In an essay published by Demos, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP argues that regenerating the public realm must become a priority for progressive governments.

She states that ‘poverty of aspiration’ is as destructive to well-being as material poverty, and must be tackled through both the regeneration of the public realm and through engaging people as citizens as well as consumers in public services.

The essay examines the diversity of the public realm and the crucial part it plays in our identity - from public parks and squares to our streets; museums to music; Wembley to the Angel of the North; the BBC; the National Lottery; and great national celebrations – and also the revitalisation of our political institutions and the health of democracy as a logical consequence of Labour’s public service reform to date.