Keir Starmer calls on mayors to develop 10-year local growth | News

West Midlands Richard Parker is also there

Sir Keir Starmer and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker were in Wolverhampton to discuss ‘boosting growth in every region’. He will be high on the agenda in Labour’s devolution plans as he brings together his party’s newly expanded mayoral team.

Labor has won a number of high-profile contenders in this year’s mayoral elections, as well as a number of first-time mayoral voter wins in parts of the country.

Local Labor politicians are “already setting the agenda” in the face of “a failed Tory government that is choking our economy and hoarding power”, Sir Keir said.

The Labor leader will invite the group to help develop a “gold standard” for boosting local economies when they meet for the first time since the contests.

They will work together to shape Labour’s proposals for new 10-year local growth plans, ensuring they can be delivered quickly if – as polls suggest – the party wins the next general election.

Existing work highlighted by Labor includes Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester Strategy, Tracy Brabin’s West Yorkshire Business Council, as well as Sadiq Khan’s plans to create 150,000 jobs in London by 2028.

The party accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Tories of failing to deliver on their flagship policy of leveling the UK’s regions, pointing to analysis of Office for National Statistics data showing the average difference in gross domestic product per person between London and other authorities combined in England averaged £29,000 in 2022.

Sir Keir will set out how a Labor government could help boost mayors’ efforts to boost growth, including by extending devolution, setting up a new body called Skills England to help meet the skills demands of industry over the next decade, building 1 .5 million houses in the next Parliament. , and setting new standards for public institutions to stimulate regional growth.

The Labor leader said ahead of the meeting: “These local elections have shown that the British public are ready to put their faith in this changed Labor Party. We will repay that trust by delivering economic growth for everyone, everywhere in partnership with our Labor mayors.

“Our growing team of Labor mayors are already setting the agenda and delivering results for local people, despite a failed Tory government choking our economy and hoarding power in Westminster.

“My Labor government would rebuild our economy hand in hand with local leaders. That’s why boosting growth in every region will be at the top of the agenda for our devolution plans. By drawing on the expertise and ideas of Labor mayors who know their communities best, we can set the ‘gold standard’ for delivering local growth.

“With our sleeves rolled up and plans already in place before the general election, Labor will be ready from day one.

“We will accelerate growth in our towns, cities and regions, put more money in people’s pockets and improve living standards across the UK.”

Labor wins included Richard Parker’s shock victory over Tory Andy Street in the West Midlands, Claire Ward becoming the first elected mayor of the East Midlands, Kim McGuinness winning the North East mayoral re-election and David Skaith winning New York & North Yorkshire mayoralty – which includes Mr Sunak’s Richmond constituency.

The party retained mayoralties such as London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Liverpool City Region.

The Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat from the electorate in contests earlier this month, also losing almost 500 council seats and the Blackpool South by-election.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: “Sir Keir Starmer’s metro mayors have spent more time on international issues over which they have no control, rather than respecting people’s priorities.

“The worst thing Labor could do for regional growth is to raise taxes across the country – which is why they should immediately rule out both the business rates and council tax revaluations they have opened the door to . We all know exactly why they would do that. – raise taxes on communities everywhere.

“We are driving regional growth and creating thriving communities, investing over £15 billion in projects across the UK and supporting 75 cities through our Long Term Plan for Cities. Work would take us back to square one.”

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