The Local Government Association (LGA) is like a ‘dysfunctional 1970s council,' according to its chairman, Lord Porter.

In an exclusive podcast interview for Public Intelligence and The MJ, Lord Porter said: ‘The LGA – in terms of its structure – is like a dysfunctional 1970s council run by committees.

'You have no command power.'

Instead, he told interviewer Mike Bennett: ‘It's cross-party so you have to bring a coalition of people to any decision you want to make.'

Lord Porter went on to defend his colleagues: ‘In fairness to the group leaders they generally do think as one on most issues.'

‘You can see from a national level how we have more in common with each other than we do with the government, regardless of what colour the government is.

‘Even if people are misguided for political reasons, their hearts are generally in the right place.'

He added: ‘It is stark the difference between people who care about local and people who care about national. Stark.'

Lord Porter, who was a shop steward in the early part of his career, admitted: ‘I know for some Conservatives I'm too liberal and for some liberals I'm too conservative.

'I don't generally fit into other people's mould, but that's life.

'Why should I have to?'

To listen to the Public Intelligence and The MJ podcast click here