Full text of Angela Rayner's speech to the Local Government Association

Full text of the speech delivered by Angela Rayner MP, Labour's Deputy Leader, at the Local Government Association's Annual Conference this afternoon:

Thank you, Nes, and congratulations on your election as the new leader of the LGA Labour Group.

I look forward to working with you and hearing the great work Labour Councils are doing at Shadow Cabinet. 

And Shaun, it feels pretty good to say this, congratulations on becoming the new Chair of the LGA.

It’s been a real pleasure to work alongside you over the past few years. 

I’m sure everyone here knows this already, and if they didn’t, they just heard it in your speech.

But Shaun is a true champion of localism, that’s his calling card.

And I know he will work with everyone here – of all parties – to take that agenda forward.

In that spirit, can I also thank James Jamieson for his work over the last four years.

A symbol of Conservative stability – perhaps the only symbol of Conservative stability.

James has steered the LGA through some turbulent times.

Most importantly of all – the challenge of the pandemic. 

Something I hope we never go through again.

But appreciate the leadership he showed through it. 

I also want to take a moment – and it feels fitting here – to pay tribute to Lord Bob Kerslake after his untimely passing this weekend.

A distinguished former President of the LGA – as well as a great friend and adviser to Labour in local government.

He was a man who accomplished so much – in local and national government – and showed such dedication to public service. 

If you met Bob or worked with him – and I know so many of you did, you too would have been struck by his decency, wisdom, kindness, enthusiasm and generosity.

He was a lovely man and to lose him is an awful loss. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family - and all those whose lives he touched. 

He will be missed so much by so many in this room – and beyond. 

And it is on a similar note that I would like to pay tribute to one of local government’s own - Ian Brookfield. 

As Leader of Wolverhampton Council, and as a former Mayor, he gave many years to local government. 

He led his city through the pandemic and drove the work to support residents through the cost-of-living crisis. 

On behalf of the whole Labour Party, and I’m sure the whole room today, my condolences to his wife Paula and their family.

And it is reflecting on those lifetimes of public service that I say it is a genuine honour to join you today in Bournemouth today. 

As we join in a spirit of cooperation in the best interests of the people we all serve.

But, I do just have to give a special shout out to the many new and brilliant Labour Council leaders finding new solutions, working tirelessly for their communities, fighting the suffocating cost-of-living crisis.  

This Conference marks a new era for Labour in local government. 

A moment – as Shaun says – for the “power of local”. 

Local knowledge, local spirit, local thinking. 

At the service of working people, unlocking the pride and purpose of their communities. 

22 new Labour-led councils, more than 500 new councillors.

The largest party in local government for the first time in over 20 years!

It’s an emotional moment, because we understand what you’ve been through. 

We know what the past 13 years have been like for councils.

We see it in our communities like those I represent in Tameside and Oldham.  

The decisions you’ve all had to take, not just Labour councils. 

Now, this isn’t the place for a political argument about austerity.

But I worked in local government, and represented thousands more of your staff, during that period – I know it was tough. 

And I’ll be honest, I know we face a challenging time ahead too.

The public finances are in a bad place – we all know that. 

If we are elected, we know we will inherit the consequences of that.

But I would like to put on record my gratitude for your service, for your leadership, for your ability to face up to tough times and keep the civic flame burning – in England and Wales.

I say: thank you for what you’ve done.

But your work continues. 

I met with our new leaders in person immediately after the elections in May and the passion they’ve shown, the determination to roll up their sleeves and change their communities, it’s impressive. 

Keir, Lisa and I asked them – because working people ask us – for new plans on the cost of living. 

And they are delivering. 

Swindon, under Jim Robbins, is expanding the ‘local heroes’ programme and growing support networks to make sure no-one falls through the gaps.

In Medway, Vince Maple has led investment in new technology. Digital services that will point people, more effectively, towards the help they need. Vince tells me – this will put a quarter of a million pounds back in the pockets of Medway residents. That’s not too bad! 

And down the coast in Brighton – Bella Sankey is expanding support for people in fuel poverty and extending the holiday, activities and good programme that supports working parents during holidays.

I salute this – and all the work you are all doing right across the country.

These are hard yards, but so often it’s the hardest yards that make the biggest difference. 

The path out of the cost-of-living crisis will be long, and it will be tough, but this is how we must walk it.

Working together, side by side, no step too small, every pound – precious. 

But we are determined that we will get there - don’t doubt that. 

We’ve been here before – I grew up in the 1980s.

I know what it feels like. 

The experience of not being able to make ends meet never leaves you.

But we will get through it, Britain will get through it. 

I believe in our people, I believe in our spirit, and I believe in our shared potential.

