Government must go local to renew itself say Labour Ministers

September 11, 2006

A number of government Ministers today call for a new localist approach to Government policies as crucial to renewing themselves in power.



Published in a New Local Government Network pamphlet: Labour and Localism – part of a series of cross-party publications on devolution – Phil Hope MP, James Plaskitt MP, Bill Rammell MP, Gareth Thomas MP and Rosie Winterton MP discuss how a localist approach to NHS reform, electoral reform, multiculturalism, regeneration and financial exclusion can reconnect Labour with the electorate and create dynamic and innovative new policies.



Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Health explores the next phase for change in the National Health Service, showing a strong commitment to a localist and patient-centred approach and recognising that at times policy has “gone too far towards uniformity”. In setting out a path towards stronger public accountability for local health care managers from the public and locally elected representatives – using the new ‘Local Involvement Networks’ linked to Council Overview & Scrutiny Committees – Rosie Winterton discusses what are clearly positive steps away from the old Whitehall-knows-best mentality.



Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, DfES and Phil Hope MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills, DfES both give their distinctive take on the future shape of communities, tackling the challenges of sustainable regeneration and multiculturalism. Phil Hope advocates that Government should look at the social as well as physical infrastructure of communities when regenerating areas, to ensure that new developments have access to safe streets and job and education opportunities.



Phil Hope writes that: “We can be proud that the physical regeneration that Labour has delivered since 1997 will last for generations. But it is also vital that our social regeneration lasts as long as those bricks and mortar”.



Bill Rammell MP discusses how multiculturalism has contributed positively to British society but that “there are certain ‘bottom lines’ that we should be able to sign up to that convey something of what being a citizen in 21st Century Britain means”.



International Development Minister Gareth Thomas MP looks afresh at the possibility for future constitutional change, urging new ways to counteract citizen disengagement through electoral reform and advocating that the current first past the post system should be replaced by an Alternative Vote (AV) system, in which each voter ranks their candidate in order of preference. Gareth Thomas’s essay includes a proposal to pilot the ‘alternative vote’ system at future London Assembly and local elections.



Ensuring prosperity and economic well-being for all is a cornerstone of Labour policy which Work & Pensions Minister James Plaskitt MP underlines in his chapter focusing on the benefits a devolved approach to financial inclusion can bring. In stating that “the application (of central funds) may often be better handled locally”, whether through local credit unions or other community finance vehicles, he voices an exciting new direction for localism.



NLGN’s Party Pamphlet: Labour and Localism is published on Monday 11th September and is part of a series of essays from the main political parties in the UK. Similar pamphlets from leading Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will be published in the autumn.



Media enquiries James Hulme on 020 7357 0116



Notes for Editors:



The New Local Government Network (NLGN) is an independent think tank, seeking to transform public services, revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities.


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