A senior trade union leader today called on the Government to put collaboration not consumerism at the heart of public service reform. Writing exclusively in “Participation Nation: The Challenge of Reconnection” Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, urges the government to drop market reform proposals in favour of a participatory approach to public service delivery. Speaking ahead of the launch of the pamphlet he said:

"The government should adopt a new strategy for public service reform - one based on real democratic participation instead of top-down targets and competitive markets. People shouldn't have to make a false choice between private firms that just want to cut costs and increase profits for their shareholders. Our public services must be genuinely accountable to the communities they serve, and staff and users should work together to find the best ways of improving them. But if this is going to work, the government has to listen to what communities are calling for and invest in the workforce that can help to make it happen. Otherwise all the talk about 'empowerment' and 'involvement' will only lead to more cynicism and disillusionment."