I believe in local democracy. I believe in the moral imperative of tackling the economic and social disparities we face in our country. I also believe the best way to make headway quickly is to empower our local communities and our local leaders.

So I sign up to the ambition of the Levelling Up White Paper and its 12 missions. The diagnosis of the problem is spot-on. The analysis recognises that part of the problem is that local leaders have lacked the power and responsibilities to design and deliver policies to tackle local problems and support local people. I couldn't agree more.