Former local government minister, John Healey, has cautioned Labour against dismissing PM David Cameron's Big Society initiative, but warned the coalition's proposals to bypass town halls through community empowerment involved a damaging ‘sleight of hand'.

Speaking at a fringe event hosted by the National Association of Local Councils on 27 September, Mr Healey surprised some members of the audience by refusing to reject Mr Cameron's Big Society plan to empower volunteers and community groups to deliver key local services.