When I first read the title of David Lipsey’s recent Prospect article (”Too much choice,” December 2005), my heart sank. I thought it would be yet another of the many recent polemics against extending choice in public services—but this time written by someone whose views I generally respect.
In fact, it turned out to be a thoughtful and balanced piece. Far from making a blanket condemnation of all forms of choice, Lipsey says choice in public services “may have an important role to play,” and he endorses collective choice by primary care trusts, choice in social care through the direct payments scheme and individual choice of GP.
But of course, the general thrust of his argument is against more choice. In particular, he appears to dislike key aspects of current government policy, especially choice of hospital for elective surgery and parental choice of school. Here, as one of the architects of these policies, I have to take issue with him.
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