'We have the power to do things in a Manchester way': Angela Rayner promises 'devolution revolution'

Angela Rayner has committed to making “irreversible” changes to devolution laws in order to ensure that Northerners will no longer be “dictated” by Whitehall.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP and Deputy Prime Minister, who also has responsibility for housing, communities and local government, has pledged to deliver devolution across the whole of the North of England. It comes around 18 months after Greater Manchester secured its latest devolution deal, giving mayor Andy Burnham more control over transport, housing and technical education.

Speaking ahead of her speech opening the Labour Conference on Sunday (September 22), Ms Rayner said she intends to hand devolved powers to areas such as Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire, Hull and East Yorkshire through devolution deals. During the general election campaign, the party promised Greater Manchester would also be given new powers to take devolution further.

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Ms Rayner said: “For 14 years, the over-centralised Westminster-knows-best attitude of the Tories left millions of people left behind, neglected, ignored and invisible. Britain’s economy has been held back and dragged down by their failed trickle-down experiment.

“This Labour Government will harness the potential in our economy, handing power back and putting communities in control, so innovation and growth can bloom in every part of the country. Our devolution revolution will shift power away from Westminster, reigniting the fires of our economy, unleashing investment and driving economic growth by trusting in our local leaders who know their areas best.

“I have seen how in my own patch, devolution has put rocket fuel under local pride. We have the power to do things in a Manchester way, but we want to support other communities to do things their own way. This is about restoring trust in politics and respecting people with skin in the game to make decisions for their own area.

“We will be the Government that completes devolution in the North. This shift will change the future of the North of England like nothing else. Northerners will no longer be dictated to from Whitehall. The change will be irreversible, there is no going back and I will get it done.”

In July’s King’s Speech, the Government committed to bringing forward an English Devolution Bill to deliver on its manifesto commitment on devolution. It means that the government will be forced to consider requests for more power by local leaders.

Mr Burnham has been lobbying the new Labour government to give him control of the Department for Work and Pensions budget for employment support in Greater Manchester. He also wants to bring forward his plans to make local rail lines part of the Bee Network.

At the party conference this weekend, Labour is set to announce funding for two Investment Zones, focusing on advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands and life sciences in West Yorkshire. Investment Zones - a programme created by the Conservative government - have been established in a number of Combined Authorities in England, including Greater Manchester.