About the Perpetuation of an "Ancient Prejudice". Public Services and Local Government in England

The article deals with public services in England. More specifically, moving from an analysis of both the legal foundation and the main features of public services, the article gives an overview of the area's evolution from its origins until the present day. In so doing, the research pays particular attention to the role played by local government in both the management and supply of public services. To this end, the waste-management service has been chosen for a case study. Indeed, the study highlights that local authorities have been gradually losing their powers, while the central Government has augmented its role and expanded its powers. The analysis therefore confirms the endurance of an ancient "prejudice against localism" that, as the legal theorists show, has its roots in the United Kingdom’s constitutional tradition.