It’s been another busy and productive week, with plenty of opportunities to get stuck into the work of delivering real change for communities. A key part of that has been meeting with experts to discuss the Government’s plans to improve local government standards for councillors. The vast majority of elected members are hardworking public servants, but we know that a small minority can undermine trust in the system. The last Tory government stripped councils of the powers needed to hold poor behaviour to account, and we are determined to put that right. The consultation on our proposals is still open, and we want to hear as many views as possible.
It was a real honour to return to the Labour Local Government Conference—this time as Minister of State for Local Government. As a former leader of Labour’s Local Government Association (LGA) Group, I’ve always known that councils are at the heart of delivering change, and they deserve the respect and resources to do the job properly. There is no path to giving communities more control over decisions that affect them—what we call devolution—that doesn’t go through local government. It felt like a real family reunion—Labour councillors standing together, ready to deliver.
This Labour government is serious about change, and we know that wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of Labour councillors on the ground. Any progress we make in fixing the system is a direct result of their hard work, and they deserve real recognition for it.
I also managed to break away from Westminster to visit Liverpool and Chester, meeting with Liverpool City Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson and Mayor Steve Rotheram to discuss how we transfer more powers and funding to local areas. It was great to meet local leaders in Cheshire as well, where we talked about their priorities and saw the fantastic Eco House training facility at Cheshire College, where apprentices are learning the skills that will power the green economy.
But beyond local government, this was also a big week for national change. In Parliament, we passed crucial reforms to strengthen border security and restore order to the asylum and immigration system—despite the Tories and Reform Party voting against them. We set out plans to build the next generation of new towns, with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools, and public transport, taking real steps to end the housing crisis. And we delivered the largest pay rise in over 20 years for our service personnel—the people who keep our country safe at home and strong abroad.
We know there’s still a huge amount to do to deliver the change this country needs. But we should also take confidence in the progress we’re making: inflation is down, mortgage rates are falling, wages are growing at their fastest rate in three years, business investment is at a 19-year high, and leading international financial experts predict that Britain will be one of the fastest-growing economies in the coming years.
There’s a long way to go, but under Labour, Britain is back on the right path.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 