Communities want stronger powers over public service outsourcing alongside greater transparency surrounding contracts, according to a survey.
A survey undertaken by Survation for campaign group We Own It found 68% of those questioned thought the public should have a legal right to be consulted on the outsourcing of public services and given greater access to information about deals.
This approach won support from followers of all political parties but saw the strongest backing from Labour and UKIP voters.
Around half of respondents were against the current trend of services being outsourced to the private sector
In comparison, less than a quarter of respondents said they wanted to see more public services run by firms.
Cat Hobbs, director of We Own It, said: ‘Government hands over our public services to private providers under the veil of “commercial confidentiality” – it's old fashioned and undemocratic. We don't know what's been agreed in our name and with our public money.
‘The people affected by public service sell-offs and contracts – whether it's the East Coast line, the National Gallery or local council care services – want to have a say.
‘We need a Public Service Users Bill for transparency and accountability, to put the public interest ahead of vested corporate interests,’ Hobbs added.
