Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to tell regional mayors that Labour is ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’ through a major programme of devolution.
All regional mayors in England will meet in 10 Downing Street today to discuss resetting the relationship between central and regional governments.
Ms Rayner will use the meeting to mark the beginning of the process of establishing Local Growth Plans and will urge mayors to identify local specialisms and contribute to work on a national industrial strategy.
She will also say that the Government’s door is open to those areas who want to take on devolution for the first time.
‘It’s time to take back control, and this new government is focused on setting that potential free, with a full reset of our relationship with local government,’ the deputy PM will say.
‘All of this starts with proper, grown up conversations with our regional Mayors, to make changes that help them deliver local economic growth with better housing, education and jobs for local people.
‘Work will now continue at pace to deliver on manifesto commitments to transfer power out of Whitehall, and into our communities, with upcoming devolution legislation to take back control.’
To find out more about what local government stakeholders want from the new government, check out our guide, Transforming Local Government: A Strategic Guide for Labour. Download your complimentary copy now!
