Reigniting economic growth is only possible and worthwhile if it is done in every community in every party of our country. We need wealth to be created far and wide.
As a newly appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, part of my role will be enhancing the combined authority model of devolution so that power and resources are further away from Westminster and closer to where people actually are. Decision-making power should be left to those who have skin in the game, with communities and local people taking control of their future.
However, our new government will not impose decisions on places, we want local power to be fostered from the grassroots upwards, and a national government which empowers rather than derides local government.
Our devolution agenda has already begun with the Prime Minister giving Metro Mayors a seat around the table in his first few days in office. This collaboration will make sure that local areas across the country have governments at every level which want to work together to increase prosperity and the number of good jobs.
I talked about these plans on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier this week.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 