THE Liverpool-born brains behind the “Big Society” Phillip Blond said he believed it would still thrive in the city despite the council’s decision to pull out of the scheme.

Writer, thinker and theologian Phillip Blond was at the Anglican cathedral to give a talk on how his vision could be advanced by the church, communities and businesses.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Post, Mr Blond was quick to assert that his Big Society concept – adopted by Prime Minister David Cameron on coming to power last year – was not a mask for Government cuts.

Liverpool council quit the Big Society in February this year arguing that spending cuts imposed by the Conservative and Lib-Dem coalition meant the very communities expected to take over the running of libraries and leisure centres were having their most important support services taken away.

But Mr Blond said he believed more deprived areas were a more likely breeding ground for the Big Society than more affluent ones.

He added: “The Big Society won’t leave Liverpool even if Liverpool leaves the Big Society. It will prosper anyway.

“The council has a Big Society vision that’s good and democratic but it differs from the Government’s.

“There’s a common purpose here and I would like to create a space in which that vision can be supported and I think enough people want to support it in Liverpool.

“It’s beyond left and right, it’s not a party political idea.

“What I’m in favour of is people who have been screwed by the system, living on very little money, living in terrible conditions coming together to create new associations and groups, so they can take over things and build prosperity from the bottom up.

“It should work most in disadvantaged communities.”