METHODS AND PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT 3x5

Party, occupying a middle position; some contain a majority of
Independents, whose policy leans in some respects to the Right
and in others to the Left. For some years past there has been a
tendency for the policies of all groups other than Labour to
become unified, so that a two-party system is emerging. Election
figures show that the local and national fortunes of the parties
commonly move together, but there are numerous exceptions to
this rule. Since local authorities cannot change the whole economic
system, the Left gets local support from people who approve
its attitude to social reform, but, not being Socialists, would
hesitate to support it nationally. On the other hand the Left is
handicapped by the difficulty of finding in its own ranks people
with sufficient leisure, or—for County Councils—-able to afford
the expense. The Boroughs are the field of the keenest party
contests.

The general advantages of party Government are apparent in
local politics. Each side is spurred on to efficiency by fear of
losing to the other; the interest of electors is aroused; the certainty
of a majority in the Council enables the victorious party to plan
its policy in advance. But it is not advisable that party strife
should be as keen, or discipline as rigid as in Parliament. Much
of the business is administrative, not raising vital questions of
principle, and if Councillors go to meetings resolved to try to
score off the other side on every issue, from the rents on Council
estates to the best method of sewage disposal, much time will
be wasted. Fortunately, many Councillors realise this; voting
without regard to party, and constructive co-operation between
parties are common, particularly in the informal atmosphere of
committees. There is no exact local parallel to the Cabinet,
dwarfing the individual Councillor's importance, and governing
by means of a docile majority; though on the larger authorities
there is now a tendency for the chairmen of committees, meeting
informally, to assume Cabinet functions. Matters often arise in
which Councils with different political complexions can co-
operate. While the level of the rates is a party question, the