre- culture of blame with a period eminently about power) but so does gender, In all these cases, society must in some age, ethnicity – and being a consumer, the way ‘stand in the shoes’ of consumers, and of stability and respect, argues purchaser or recipient of goods and services.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download the Red Book
    The For this agenda-setting collection, the leading civil society umbrella groups ACEVO and CAF worked with Lisa Nandy MP to showcase some of Red Book Labour’s key thinkers about the party’s future relationship with charities The and social enterprises. The accompanying ‘Blue Book’ and ‘Yellow Book’ feature similar essays from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Parties. ‘This collection of essays shows the depth and vibrancy of thinking across the Labour movement on this important issue and makes a vital the Voluntary of Sector Red Book contribution to the debate in the run-up to the next election.’ Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party of the ‘I hope this collection will be a provocation to further dialogue with Labour and with all the major political parties. It demonstrates a willingness to listen … that our sector should be grateful for.’ Voluntary Sector Sir Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive, ACEVO ‘The contributions in this collection show that the Labour Party possesses exciting ideas and innovations designed to strengthen Britain’s charities, Civil Society and the Labour Party and many of the concepts explored will be of interest to whichever party (or parties) are successful at the next election.’ after the 2015 election Dr John Low CBE, Chief Executive, Charities Aid Foundation With a foreword by the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP £20 ISBN 978-1-900685-70-2 9 781900 685702 acevo-red-book-cover-centred-spine-text.indd All Pages 05/09/2014 15:40:12 The Red Book of the Voluntary Sector Civil Society and the Labour Party after
    [Show full text]
  • Spring Business Forum Programme
    Join us in March for a series of events with our Frontbench politicians including Keir Starmer, Anneliese Dodds, Ed Miliband, Bridget Phillipson, Rachel Reeves, Emily Thornberry, Chi Onwurah, Lucy Powell, Pat McFadden, Jim McMahon and many others. Monday 8 march 2021 8am – 8.50am Breakfast Anneliese Dodds ‘In Conversation with’ Helia Ebrahimi, Ch4 Economics correspondent, and audience Q and A Supported by The City of London Corporation with introductory video from Catherine McGuinness 9am - 10.30am Breakout roundtables: Three choices of topics lasting 30 minutes each Theme: Economic recovery: Building an economy for the future 1. Lucy Powell – Industrial policy after Covid 2. Bridget Phillipson, James Murray – The future of business economic support 3. Ed Miliband, Matt Pennycook – Green economic recovery 4. Pat McFadden, Abena Oppong-Asare – What kind of recovery? 5. Emily Thornberry, Bill Esterson – Boosting British business overseas 6. Kate Green, Toby Perkins – Building skills for a post Covid economy 10:30 - 11.00am Break 11.00 - 12.00pm Panel discussion An Inclusive Economic Recovery panel, with Anneliese Dodds Chair: Claire Bennison, Head of ACCA UK Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director of the Women’s Budget Group Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation Rachel Bleetman, ACCA Policy and Research Manager Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Economist, CBI Supported by ACCA 14245_21 Reproduced from electronic media, promoted by David Evans, General Secretary, the Labour Party,
    [Show full text]
  • Download PDF on Watching the Watchmen
    REPORT Watching the Watchmen The Growing Case for Recall Elections and Increased Accountability for MPs Sam Goodman About the Author Sam Goodman is the author of the Imperial Premiership: The Role of the Modern Prime Minister in Foreign Policy Making, 1964-2015 (Manchester University Press: 2015). He is currently working as a political adviser to Peter Dowd MP the current Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and has previously worked for a variety of Labour Members of Parliament including: Julie Cooper MP, Sir Mark Hendrick MP, Michael Dugher MP, and Rt. Hon Jack Straw MP. Watching the Watchmen: The Growing Case for Recall Elections and Increased Accountability for MPs Members of the House of Commons have long flirted parliamentary conventions and much procedure with the idea of British exceptionalism—citing the is arcane, which makes it difficult even for the UK’s role as the ‘mother of all parliaments’, its most ardent politically engaged citizen to follow unwritten constitution, its unitary voting system, proceedings and debates in the House of Commons. and the principle of the sovereignty of Parliament This separation between the governors and over the people—as a bulwark against the instability governed is exacerbated further by the limited customarily found in other western democracies. avenues available to the public to hold those elected In modern times, this argument held water as to account, which is exemplified by recent political it delivered stable parliamentary majorities, scandals, including allegations of bullying and peaceful transfers of power between governments, sexual harassment in the House of Commons. At the and kept in check the ideological fringes of both time of writing this report, no MP has been forced major political parties.
