Written by George Jones, Emeritus Professor of Government, London School of Economics & Political Science, with a foreword by Roger Latham, Vice President CIPFA, formerly Chief Executive, Nottinghamshire County Council.

Local government in Britain has become less powerful in recent years. In this important new PMPA report, George Jones OBE, Emeritus Professor of Government at the London School of Economics (LSE), outlines what needs to be done to re-invigorate local government. If local authorities are given powers to do things that matter to people in the locality, if they have discretion over what they do and how they do it, and if they can finance their expenditure decisions by levying local taxes that bear on local voters, then local politics will revive. People will be interested—they will want to have their say and to vote, and to become candidates. Local government and local politics will matter. The way ahead for strengthening local government, and local representative democracy, is not by keeping the centre in the driving seat.

'Passionate and authoritative, George Jones provides a compelling analysis that will speak to the souls of many in local government'.
Mike Bennett, Assistant Director General, SOLACE

'George Jones is among the most well informed commentators on local government and is always a thought-provoking writer. This is no exception'.
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive, Audit Commission

'George Jones gives an erudite breakdown of the fundamental challenges facing local government today'.
Michael Burton, Editor, The MJ (Municipal Journal)

'George Jones offers a realistic agenda of changes which could revitalize British local government'.
Howard Davies, Director, LSE

'George Jones at his most trenchant. Local governments must have powers that matter and the finance to do what needs to be done. Only then will local politics revive'.
Professor Michael Clarke, Vice-Principal, University of Birmingham

'Few of us can remember voting for centralism, but that is what successive governments have delivered for decades. Prof Jones constructs a compelling case for localism, reminding us that, despite all the rhetoric, in the recent history of the UK it remains the great untried option'.
Steve Freer, Chief Executive, CIPFA

'A terrific report, by the master—George Jones knows more about local government than anyone else in the country'.
Professor Lord Giddens

'George Jones connects directly to the DNA of local government. He embodies a seam of commitment to and understanding of the localist agenda which everyone who cares about local democracy ought to engage with'.
Clive Grace, Chair, Local Better Regulation Office