Following the news in Britain feels increasingly like living the Smiths’ lyric, “Good times for a change”. The onslaught of cost-cutting, short-termist, outright nasty public policy can sometimes make it hard to believe any progress is possible. Well, here’s some good news.

Last month, I reported on cash-strapped Bristol city council’s proposal to move disabled people into residential care if it was deemed “best value” compared with providing support in their own homes. Readers took to social media with their outrage. Others used the council’s public consultation to voice their objections. Next, campaigners in Bristol engaged pro bono lawyers to challenge the legality of the proposal.

Then came the U-turn. In light of the growing backlash, the council has now scrapped the policy entirely. It declined to comment when I approached........

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