Comment Labour wants new order with power to the people
LABOUR is planning to “rewrite the British constitution” to create a “new Britain”, with devolved nations and regions such as the Midlands taking control of agriculture, environmental protection, regional development and £4 billion in funding.
The plan was set out by Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East.
One of his goals was to see powers and funding currently controlled by the EU devolved to regional level after Brexit, rather than going to Westminster, he said.
Representatives from local government, business, the trades unions, faith groups and non-governmental organisations from every region and nation will be asked to come together in a Constitutional convention to thrash out the details.
Labour has previously published plans to devolve money and power to the north of England.
Speaking at the Scottish Labour Party conference over the weekend, Mr Watson made it clear that Labour aimed to “transfer power from the centre” to every region of England, as well as to devolved administrations such as those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
He told his audience: “In Tory Britain whole regions and nations are being left behind.
“Especially those regions like mine, the Midlands, and nations like yours, Scotland, which helped to make the country wealthy in the industrial revolution and beyond but have been neglected by Tory Britain for too long.”
The result of last year’s EU referendum showed voters wanted more power to be handed to the nations and regions of the UK, said Mr Watson.
He said: “I want us to join together to rewrite the British constitution for the new era in which we find ourselves.
“Take Europe. In this post Brexit world I favour devolution all round.
“I favour the regions and nations taking from Brussels powers over agriculture and fisheries; regional policy; social funds; environmental protection, and sharing control of the £4 billion pounds worth of spending by Europe in the UK.
“These are powers the Tories want to repatriate to London.
“I say let’s repatriate these powers to the nations and regions of our country.”
And the Black Country MP called on English regions and nations like Scotland to work in partnership to “rewrite the British constitution for the new era in which we find ourselves”.
Mr Watson said: “We should bring together representatives from local government, business, the trades unions, faith groups and NGOs from every region and nation.
“That constitutional convention should propose the constitution we want for the new Britain.
“And let’s remember, it’s not a talking shop about arid constitutional issues.
“It’s about power to the people. Economic power; financial power; political power. And it’s about how we can unleash the economic potential of every part of the UK.”
The Conservative government and earlier Coalition government introduced combined authorities across the country, led in many cases by regional mayors to be elected on May 4 this year.
But Labour has claimed that these will have limited formal powers and resources.
The West Midlands Combined Authority will receive an investment fund of £36.5 million a year over 30 years, which comes to more than £1 billion and could be used to attract private sector investment of at least the same again.
Although it sounds like a large sum, critics say this is limited funding for a region of 2.8 million people over 30 years.
Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has previously announced plans for laws to require UK governments to make a statement to Parliament if capital spending is not allocated fairly across English regions. It’s an attempt to stop investment being concentrated in London.
Labour has also published plans to create a Council of the North bringing together elected mayors, councils and MPs from across the North East, North West and Yorkshire.
In Tory Britain whole regions and nations are being left behind Tom Watson