Alex Massie Alex Massie

The Big Society vs A Culture of Hopelessness

As we all know, Dave has had some problems defining his Big Society idea. It’s more conducive to thumb-sucking pieces than snazzy tabloid headlines. Sometimes, however, it might be easier to sell in terms of what it’s not. Consider this story, warning that there might be lots of snow this winter:

Council chiefs have sparked outrage after proposing residents dig themselves out of the snow as Britain braces itself for another winter of Arctic conditions.

As long-range forecasts suggest the country will be hit by blizzards and temperatures plummeting to -20c, bosses at Camden Council prepared to hand out spades.

But their solution to the bitter weather has been slammed by those who remember the headache of last year’s gritting crisis which brought widespread disruption and left people trapped in their homes

The north London council’s proposal involves a ‘self-help’ scheme in which people can ring and request a shovel.

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