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The Guardian - UK

Politics

Clare Horton

Society daily 14.02.11

A big day for the big society

David Cameron is today relaunching his big society mission with a speech at a Big Society Network event in London. My colleague Andrew Sparrow has full coverage of the speech on the Politics live blog and for instant reaction, see the Twitter hashtag #bigsociety, look out for tweets from @AndySawford, @tobyblume and @shepleygreen. Interesting commentary and analysis comes from the BBC's Robert Peston, who points out on his blog that the proposed big society bank is not a charity

"One of the things that is holding back its launch is that it needs state aid approval from the European Union, because it or the ventures it backs will be competing directly with commercial businesses and it could be seen to have an unfair advantage thanks to its access to the money in dormant bank accounts."

The It's mothers' work blog has an interesting take on the question of whether the big society project is a cover for cuts:

"Cameron is right: the Big Society is not a cover for the cuts, in fact the cuts provide pseudo-economic cover for a set of ideologically driven changes that will increase pressure on the vulnerable, remove power from democratically accountable local government and place it in the hands of those who already have access to time, money and other resources."

Alastair Campbell bluntly warns of the relaunch "on ne peut pas polir un turd", and the Wall Street Journal's Iain Martin is sceptical over how successful the relaunch will be:

"Initiatives that have to be revamped rarely succeed and leaders who reach for the relaunch button often find themselves pressing it again, and again, and again, with diminishing returns."

It's an ideal time to revisit this clip of Francis Maude being put on the spot by Radio 4's Eddie Mair, who asked what volunteering the minister does. Cue waffling and a claim that it's an unfair question to pose. (thanks @DebbieAndrioli)

Meanwhile, the NCVO has launched an action plan on how to rescue the big society, which includes proposals to reform Gift Aid, new strategies to encourage philanthropy and support for local authorities so that they do not cut off funding for voluntary and community groups.

Today's top SocietyGuardian stories

• 43% of council chiefs get paid more than David Cameron

• Aid for heavy drinkers could save NHS £1.7bn

• Job anguish for immigrants as English language courses face cuts

• High court to rule on abortions at home

All today's SocietyGuardian stories

Other news

• The NHS will have to deal with the fall-out from some of the cuts being announced by councils, reports the BBC. Health bosses, public health chiefs and charities told the BBC the close working relationship between the two meant consequences were "inevitable" and said elderly care, mental health and services for vulnerable young people were most at risk.

• The government has launched a new website aimed at helping charities and small businesses to find public sector contracting opportunities, reports Third Sector. The site, called Contracts Finder, will list all such opportunities worth more than £10,000.

• The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is to merge with the Design Council, according to Inside Housing. The decision will see the Design Council take on Cabe's role as an adviser on architecture and the built environment in addition to its role as an advisor on products, brands and services.

On my radar ...

• Richard Kemp, the vice-chair of the Local Government Association, who was the target of a Sunday Express story headlined £100,000 gravy train for wife and husband fighting the cuts. Kemp fights back on his blog against the "Tory dirty tricks department", stating:

"I have been the Leader of the Lib Dems in local government for 6 years and a councillor for 28. Never have I known a more corrosive time in UK politics and never has it been harder to get people to stand for election in all Parties. When the Tories play nasty games like this ... it just sinks politics a little bit further into the cess pit that most armchair critics are sure we have lived in for a long time."

• New organisation the Big Society NHS, a new community including healthcare professionals and healthcare students. It's planning a Valentine's day surprise for the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, when he speaks at the launch of Imperial College's new School of Public Health today.

• Welfare reform latest. The consultation period on the proposed disability living allowance reforms, due to end today, has been put back to Friday. In this video on our site, Ella Findlay talks about the extreme decision to end her life if her benefit is cut. A campaign to stop the reforms is performing well on the 38 Degrees campaigns suggestions forum. See also this great post on the Full Fact website about reporting of incapacity benefit take-up. The Commons work and pensions committee will hold a "disability roundtable" on Wednesday to hear the views of stakeholders on how the DLA and IB proposals are likely to affect them.

• This psychological insight from Andy Beckett in his profile of Eric Pickles from the LSE's Tony Travers:

"Pickles makes visible something that the government believes more generally: he believes in improvement by conflict."

• The reality of the cuts, as explained by Stephen Peacock, who lives in the "forgotten" area of Holbeck, in this piece for the Guardian Leeds site. He fears that Holbeck, which has no banks or supermarket, few remaining pubs and secondary school, is being singled out for cuts by the city's council.

SocietyGuardian weekend highlights

• From Dorset to Fife, Britain's lollipop army is mobilised to fight to save jobs, and children's lives

• Aseem Malhotra: I mend hearts. Then I see my patients served junk food by our hospitals

All yesterday's SocietyGuardian news and comment

All Saturday's SocietyGuardian news and comment

On the Guardian Professional Networks

• The NHS needs to make much greater use of mobile technology such as iPhones, rather than piloting things then giving them up, argues the Patient from Hell.

• Employing the homeless and ex-offenders in social enterprise changes lives and could have a huge social impact, says Paul Harrod, co-founder of Aspire.

Events

Mobile and Wireless Healthcare Enabling access to care at the point of need. 16 February, Birmingham.

This conference is aimed at ICT and service delivery teams in the NHS to give them practical advice and guidance at a time where all we can be certain of is a reduction in public sector budgets. 2 for 1 delegate place offer available.

Public Sector Procurement 17 February, Manchester. Only £99 to attend.

A one-day conference for public sector buyers and suppliers, exploring new policy and innovation from across the north of England.

Managing Public Sector Information 2011 Making the transparency agenda happen. 1 March, London.

An essential forum for professionals involved in managing, storing, use and governance of information in the public sector, when the push is for increased openness and transparency. 2 for 1 delegate place offer available.