ABSTRACT
This chapter considers some of the practical implications of the popular mood among politicians towards New Localism, referencing current policy debates and using data drawn from our empirical study of regional and local political, business and 3rd Sector elites. Localism needs active participation by citizens or community engagement achieved through a system of local governance, delivering optimum decentralisation and devolution of power to the most local level and underpinned by principles relating to effectiveness, accountability, participation, equity, diversification and innovation. The Labour governments from 1997-2010 emphasised both devolution of power and partnership and community engagement. Whilst Labour favoured devolution to nations and regions as well as localities, the emphasis of the other two national parties has been almost exclusively on Localism in England. And this became a key aspect of the 2010 Coalition Government's programme. The Coalition Government's stated intention was that economic development and enterprise would be driven from the local level.
