Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, commenting on the Government’s plans for regional devolution, said:

“The Tories will tell you that everything has been fixed and the country is on the right track. But people in towns and cities across the country are feeling the pain of the longest cost-of-living crisis in a century. 

“Labour has radical plans to pass an English Devolution Act and transfer £30 billion over five years from the centre back to city and county regions to boost economic growth and to give them 100 per cent of the additional Business Rates revenue generated by growth to invest in building further success in our regions. Communities are crying out for more powers, but the Tories are playing catch-up on devolution and failing to push real power down from Whitehall. 

“David Cameron and George Osborne have also hit the areas of the country with greatest need, including our major cities, with some of the biggest spending reductions while a handful of the wealthiest local authorities have been given more money to spend. Only Labour is offering devolution, financial reform and a fair deal for England.”