Angela Rayner to set out ‘wholesale total rewiring of government power in England’ at Convention of the North
Angela Rayner to give keynote speech at Convention of the North - but debate over devolution in Lancashire not expected to end any time soon
Angela Rayner will aim to reaffirm her vision for a Northern rebirth at a keynote Convention of the North speech in Preston today (28 February).
She will aim to set out that ‘wholesale total rewiring of government power in England’ will ensure the North is able to drive its own growth agenda and shape its own destiny.
She is expected to promote the benefits of the English Devolution White Paper in the north which will give Mayors a range of new powers and greater control of local funding across planning, employment support, skills, rail and more, with strong and effective partnerships in place with councils.
The debate over devolution is far from over in Lancashire. In September last year, the new Labour government ultimately agreed to honour the previous so-called ‘level 2’ deal, which, crucially, did not require an elected mayor – a prospect that had been a perennial sticking point in devolution discussions between Lancashire council leaders down the years.
But Lancashire's new Labour MPs continue to push for a 'level 3' deal - with the extra funding and powers that come with it.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also seek to set out how ministers have improved the local government funding formula to give the North nearly £840 million more this year, to ensure vital investment and fairness.
Empowering and supporting regions to deliver growth and opportunities is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Rayner is expected to say: “I know that the North is impatient as anyone for real change – and I am too.
“The gears of change haven’t always been well-oiled and a decade of decline has seen them rusted.
“You’re being resisted by a system that hoards power and investment away from where it needs to be. Too many decisions affecting too many people are made by too few. I’m here to help you break that system, and build a fairer one in its place.
“That’s what our English Devolution programme is all about. It is the biggest power shift in a generation that will ensure nothing less than a wholesale total rewiring of government power in England.”
Rayner will also use her speech to reveal plans to get the North building through the government’s upcoming Planning Infrastructure Bill.
Jamie Lopez, editor of the Lancashire Lead, spent day one at the Convention - here is his notebook on what he found and heard.
Convention of the North continues at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston today with over 800 people from the world of politics expected.