"We are going to take power from government and hand it to people, families and communities," - Yeah Right!

"Propaganda worthy of Joseph Goebbels."

Prime Minister David Cameron attempted to impose a gigantic con trick on the British people in a keynote speech today.

He claimed that the millions who will suffer deeply from Con-Dem cuts would now be given control over government policies.

Mr Cameron, flanked by Lib Dem sidekick Nick Clegg, announced the launching of specific "business plans" for every government department, with monthly progress reports accessible to the public on a special website.

"We are going to take power from government and hand it to people, families and communities," proclaimed Mr Cameron.

But almost in the same breath he insisted that more private "independent providers" would be running public services.

Left Labour MP John Cryer angrily accused Mr Cameron of indulging in "propaganda worthy of Joseph Goebbels."

Mr Cryer added: "This is turning truth on its head. Cameron is trying to propagate a con on the British people.

"If people respond to this and ask for cuts to be reversed, are the Con-Dems really going to come along and make sure that hospitals, schools, libraries and old people's centres threatened with closure are not going to close after all? Of course they're not."

Labour shadow cabinet office minister Jon Trickett denounced a government "stunt" which was simply "a mask for what is really happening."

Mr Trickett added: "The truth is that, rather than a power shift to the people, this is actually a power shift to big business."

Mr Cameron got off to a shambolic start when he refused to take any questions from the press at the Whitehall event. He took just a few tame questions from senior civil servants, and then whisked off.

He claimed that the previous system of bureaucratic centrally controlled targets would be abandoned and government would be "turned on its head."

Reform would be driven "by the consistent, long-term pressure of what people want and choose in their public services."

He went on: "In one of the biggest blows for people power, we're shining a bright light of transparency on everything government does."

Each department's business plan would set out actions to be taken and info on the progress of reforms and the results they were achieving "so that people can hold us to account."

If monthly progress is poor at a particular government department then meetings will be convened with Lib Dem Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander.

For serious lapses Mr Cameron or even Mr Clegg will be wheeled in to crack the whip.

Public service union PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The idea that this represents any kind of shift in power away from the millionaires in the coalition Cabinet to the people would be laughable if it wasn't such a distortion of the truth."

He pledged: "We cannot and will not allow their plans to go unchallenged and PCS is committed to helping to organise popular opposition in communities the length and breadth of the UK."

Labour MP Michael Meacher predicted that the new government website would "expose the government to a huge amount of flak" and that MPs would put down large numbers of questions about progress of government policies.

Article from the Morning Star

maito:rogerbagley@peoples-press.com