In 1999 Geddes and Newman highlighted five key tensions in New Labour's adoption
of the ‘new centrist’ approach to Local Economic
Development (LED). This article reflects on the continuing relevance of these
tensions in relation local labour markets and in the light of the publication of
three major independent reviews of policy in relation to child poverty, skills
provision and welfare reform and the Government's response to these. It suggests
that in the main the tensions identified by Geddes and Newman remain relevant,
especially within the emerging national policy framework. However, it also ends
optimistically, by suggesting that there is scope for LED actors to piece
together an approach which can begin to move toward a resolution of the tensions
through bringing together employment and skills policies at the local level,
developing more effective models of partnership working (including with
employers), and taking the sustainability agenda more seriously.
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