The prevailing mood of the Country is negative when people are looking at the big picture. In recent surveys respondents now most often think of Britain as “declining,” and 70% of respondents say they feel like politicians don’t care about them.
But things are noticeably different when thinking about the local level. It seems that people still have faith in their communities and in one another. Most people are proud of where they reside, and 60% say their neighborhood is safe and welcoming.
Interestingly two-thirds of respondents in recent surveys agree that stronger public services are a good way to re-establish trust between citizens and the State. In that same vein 65% want to provide more power to local governments and to local individuals.
This means that people have not just given up, they still have hope that things can get better. But they need our politics to meet them where they are by giving local communities actual authority and giving people the tools and trust they need to determine their own destinies.
I understand that our politics is not typically comfortable with the notion of transferring power and control to the local and very local levels. However, it is certainly worthwhile to consider and perhaps to implement it. Who knows what changes it may bring; it may even result in a sense of renewal and provide individuals with a genuine stake in the future of their communities.
Chris Bain 