Starmer brings together Labour mayors to develop 'gold standard' for boosting economic growth in every region
|
Keir Starmer will today [Monday] bring together Labour's newly
expanded team of mayors to help develop a 'gold standard' for
growing local economies and increasing prosperity across every
region. At the first meeting with Labour's mayors since the
local elections, Keir Starmer will say that boosting regional
growth will be “top of the agenda” in Labour's devolution plans. He
will confirm that the next Labour manifesto will include a focus on
driving regional...Request free trial
Keir Starmer will today [Monday] bring together Labour's newly expanded team of mayors to help develop a 'gold standard' for growing local economies and increasing prosperity across every region. At the first meeting with Labour's mayors since the local elections, Keir Starmer will say that boosting regional growth will be “top of the agenda” in Labour's devolution plans. He will confirm that the next Labour manifesto will include a focus on driving regional growth, and will tell mayors that they will be a core part of making that happen. The meeting, held in the West Midlands, follows a successful set of local elections with Labour winning mayoralties in the West Midlands, North East, York & North Yorkshire and the East Midlands, and retaining mayoralties such as London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Liverpool City Region. Keir Starmer, Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves have convened the meeting to hear about the mayors' plans to boost regional economic growth in their area, discuss how a Labour government could help turbocharge their efforts and work together on proposals such as Labour's new Local Growth Plans. The Labour leader will invite the mayors to work with him ahead of a general election to help develop Labour's proposals for 10-year Local Growth Plans, by building on the best practice already being set out by Labour Mayors across England. Hailing the "agenda-setting" plans of regional mayors in the face of an inept Tory government, Keir Starmer will say that the work already being done by Labour mayors can help set a "gold standard" for future Local Growth Plans, ensuring they can be delivered quickly by an incoming Labour government. Existing work includes Andy Burnham's Greater Manchester Strategy and Tracy Brabin's West Yorkshire Business Board. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has announced ambitious plans to create 150,000 jobs in London as part of his London Growth Plan. The meeting comes as new analysis from Labour shows that Rishi Sunak and the Tories have failed to level up our regions with the average gap in GDP per person between London and other combined authorities in England averaging £29,000. If this gap could be halved so it was closer to the gap in other comparable European economies, it would mean growth in the West Midlands would be £15,700 higher per person, growth in Greater Manchester £13,000 higher and West Yorkshire would be £14,500 higher each year. The Labour leader will also set out how a Labour government would partner with mayors across the country to power-up growth in their regions. Setting out his commitment to helping Mayors boost regional economic growth, Starmer will confirm that Labour would:
Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party, speaking ahead of the first meeting of Labour's new mayors, said: “These local elections showed that the British public is ready to put their trust in this changed Labour Party. We will repay that trust by delivering economic growth for everyone, everywhere in partnership with our Labour mayors. “Our growing team of Labour mayors is already setting the agenda and delivering for local people despite a failing Tory government that is choking off our economy and hoarding power in Westminster. “My Labour government would rebuild our economy hand in hand with local leaders. That's why boosting growth across every region will be top of the agenda for our devolution plans. Drawing on the expertise and ideas of Labour mayors who know their communities best, we can set the ‘gold standard' for delivering local growth. “With our sleeves rolled up and plans already being developed before a general election, Labour will be ready from day one. We'll turbocharge growth across our towns, cities and regions, put more money in people's pockets and improving living standards across Britain.” Ends Notes: Attendees at the meeting on Monday will include:
Local Growth Plans: Labour will deliver new legislation which will mean a bespoke strategy in each area to drive investment and growth. As part of Labour's Take Back Control Act, a Labour Government will create a new statutory obligation on all combined authorities and counties with devolution deals to develop a Local Growth Plan setting out a clear strategy about how they will use their new powers devolved from central government to harness local advantages to kickstart growth in their area. Local Growth Plans will go with the grain of Labour's national industrial strategy, deliver for the everyday economy and mobilise businesses, universities, trade unions and industry bodies. The strategies will be built on a partnership between Mayors and the ‘active centre' of a Labour government and support Combined Authorities to work with businesses, industry bodies, universities, colleges and trade unions. https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Power-and-partnership-Labours-Plan-to-Power-up-Britain.pdf Examples of Labour mayors' work to boost regional economic growth includes:
|