Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, responding to Nick Clegg’s speech on English devolution, said:

“Labour has long called for English devolution and has set out detailed plans for the biggest decentralisation of power and funding for a century. As part of this New Deal for England a Labour Government will devolve £30bn of investment for economic development and infrastructure to City and to County Regions so they can take their own decisions. 

“There is now an unstoppable tide running in favour of passing power down, but Nick Clegg seems to be waking up late to the call for less centralisation. What people want is not warm words but substance to back it up.”

ENDS