Sir Keir Starmer has promised a new 'take back control' bill to transfer powers from Westminster to communities, in his first speech of 2023. The Labour leader, a former Remain supporter, said he wanted to turn the Brexit campaign slogan 'into a solution'.
He pledged to devolve new powers over employment support, transport, energy, housing, culture and childcare. Sir Keir said the legislation would be 'a centrepiece' of Labour's plans if it wins the next general election.
With the country facing severe pressure on the NHS, a wave of strike action and a cost-of-living crisis, Sir Keir said he was 'under no illusions about the scale of the challenges we face'. In his speech in east London, he promised a 'decade of national renewal' under Labour and 'hope' for the future.
But the Labour leader warned his party 'won't be able to spend our way' out of the 'mess' he said would be left by the Conservatives. Setting out his priorities, Sir Keir said he wanted to give communities 'the chance to control their economic destiny'.
During the Brexit campaign of 2016, Sir Keir said he 'couldn't disagree with the basic case so many Leave voters made to me'. 'It's not unreasonable for us to recognise the desire for communities to stand on their own feet. It's what 'take back control' meant,' he said. 'So we will embrace the 'take back control' message but we'll turn it from a slogan to a solution.'
Labour said the bill would give English towns and cities the tools to develop long-term plans for economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs in their areas. The party said there would be 'a presumption towards moving power out of Westminster', with local leaders able to bid for any powers already devolved elsewhere.