    [Show full text]
  • Questions Tabled on Tuesday 6 July 2021
    Published: Wednesday 7 July 2021 Questions tabled on Tuesday 6 July 2021 Includes questions tabled on earlier days which have been transferred. T Indicates a topical oral question. Members are selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question. † Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled. N Indicates a question for written answer on a named day under S.O. No. 22(4). [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions for Answer on Wednesday 7 July Questions for Written Answer 1 Ruth Jones (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of setting a target for marine energy ahead of COP26. [Transferred] (27308) 2 Ruth Jones (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the potential merits of setting a target for marine energy ahead of COP26. [Transferred] (27309) 3 Ruth Jones (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the potential merits of setting a target for marine energy ahead of COP26. [Transferred] (27310) 4 Navendu Mishra (Stockport): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will consult with groups representing blind and partially- sighted people on the potential merits of reforming the safety information wording contained in household appliance instructions, previously governed by EU law, to make that information more inclusive.
    [Show full text]
  • Thursday 28 February 2019
    Kevin Blacoe is the Chief Adviser, Education working for the BBC Learning Department at Media:City Salford. He has worked at the BBC for 11 years and leads BBC Learning in re- gards to strategy, partnerships, policy and engagement. He has played a key role in devel- oping the BBC's new education vision designed to encourage social mobility in the UK, which includes a focus on tackling the early years language and literacy gap. @BBC Jon Rouse, Chief Officer of the Partnership, was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to health and social care. He was appointed Chief Officer in July 2016, to coordinate the delivery of Greater Man- chester’s strategy for transformation of health and care services, ‘Taking Charge’, as part of wider devolution plans for public service reform. Previously, Jon was Director General @JonRouseGM for Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships at the Department of Health. Before joining the department, he was Chief Executive of the London Borough of Croydon. Other previ- Greater Manchester School Readiness Summit ous roles include, Chief Executive, Housing Corporation and Chief Executive, Commission for Architec- ture and the Built Environment. He has also held a wide range of non-executive positions with organisations including English Partner- ships and Homelessness International, and was a non-executive director on the Department of Health’s board until 2010. He is currently chair of the Shaw Education Trust. Jon has a first degree in law, Masters in business administration and urban policy and an honorary doc- torate in urban design.
    [Show full text]
  • View Future Day Orals PDF File 0.11 MB
    Published: Tuesday 23 March 2021 Questions for oral answer on a future day (Future Day Orals) Questions for oral answer on a future day as of Tuesday 23 March 2021. The order of these questions may be varied in the published call lists. [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions for Answer on Wednesday 24 March Oral Questions to the Minister for Women and Equalities Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): What assessment she has made of the ability of same-sex couples to access insemination services in the UK. (913999) Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall): What assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on female employment. (914000) Julie Marson (Hertford and Stortford): What steps the Government is taking to promote the role of women during the UK’s G7 Presidency. (914001) Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness): What steps she is taking to ensure that good practice on making streets safer for women is shared. (914002) Ian Levy (Blyth Valley): What steps she is taking to promote female participation in STEM. (914004) Paul Howell (Sedgefield): What steps she is taking to promote female participation in STEM. (914005) Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth): What steps the Government is taking to help protect disabled people from the effects of the covid-19 outbreak. (914006) Peter Aldous (Waveney): What steps she is taking to promote female participation in STEM. (914007) John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): What steps she is taking to ban conversion therapy. (914008) 2 Tuesday 23 March 2021 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER ON A FUTURE DAY Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): What steps she is taking to ban conversion therapy; and if she will make a statement.
