Kennedy calls for quality public services not false choices

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Jun 2004

Charles Kennedy outlines his views on public services

Charles Kennedy, Leader of the liberal Democrats, today made a keynote speech on the reform of the public services. In his speech he called for quality public services delivered at a local level.

He said "A responsible Government must balance various needs. That is why - when we published our strategy for public policy in Autumn 2002 - we called it 'Quality, Innovation and Choice'. Each have their place in public policy, but our approach recognises that choice is only relevant when quality and capacity are enhanced so that choices become meaningful. Without quality and capacity, choice is empty rhetoric...Our approach recognises that choice is only relevant when quality and capacity are enhanced so that choices become meaningful. Without quality and capacity, choice is empty rhetoric...When it comes to the public services, choice is just one element in the debate. We Liberal Democrats would say that there should be 'choice for all'. But what I believe people really want is quality public services available locally, not false 'choice'."

Mr Kennedy questioned the 'artificial' debate between the other two political parties "'Choice' - as used last week by Labour and the Tories - is a spin word, a top line designed to distract from the real question. For Labour, it's a smokescreen... now the Prime Minister is afraid to mention quality because he needs a distraction from his record of delivery. Instead he talks of false choice. For the Conservatives, the 'choice' mantra is a mask. It's a way of disguising their real agenda. Michael Howard is proposing to spend billions on subsidising people to opt out of the NHS at the tax-payer's expense."

He said that reform must not be driven from Whitehall, saying that politicians must "Liberate public service staff to get on with their jobs. And second, to make local services responsive to local priorities. Local people are best placed to make that assessment."

Mr Kennedy addressed the issue of care of the elderly "In his attack on Michael Howard's rhetoric of 'the right to choose', the Prime Minister dubbed it 'the right to charge.'...Yet when it comes to care of the elderly, Labour too support a right to charge. For the frail elderly in need of basic care: feeding, dressing, washing - for them dignity comes at a price. Dignity in old age should not be determined by the size of your bank balance. That is why Liberal Democrats would scrap the charges for personal care, wherever it is provided."

He talked about the challenge of improving the quality of education "For over a decade both the other parties have offered the illusion of choice through autonomy and increased powers to schools...The reality is our most successful schools don't want more powers - they want less interference. They want the freedom to tailor curriculum to children's real needs; freedom from the endless grind of meeting meaningless targets; freedom from jumping through hoops for additional cash; freedom from the distraction of too many targets, too much testing and league tables."

Mr Kennedy concluded by saying "Our mantra won't be choice. Our watchword is quality. And our brand - fairer taxation for investment; a commitment to the integrity of our public services; and a true commitment to localism - sets us apart."