David Cameron may finally have found community spirit amongst the riot clean up, but recent events spell the end for his Big Society fantasy

Abstract

Following the looting and vandalism in areas across London on Monday evening, hundreds of people came out to help clear up the mess and put their neighbourhoods back on track. Amy Mollett writes that this example of ‘Big Society’ spirit is admirable, but the damage caused by disengaged, angry, and bored young people shows that the Prime Minister’s dream of a Big Society is over