But our job – my job certainly – but also your job, is to show them they can also believe in us. 

That, together, we can lift the burden of fighting this crisis with hope – real hope – that there is a better future ahead. 

A hope that must be found, however cynical people are, about politics. 

Now – when we say devolution is part of this, some people roll their eyes. 

Especially in Westminster – obviously - but not just there.

They say people just want public services that work.

High streets they can be proud of.

Opportunities for the next generation. 

And look, I won’t deny it, that is what working people want and it’s what I want for my own community too. 

But the question is – why can that only be delivered, or even best delivered, from Whitehall not the town hall? 

What is it about the last few years – the last few decades even – that makes you think more diktat from Westminster is the answer? 

So I say: let’s give people all of the nationwide standards they expect – absolutely. 

But let’s also give them the control, the chance to direct their community.

A bigger stake in the future of their neighbourhood, their town, their city, their county. 

Instead we have a politics that won't hand over power and an economy that doesn't hand out potential.

That isn’t a coincidence, it’s a consequence, an inevitable one.

And it holds our country back. 

Well – no more.

The Labour argument is simple - and it’s winning. 

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. 

That’s our promise.

And we will deliver it, with a bill in the first King’s Speech of the next Labour government.

And here’s another promise, one that gets less of an eye-roll, but more raised eyebrows. 

We understand the politics - and we run towards it eyes wide open. 

Because we see with total clarity that this country has got to roll its sleeves up and start building things. 

More wind-farms, more laboratories, and yes - more homes.

The home to call your own is a British dream.

A keystone of aspiration in this country, but also security. 

The secure foundation that gives families the stability they need in an uncertain world beyond the front door.

This is what’s at stake now. 

Insecurity is the enemy of opportunity. 

It is the barrier that stops so many working people getting on. 

It chips away at the stability of life at home and work alike, and the confidence that if you work hard, you can make your way in the world.

And in doing so – push our country forward. 

That’s what the cost-of-living crisis is doing.

What the Tory mortgage crisis is doing.

What the total collapse of house building in this country is doing. 

We can’t have house building numbers falling like this.

But more deeply we can’t have a political culture that won’t build things, that can’t build things.

That isn’t leadership. 

It isn’t even management.

It’s managed decline. 

So we will take the housing crisis head on. 

We’ll reform planning laws so you can build more homes, more affordable homes.

We’ll bring back national targets.

But we’ll empower you too. 

So many of you have told us you can identify areas of land that can meet your community’s needs.  

That’s uncomfortable for some, I know – but it’s right. 

I don't say that as any threat to our countryside. 

The green belt is a powerful idea, we all value the rolling fields of England’s green and pleasant land, the countryside that we know and love. 

I understand what the green belt is – what it does and why it’s needed in communities.

But I also see that too often when it comes to planning, the rules don’t reflect the reality. 

That there is land designated as green belt that isn’t protecting our environmental heritage, isn’t protecting our countryside, isn’t really our green or pleasant land, land that is anything but genuinely green. 

Car parks, abandoned petrol stations, old rubbish tips.

You will know of examples in your areas.

Surely these places can be put to better use, and what better use than providing the security of a home. 

Security that working people – in your communities – need. 

I know for myself. 

It was a council home that once gave me that security. 

Security that broke down the barriers to opportunity. 

Now, too many people across our country and in the communities you lead face greater barriers than ever, and opportunity is too often denied to those who work so hard for it. 

There is no path to national renewal, no road to growth, to restarting the engine of British opportunity, without decisive action on this.  

Just look around the country, or your community, and you know we have to find a new course.

The country needs change. 

As Shaun said - and Michael definitely didn’t…

We don’t know if the next election will be in 18 weeks or 18 months. 

But we do know that the Labour offer will be this:

A plan for change.

A new government - and a new way of governing. 

A government, in Whitehall, driven by a sense of purpose and ambition.

That sets out a clear direction.

For safer streets.

Higher growth in every community.

An NHS fit for the future.

Cleaner, cheaper energy.

A new determination to win the race for the jobs of the future.

And a fearless commitment to tear down the barriers to opportunity that hold working people back. 

We’ve thought a lot about this. 

We believe these are missions the whole country can get behind, and government at every level. 

But woven through it all is that commitment to change politics.

To show we can be a force, not just for good, but for hope.  

And to change the relationship – decisively. 

Between the power we hold and the power you need. 

Not just with Labour Councils – with all councils.

A joint mission. 

A shared endeavour. 

To use the powers we have to unlock the pride and potential that is in every community.

And empower their hopes and aspirations to change our country.

And build a new Britain. 

One that works for working people.

Thank you.