Despite the best efforts of the Local Government Association, the sector is rarely in a position to speak clearly with one voice. We are a sector divided by politics, tiers, geographies, communities and cultures – and sometimes that is all in just one place. Local autonomy is the near-unique common ground.

The divide highlighted by evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life is clear – a division between the political representation of the LGA and the officer-led views of SOLACE. Both are keen to defend the rights of their particular tribe as the sector’s ethical codes are reviewed.