    [Show full text]
  • Members Nominated for Election As Select Committee Chairs
    MEMBERS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION AS SELECT COMMITTEE CHAIRS Only the first 15 names of a candidate’s own party validly submitted in support of a candidature are printed except in the case of committees with chairs allocated to the Scottish National Party when only the first five such names are printed. Candidates for the Backbench Business Committee require signatures of between 20 and 25 Members, of whom no fewer than 10 shall be members of a party presented in Her Majesty’s Government and no fewer than 10 shall be members of another party or no party. New nominations are marked thus* UP TO AND INCLUDING TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2020 BACKBENCH BUSINESS COMMITTEE Candidate Ian Mearns Supporters (Government party): Bob Blackman, Mr William Wragg, Damien Moore, Robert Halfon, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, John Howell, John Lamont, Kevin Hollinrake, James Cartlidge, Bob Seely Supporters (other parties): Mike Amesbury, Kate Green, Bambos Charalambous, Martin Docherty-Hughes, Ronnie Cowan, Pete Wishart, Brendan O’Hara, Allan Dorans, Patricia Gibson, Kirsten Oswald, Feryal Clark, Tonia Antoniazzi, Yasmin Qureshi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Relevant interests declared None DEFENCE Candidate James Gray Supporters (own party): Jack Brereton, Mr William Wragg, Bob Blackman, Angela Richardson, Darren Henry, Sir Desmond Swayne, Anne Marie Morris, Jane Hunt, Steve Double, Gary Sambrook, Julie Marson, David Morris, Craig Whittaker, Mr Robert Goodwill, Adam Afriyie Supporters (other parties): Pete Wishart, Christian Matheson, Yasmin Qureshi, Chris Bryant Relevant
    [Show full text]
  • THE 422 Mps WHO BACKED the MOTION Conservative 1. Bim
    THE 422 MPs WHO BACKED THE MOTION Conservative 1. Bim Afolami 2. Peter Aldous 3. Edward Argar 4. Victoria Atkins 5. Harriett Baldwin 6. Steve Barclay 7. Henry Bellingham 8. Guto Bebb 9. Richard Benyon 10. Paul Beresford 11. Peter Bottomley 12. Andrew Bowie 13. Karen Bradley 14. Steve Brine 15. James Brokenshire 16. Robert Buckland 17. Alex Burghart 18. Alistair Burt 19. Alun Cairns 20. James Cartlidge 21. Alex Chalk 22. Jo Churchill 23. Greg Clark 24. Colin Clark 25. Ken Clarke 26. James Cleverly 27. Thérèse Coffey 28. Alberto Costa 29. Glyn Davies 30. Jonathan Djanogly 31. Leo Docherty 32. Oliver Dowden 33. David Duguid 34. Alan Duncan 35. Philip Dunne 36. Michael Ellis 37. Tobias Ellwood 38. Mark Field 39. Vicky Ford 40. Kevin Foster 41. Lucy Frazer 42. George Freeman 43. Mike Freer 44. Mark Garnier 45. David Gauke 46. Nick Gibb 47. John Glen 48. Robert Goodwill 49. Michael Gove 50. Luke Graham 51. Richard Graham 52. Bill Grant 53. Helen Grant 54. Damian Green 55. Justine Greening 56. Dominic Grieve 57. Sam Gyimah 58. Kirstene Hair 59. Luke Hall 60. Philip Hammond 61. Stephen Hammond 62. Matt Hancock 63. Richard Harrington 64. Simon Hart 65. Oliver Heald 66. Peter Heaton-Jones 67. Damian Hinds 68. Simon Hoare 69. George Hollingbery 70. Kevin Hollinrake 71. Nigel Huddleston 72. Jeremy Hunt 73. Nick Hurd 74. Alister Jack (Teller) 75. Margot James 76. Sajid Javid 77. Robert Jenrick 78. Jo Johnson 79. Andrew Jones 80. Gillian Keegan 81. Seema Kennedy 82. Stephen Kerr 83. Mark Lancaster 84.
