Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to announce plans today to spread power away from the political centre of Westminster, aiming to offer people more control over their lives and local politicians a greater say on transport, housing and jobs.
In a major policy announcement in Leeds,and In response to the government’s effort to “level up” the country by tackling regional inequalities, Starmer will say this can only be achieved by delivering “the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people”.
People up and down this country are crying out for a new approach,” he will say, according to excerpts from his speech to be delivered at the unveiling of a report he commissioned entitled “A New Britain”.
The report is expected to present 40 recommendations including handing local communities new powers over skills, transport, planning and culture to drive growth, Labour said in a statement.
This, the party says, will enable the emergence of hundreds of “clusters” of economic activity in cities and towns.
Starmer commissioned the report by the Commission on the UK’s Future in December 2020, promising that it would spread “power, wealth and opportunity” beyond Westminster and deliver “real and lasting economic and political devolution across our towns, communities and to people across the country”.
The four “pillars” of the report are: “a new purpose for Britain: equal opportunities for all”; “biggest transfer of power out of Westminster ever”; “reform of the centre”; and “a fresh blueprint to implement radical change”
The commission’s review, headed by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, will also recommend moving to an elected second chamber to help restore faith in the political system.
Brown said a new second chamber would prevent Westminster legislating in areas reserved for devolved governments without their consent. He said it would therefore have a role “in protecting the devolution settlement.” He said it was the size of the Lords and the habit of prime ministers to stuff it with their mates that made it “indefensible.”
Speaking on BBC breakfast this morning Keir Starmer says the House of Lords is “indefensible” and it should be abolished “as quickly as possible” – potentially within first five years of Labour government
