Conservative Co-operatives

Jon Bright (London, OK): David Cameron was in Manchester yesterday outlining how the Tories would use "co-operatives" to run local public services: which it seems will form a key part of his cure to the "Broken Society" diagnosed by Iain Duncan Smith. Cameron plans to give ownership of schools to parents and the local community, though funding would continue to come from the national government. The full speech is here. Very interesting how Cameron is sticking to his agenda of localism and ideas about how to renew our democratic system - something he hinted at back in September ("you don't need a Citizen's jury, you just need a Conservative government"). Is local power versus centralised state control becoming a more meaningful political split than the old notion of left / right? (especially now the Tories have promised to match current government spending levels). Possibly a little early to make that claim - but it's always pleasing (from OK's point of view) to see attention being paid to the process rather than just the aims.