Cameron promises 'bonfire of quangos'

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 01:00

A CONSERVATIVE government would cut the number of unelected quangos in "a massive shift in power from bureaucracy to democracy", David Cameron is due to promise today.

Shadow cabinet ministers have been told to review every publicly-funded independent body within their briefs to determine which should be scrapped or slimmed down.

And if voted into power at the next general election, Tory ministers would set the rules each one operated under and be responsible for its performance.

Mr Cameron is expected to blame the myriad bodies for a public feeling that "nothing ever changes" and say reform is vital to tackle the crisis of confidence in politics caused by the expenses scandal.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne said at the weekend he had ordered a detailed review of quangos in a bid to "make sure every penny of public money goes to front-line services".

The Tories said the move was laughable as the numbers had risen dramatically since Labour came to power in 1997, despite a promise by Gordon Brown in opposition of a "bonfire of the quangos".

And they rejected claims by Mr Byrne that their policy proposals included the creation of at least another 17.