Labour will put devolution at the most appropriate level
LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE: A Labour government would continue the process of devolution started under Conservative chancellor George Osborne – but to the “most appropriate” level.
Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton and shadow minister for local government and devolution, said the national vision for the country being set out by Labour could not be put in place from Whitehall.
“Devolution should be more nimble and flexible than it has been so far,” he said, adding that it should range from community plans at an empowered ward level up to pan-regional bodies.
LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE: A Labour government would continue the process of devolution started under Conservative chancellor George Osborne – but to the “most appropriate” level.
Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton and shadow minister for local government and devolution, said the national vision for the country being set out by Labour could not be put in place from Whitehall.
“Devolution should be more nimble and flexible than it has been so far,” he said, adding that it should range from community plans at an empowered ward level up to pan-regional bodies.
“It should be that we can recognise that power can be brought down to the most appropriate level.”
McMahon was speaking at a Core Cities panel on what the UK’s urban centres can do to drive growth.
Much of the noise around regional devolution has been swallowed up by the turmoil of the UK’s departure from the European Union. However, the rhetoric at the Labour Party Conference has been about empowering local communities, which in turn is a natural progression of devolution.
“Within the Labour Party we need the national [regional] narrative,” said Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake, chair of the Core Cities Group.
“The problem I perceive is the majority of Westminster politicians are not up to speed with how local government works and operates. All I would ask is that local government is at the table while we are having these discussions.”
McMahon said a Corbyn government would push towards a national framework of access, services and entitlement for each area.
“We believe local government has already been tried and tested and is efficient and productive… And we believe it is fit for purpose to hold the ring on other public spending areas,” he said.
With more devolution, McMahon said, scrutiny would be improved, with Labour creating committees to hold local providers – from the NHS to job centres – to account.
He also said councils’ revenue spending needed to be justified.
“Not all capital projects work. There is a long history [of schemes] that have failed… For every pound of revenue spend, we ought to be absolutely clear on that investment – as we are for capital spending.”
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