Labour must embrace devolution despite “centralist” instincts, says Tristram Hunt

Labour “must go further and faster” on devolution if  the party is to provide an alternative to the “secretive, haphazard and controlling” approach from the Conservatives,  Tristram Hunt will say today.

The party allowed its “centralist instincts” to return and allowed the Conservatives capitalise on the demand for local democracy even though Labour has historically led the way on the issue, the Stoke-on-Trent MP will later.

Hunt, an historian whose books include Ten Cities That Made An Empire, will say Labour should tap into its heritage of “municipal socialism” and deliver better local services, such as energy, water and broadband.

He will also say Labour missed a “golden opportunity” in the five years before the 2015 election.

“Despite Labour leading the way on devolution for much of the last Parliament, when Osborne announced that first Manchester deal our centralist instincts returned and we allowed the Tories to capture the spirit of the moment.

“As a result, we missed a golden opportunity to show how we could deliver – in a time of tight public finances – the three fundamental promises of the Labour Party: to reduce economic unfairness, strengthen our communities, and revitalise our national democracy.

“The time for equivocation is over. We must go further and faster than the Tories on devolution, and embrace a new radical localism that puts power back in the hands of our communities and restores a sense of civic pride.”

The backbencher will use the Manchester speech to call on the Government to go further on devolution by returning three powers to city regions – greater financial autonomy, reshaping welfare and education at city level, and provision of civic services such as water and broadband.

“I am calling on the Government to look specifically at how water services in England can be provided by local, civic organisations as it implements legislation to increase competition in the water industry – something that Ofwat should also consider as it conducts its review of retail household markets over the coming months.  

“But we must also make sure that we’re giving local leaders the support they need to compete in the changing energy and broadband markets – building on the initiatives already underway in places like Nottingham and Brighton.”

Hut has previously been outspoken on devolution issues, calling for an English referendum and greater autonomy for English regions in the UK.