The post you are reporting:
Yesterday we were briefed beforehand that David Cameron was making a big speech later in the day on the Big Society. It was also reported earlier the same day that it was the third, yes third, re-launch of the notion. Seemed interesting...I tuned in to the news programmes later in the day to catch up but it just wasnt covered , no item on it anywhere.
We had the super-injuncted footballer
We had O'Bama in Ireland (!)
We had the Ash Cloud
But Camerons speech seemed to sink without trace. I am now wondering if it happened at all.
I had this through from the Public Sector Executive newsletter yesterday, just prior to the scheduled speech...worth a peruse
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The Big Society is not a "fluffy add-on" to the Government's agenda but runs right through the heart of it, Prime Minister David Cameron will say today.
This will mark the third time the concept has been re-launched, commentators noted, as ministers have struggled to make the idea resonate with the public. It was originally conceived years before the recession, but many people tell opinion pollsters they see it as a cynical cover for public sector cuts as organisations seek to fill formerly-paid roles with volunteers.
But Cameron will say: "This is about as gritty and important as it gets: giving everyone the chance to get on and making our country a better place to live."
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, who has the biggest role in promoting and managing the Big Society agenda, told Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "We may have failed to articulate it clearly and we'll carry on explaining as best as we can. I think people understand what is meant when we explain it and think that it is all a good idea."
The Government is setting out new policies to encourage charitable giving and volunteering, while also linking the Big Society agenda to public services reform.
Cameron will say: "We're not introducing free schools and expanding academies because it's a way of saving money from the schools budget. We're doing it because it's the best way to improve education. More choice for parents. More freedom for professionals to innovate. A greater ability for new providers to come forward. It is the big society way to improve education.
"In our health service, we're not giving patients more control and doctors more professional freedom because we want to save money. We're doing it because it's the best way to improve the NHS."