Where we stand: Local Government

We are the largest party of local government in Britain, with almost 10,000 councillors across the country.

Conservative councils are greener, helping to improve the local environment and protect green spaces in our towns and villages. They are safer, fighting the crime, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and graffiti that ruin people’s quality of life. And, at a time when people are being hit by the economic downturn, they offer better value for money.

We believe strongly in local democracy. Too many decisions which affect local communities are currently taken by officials in Whitehall. A Conservative Government will change that by:

• Giving more powers and freedoms to local councils, and making town halls more accountable to local people
• Abolishing Labour’s quango state, for example by scrapping the unelected regional assemblies
• Giving councils greater control over the spending of money that they receive from Whitehall 
• Allowing local residents to veto high council tax rises in order to keep council tax down

Our aim is to empower and embolden people to take action themselves, whether as individuals or as members of independent organisations, voluntary groups and social enterprises.