People live in curious political times when it can be hard to match ideology to party. The outstanding example is in penal policy. Kenneth Clarke announces his Conservative determination to reduce numbers in prison, and to develop alternatives to locking people up. Labour denounces this as soft on crime. Is this how people expect things to line up? More predictable is that a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition should express its commitment to stronger local government. Conservatives have traditionally seen local government as something of a bulwark against an intrusive central state. Lib Dems, often without much of a voice on the national stage, have gained power in local councils, and have, in the main, had the most vocal commitment to grassroots democracy--at least until recently. Labour historically fluctuates on this dimension, but has now joined in the localising rhetoric. As political consensus emerges on the need for revitalised local democracy, this article considers some of the developments likely to drive the agenda forward.