    [Show full text]
  • One Nation: Power, Hope, Community
    one nation power hope community power hope community Ed Miliband has set out his vision of One Nation: a country where everyone has a stake, prosperity is fairly shared, and we make a common life together. A group of Labour MPs, elected in 2010 and after, describe what this politics of national renewal means to them. It begins in the everyday life of work, family and local place. It is about the importance of having a sense of belonging and community, and sharing power and responsibility with people. It means reforming the state and the market in order to rebuild the economy, share power hope community prosperity, and end the living standards crisis. And it means doing politics in a different way: bottom up not top down, organising not managing. A new generation is changing Labour to change the country. Edited by Owen Smith and Rachael Reeves Contributors: Shabana Mahmood Rushanara Ali Catherine McKinnell Kate Green Gloria De Piero Lilian Greenwood Steve Reed Tristram Hunt Rachel Reeves Dan Jarvis Owen Smith Edited by Owen Smith and Rachel Reeves 9 781909 831001 1 ONE NATION power hope community Edited by Owen Smith & Rachel Reeves London 2013 3 First published 2013 Collection © the editors 2013 Individual articles © the author The authors have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1998 to be identified as authors of this work. All rights reserved. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
    [Show full text]
  • Let's Not Go Back to 70S Primary Education Wikio
    This site uses cookies to help deliver services. By using this site, you agree to the use of cookies. Learn more Got it Conor's Commentary A blog about politics, education, Ireland, culture and travel. I am Conor Ryan, Dublin-born former adviser to Tony Blair and David Blunkett on education. Views expressed on this blog are written in a personal capacity. Friday, 20 February 2009 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE UPDATES Let's not go back to 70s primary education Wikio Despite the Today programme's insistence on the term, "independent" is certainly not an apt Contact me description of today's report from the self-styled 'largest' review of primary education in 40 years. It You can email me here. is another deeply ideological strike against standards and effective teaching of the 3Rs in our primary schools. Many of its contributors oppose the very idea of school 'standards' and have an ideological opposition to external testing. They have been permanent critics of the changes of recent decades. And it is only in that light that the review's conclusions can be understood. Of course, there is no conflict between teaching literacy and numeracy, and the other subjects within the primary curriculum. And the best schools do indeed show how doing them all well provides a good and rounded education. Presenting this as the point of difference is a diversionary Aunt Sally. However, there is a very real conflict between recognising the need to single literacy and numeracy out for extra time over the other subjects as with the dedicated literacy and numeracy lessons, and making them just another aspect of primary schooling that pupils may or may not pick up along the way.
    [Show full text]
  • Centre Ground
    Centre Ground Six Values of mainstream Britain Chris Leslie MP SOCIAL MARKET FOUNDATION FIRST PUBLISHED BY The Social Market Foundation, June 2018 11 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB Copyright © The Social Market Foundation, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-910683-43-9 The moral right of the author(s) has been asserted. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book. ABOUT THE SOCIAL MARKET FOUNDATION The Social Market Foundation is a think-tank dedicated to developing and promoting the ideas of the radical centre ground of British politics. We believe that fair markets and open public services deliver prosperity and happiness. We have no part-political affiliation and our Board of Trustees includes parliamentarians from all the main political parties. We work with people from all parties and none to promote evidence-based solutions to public policy problems. We are a registered charity with a mission to increase public understanding of social and economic policy. We fulfil that mission by publishing research reports and other papers, by SMF staff and by outside authors whose contributions can help advance debate about the values and policies of the centre. We are pleased to publish Chris Leslie’s paper in that context. Any views expressed in this paper are those of the author, not the SMF.
    [Show full text]
  • Ministerial Reshuffle – 5 June 2009 8 June 2009
    Ministerial Reshuffle – 5 June 2009 8 June 2009 This note provides details of the Cabinet and Ministerial reshuffle carried out by the Prime Minister on 5 June following the resignation of a number of Cabinet members and other Ministers over the previous few days. In the new Cabinet, John Denham succeeds Hazel Blears as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and John Healey becomes Housing Minister – attending Cabinet - following Margaret Beckett’s departure. Other key Cabinet positions with responsibility for issues affecting housing remain largely unchanged. Alistair Darling stays as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord Mandelson at Business with increased responsibilities, while Ed Miliband continues at the Department for Energy and Climate Change and Hilary Benn at Defra. Yvette Cooper has, however, moved to become the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with Liam Byrne becoming Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has been merged with BERR to create a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills under Lord Mandelson. As an existing CLG Minister, John Healey will be familiar with a number of the issues affecting the industry. He has been involved with last year’s Planning Act, including discussions on the Community Infrastructure Levy, and changes to future arrangements for the adoption of Regional Spatial Strategies. HBF will be seeking an early meeting with the new Housing Minister. A full list of the new Cabinet and other changes is set out below. There may yet be further changes in junior ministerial positions and we will let you know of any that bear on matters of interest to the industry.
    [Show full text]