Labour plans public control of services
Tessa Jowell believes mutuals now have potential across the public sector
Schools, hospitals, care homes and even leisure centres could be reorganised in a John Lewis-style mutual partnership, according to new plans unveiled by the government.
Under Labour's planned mutual system, workers would have much more say in how public services and organisations are run.
The partnership could mean that parents would be able to vote on adopting different exams at their child's school, while nurses and patients could be more involved in the way hospitals and trusts are governed.
Unlike a John Lewis mutual, however, employees in schools and hospitals would not 'part-own' the company.
Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for the Cabinet Office, said: "We think mutuals have a much broader potential across the public sector, especially now where they can become an expression of the new national soul post-credit crunch."
If the move proves sufficiently popular it could form part of Labour's election manifesto.
Before the mid-1940s, local communities were more involved in the way public facilities were run. Mutualism, however, was largely abandoned by Labour when it came to power in 1945, believing that large, centralised power was the best way to provide services.
News of the Labour proposal comes after Conservative leader David Cameron outlined his plans for the public sector, where control of community services would be devolved to local groups and charities, during a speech on Tuesday (10th November).
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