The Co-op returns

I have just read some proposals from the Tories about the formation of Conservative Co-ops. This is not a new blue-tinged supermarket, but groups of cooperatively minded people able to form a group in order to set-up and run a local school or other local services.

I know that this is part of the Tories 'Social Responsibility' agenda and a very worthy aim, and I wish it every success. I think, though, we need a sea change in public opinion and I'm not sure we are there yet. At present, when a school is failing most commentators say the 'Government should do something' and this Government and previous ones are all to complicit in this pact. They try so many initiatives that the schools don't know whether they are coming or going.

I like Matthew Parris's imagery of Tony Blair frantically pulling at the levers of Government in the hope of making things happen only to find that the levers are not connected to anything. Gordon Brown's tendencies are the same, only with enough brute force to pull the lever out of the floor.

In order for real improvements, the changes must come from ground level and be supported by Government in a way we have not seen before. Politicians must step back and not overreact to any immediate problems, giving groups on the ground time and public money to find solutions.

As members of the public, when problems occur we must not clamber on board the 'Government needs to act' lever-less bandwagon. We need to ask is there anything we can do to help. We need to become members of the Co-ops and stand up and be counted, rather than grumble on about how things never change. Until then, I'm not sure that enough co-ops will be created to make a large enough impact on the problems of today.


Squiffy.