Abstract

New Labour's election in May 1997 ended eighteen years of Conservative rule with a majority of over 170 seats in the House of Commons. The incoming administration inherited a strong economy and continued with spending limits and a number of key policies set by the previous Conservative Government. It introduced the notion of the Third Way that can be viewed as a pragmatic response to the needs of government and the increasing cost involved in delivering welfare. The volunteer sector is emerging as an influential provider of welfare services, which has given community development a funding boost. However, in this context there is a danger that community development will again be used as a tool to placate disaffected communities. This runs counter to community development's core values of acting as a liberator among the poorest in society.