Angela Rayner pledges to grant greater autonomy to local communities
Ms. Rayner, the secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government, expressed her desire for council leaders to ‘partner with this government.’
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner made a promise on Tuesday to transfer more powers from Westminster to local areas, as part of a “devolution revolution.”
The new Labour government is welcoming areas interested in exploring devolution for the first time.
The deputy Labour leader, also serving as the secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government, has reached out to council leaders without current devolution deals, urging them to “partner with this government.”
Ms. Rayner’s announcement precedes Wednesday’s King’s Speech, where mayors and councils are expected to receive more control over skills, energy, planning, and transport.
In her message to local leaders, she stated, “For too long, Westminster has retained power, impeding the progress of towns, cities, and villages across the country from reaching their full potential.
“Last week, the Prime Minister and I met with England’s metro Mayors, signaling our intention to involve local leaders in our government. We discussed strategies to achieve sustained economic growth through improved housing, customized skills programs, and secure, well-paid jobs, utilizing both national and local resources.
“I have witnessed firsthand the benefits of devolution, from enhanced transport integration and publicly managed buses to new skills initiatives and high-quality, affordable housing projects.”
Voters in certain English metropolitan areas like London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands elect mayors with regional responsibilities encompassing transport, housing, and potentially policing.
The government’s announcement of expanded devolution came shortly before Labour’s Vaughan Gething resigned as the first minister of Wales following protests over his leadership.
During a meeting with regional mayors last week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ms. Rayner expressed a desire to establish a genuine partnership with them.
Reflecting on the meeting, the prime minister stated, “I think it’s the first meeting like this in Downing Street. I don’t think all the metro mayors have come together in Downing Street like this, so this is a first and that’s good.”
Following Manchester’s Example
Eleven mayors from across England attended the meeting in person, with the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, being absent due to illness.
Amongst the attendees were Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Richard Parker, the West Midlands Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Tees Valley Mayor Lord Ben Houchen, the sole Tory member present.
Labour has highlighted Greater Manchester, which has held devolved powers since 2014, as a successful example of a region benefiting from devolution.
The party noted that under Labour’s Andy Burnham’s leadership, the city has experienced significant growth due to devolved powers that facilitated investment, skills enhancement, and the development of an integrated transport system.
PA Media contributed to this report.
