Ten things you need to know about the Localism Bill

Last week’s Localism Bill introduced a range of novel measures, from elected mayors to local referendums. We’ve put together a list of Ten Things You Need To Know about it, by way of a primer for CoffeeHousers.

The bill marks an important leap into the unknown. The dangers are less political – it’s hard for Labour to attack the principle of decentralisation – than practical, because it involves a genuine and significant loss of control for the centre. Pickles and company can’t predict what councils do with the new “general powers of competence,” nor what will happen if and when a new community-run service goes awry.

But these challenges will only emerge in time. For now, localism – whether it’s called the Big Society or old-fashioned People Power – is the glue that binds the coalition together. These policies should (mostly) warm the cockles of Liberal and Tory activists, and, by placing the Lib Dems front and centre on the issue, the government can help the party recover from its tuition fees trauma.