The localism plans of Compassionate Conservatives, Red Tories and Blue Labour will struggle to succeed so long as Whitehall powers remain in the hands of Ministers

With David Cameron’s recent relaunch of the Big Society, it is timely to re-examine plans from across the political spectrum to reform the relationship between the state and individuals and communities. Ahead of an LSE conference ‘The Big Society and the Good Society’ next week, Tony Travers looks at the growing desire for political localism and finds that it will only thrive if Whitehall is willing to devolve more democratic and financial powers away from the centre