Starmer To Pledge New Era Of Devolution

A new Labour government would give all towns and cities in England extra powers and funding to boost local economies, deliver thousands of new homes and create high-quality jobs, Keir Starmer will announce.

- Pippa Crerar, Peter Walker

In the biggest expansion of devolution since Labour was last in power, he will pledge that councils and combined authorities would get more control over housing and planning, skills, energy and transport - the kind of powers currently held by London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.

"If we want to challenge the hoarding of potential in our economy then we must win the war against the hoarders in Westminster. Give power back and put communities in control," Starmer will tell the conference.

"An economy that works for the whole country is what the British people want," he will say. "The Tories know that. They stood at this crossroads before. They called it levelling up. But as soon as they counted their votes, they turned back."

In what could be his last conference speech before a general election, Starmer will set his sights on at least two terms in power in an attempt to rescue a country "ruined" by 13 years of Conservative rule.

He will promise a "decade of national renewal", an indication he believes his party will be in power until the mid-2030s, although he will acknowledge that some voters still need to be given a reason to back him when the country goes to the polls.

Starmer's devolution plans, which Labour aides say would give towns and cities the tools they need to develop their own long-term growth strategies, mean that local leaders could request more powers with a presumption the requests would be granted.

There could also be an expansion of the combined authorities model across England, with other groups of local councils working together to deliver key public services.