It was former Labour prime minister, Harold Wilson, who once observed that, ‘a week is a long time in politics'. But an afternoon can be just as challenging – particularly when you have just launched the local government White Paper.

After months of fevered speculation, the secretary of state, Ruth Kelly, launched the White Paper in the House of Commons last Thursday. And it is no understatement to say that for many in local government circles, this is the most important piece of legislation to come out of Whitehall in years. As soon as it was launched, local government minister, Phil Woolas, embarked on a whistle stop tour of Hampshire, visiting all three tiers – parish, county and unitary – to spell out what this new legislation would mean.