Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I was not going to intervene on the amendment but the noble Lord has rather challenged me to say a word. I do not believe that the observations he has made are in any way limited to a Liberal perspective because they reflect completely my experience in the reality of society. There is deep-rooted cynicism and disillusion with the concept of what participation and involvement mean. The very words have a counterproductive effect; people will gather together and say, ““Well, that does not mean anything at all. You know it does not. We cannot make any difference””. If they do begin to look at how power is brokered they will say, ““Well, the big boys will get together and sort it out and we will not be listened to at all””. The noble Lord has raised profound issues that go beyond the Bill and its limitations because at the moment we are all anxious about the state of democracy in our country and the level of participation in voting in local elections. Unless you can demonstrate meaningfully that local authorities can effectively do something that reflects the views and attitudes of the public in their area and that they do have clout, one can wheeze away about giving people a shopping voucher in Sainsbury’s to vote, or whatever it is, but no one will get them to vote seriously unless they feel that their vote will have some effect.