Reimagining local governance in the UK: Understanding public discourse on the Preston model

Farrelly, Michael

Abstract

The Preston Model of local economic development seeks to serve the material, social and health needs of the people of the city; it has met with widespread praise but critics have also called the model a form of unwelcome ‘protectionism’ that could not work across the UK. Both praise and critique are founded on particular representations of the model. The burgeoning scholarship on the Preston Model have, as yet, overlooked the discourses of the Preston Model – how language is used to conceptualise, deliberate and argue over the model. Drawing on analytical methods of critical discourse policy analysis, this chapter presents an analysis of how proponents and opponents have represented the model in media texts. The analysis shows that (1) opponents present a limited version of the model, focussing exclusively on procurement and presenting businesses as passive recipients of funds; (2) some proponents of the model also limit their focus on procurement and show business as passive recipients; (3) these limited discourses excluded reference to citizens, residents, and workers in the city; and (4) some proponents present a more elaborate version of the model; it is in these text that we find the most incisive critique.

Citation

Farrelly, M. (2021). Reimagining local governance in the UK: Understanding public discourse on the Preston model. In J. Manley, & P. B. Whyman (Eds.), The Preston model and community wealth building: Creating a socio-economic democracy for the future (79-92). Abingdon: Taylor & Francis (Routledge). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003053736

• Online Publication Date: Jul 5, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 21, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 1, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 22, 2022
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Pages: 79-92
• Book Title: The Preston model and community wealth building: Creating a socio-economic democracy for the future
• Chapter Number: 5
• ISBN: 9780367514082 ; 9780367514099
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003053736
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3789628