Brown to front UK change bid
Labour leaders spearheaded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown are demanding radical reform of the UK constitution in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign group includes Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, London mayor Sadiq Khan and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
They are calling for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to push power out of Whitehall and give more say to Britain’s home nations and regions.
As a first step, they are demanding the Conservative Government and the Labour opposition at Westminster back a Constitutional Commission to begin work on reform plans. Brown said: “Today, Scottish Labour leaders join forces with English city mayors and Wales’ First Minister with the same message to Westminster
– a new deal for a better Britain is needed.
“We all feel that there is little cooperation between London and the regions and nations.
“We all feel that key voices outside Whitehall are not being listened to. “These flaws in our country’s structures directly hinder our ability to support the NHS, to provide good jobs, and to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“And, as we’ve seen from the pandemic, they stymie efforts to improve disease control, support for employment and industry, the management of public services, and social security.
“It is time for Westminster to listen to the voices outside SW1.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, will commit his party to delivering a new wave of devolution across the UK as he seeks to head off demands for Scottish independence.
In a speech tomorrow, he will say the party’s next manifesto will set out a programme to win power “in order to push as much power as possible away from Westminster”.
He will also say that he is offering “a positive alternative to the Scottish people” while at the same time seeking “to preserve and renew the United Kingdom”.