Title

HOUSING

Labour promises councils 'control over own destiny'

A Labour government will build more houses and devolve power to local authorities, according to the party’s deputy leader.

A Labour government will build more houses and devolve power to local authorities, according to the party's deputy leader.

Speaking at the Local Government Association's (LGA) annual conference, Angela Rayner reiterated the party's commitment to devolution and giving people a ‘bigger stake' in the future of their local neighbourhood.

She pledged that a Keir Starmer premiership would ensure decisions are taken by people ‘with skin in the game'.

The deputy opposition leader said the party would deliver ‘genuine devolution' in its first term and would give communities ‘control over their own destiny'.

She said a Labour government would ‘change the relationship between the power we hold and the power you need' and suggested to a questioner that local government would not be the ‘poorer cousin' of central Government.

‘We say the decisions that create wealth in our communities – economic wealth and civic wealth – should be taken by local people with skin in the game,' she said.

‘That's our promise, and we will deliver it with a Bill in the first King's Speech of the next Labour government.'

Angela Rayner also said under the Conservatives there had been ‘managed decline' and a ‘total collapse of housebuilding in this country'.

She said Labour would reform planning laws to allow for building on parts of the green belt and bring back housing national targets while empowering councils to meet them.

Sign up here to receive our free daily news and jobs bulletin.

HOUSING

Rethinking the Better Care Fund

By Mark Palethorpe | 22 April 2026

Moving integrated care from rhetoric to reality calls for an urgent review of how resources like the Better Care Fund are structured, governed and deployed, ...

HOUSING

'Banging the table for children'

By Ann McGauran | 22 April 2026

The new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ passionate belief in the rights of children and young people shines through. Ann Mc...

HOUSING

How we delivered the Youth Investment Fund in Blackburn with Darwen

By Imran Akuji | 21 April 2026

Delivering the Youth Investment Fund in Blackburn with Darwen required a deliberate shift in the council’s role from lead applicant to system steward, says I...

HOUSING

Fiscal devolution: A test of seriousness for government and places

By Mike Emmerich | 20 April 2026

If government and mayoral strategic authorities are willing to match fiscal responsibility and the retention of the proceeds of growth within agreed paramete...

Popular articles by William Eichler