Labour will build homes, not just houses
I was extremely excited when the Prime Minister appointed me Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
I know from my time as Leader of Lambeth Council and LGA Deputy Chair that it is the town hall, not Whitehall, where real change happens.
It was great to spend conference meeting so many brilliant Labour councillors working with communities across the country.
While the Tories took an anti-devolution and anti-localism approach, I know all politics is local, and real change is built on the foundation of strong local government.
So, where the Tories disempowered you and locked you out of government, Labour is handing you back the keys.
We can’t meet our promise to build 1.5 million new homes and hand young people the keys to their first home without the work of our local councils. You’ll have seen me at conference wearing my ‘Build, Baby, Build!’ hat. The hats were fun, but the message is serious. We face a housing crisis: a crisis I am determined to fix.
That means making the dream of homeownership a reality again, ending the moral stain of homelessness, and creating new jobs as we unleash the biggest wave of housebuilding since the Second World War.
In my conference speech, I announced a New Towns Unit to fast-track development, because this Labour Government believes in renewal, in supporting public and private investment, and in doing it now.
Work will be taken forward in at least 12 locations, with building work for three new towns beginning in this Parliament.
As my colleagues in local government know, we need to build homes, not just houses, and make places, not just promises.
That is why I will ensure each new town has its own character, with first-class local facilities, including GP surgeries, schools, public transport, libraries and green spaces.
“We must recognise the hard work and sacrifice it takes to be an outstanding councillor”
Working in partnership with each area’s councillors, we will make sure working people can access a family home as we accept the New Towns Taskforce’s recommended ambition of 40 per cent affordable housing, half of which will be for social rent.
Thank you for your continued dedication working in partnership with this Government as we take tough choices to reform the sector.
We are rebuilding and reorganising local government so working people can once again rely on the regular, high-quality local services they deserve. That also means rebuilding what it means to be a councillor and empowering councillors to be the champions of their communities.
First, we must recognise the hard work and sacrifice it takes to be an outstanding councillor.
I was delighted to confirm that this Government will reinstate the right of councillors to opt into the Local Government Pension Scheme, a right taken away by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition in 2014.
Councillors deserve security in older age, just like anyone else.
Respect was at the heart of the Prime Minister’s speech – for our country, our communities and our diversity.
Community campaigners were seated near the front during the speech, as the Prime Minister paid tribute to their hard work and innovative solutions to the challenges facing their areas.
I look forward to working with you for communities up and down the country. I made the journey from town hall to Whitehall, but I never forgot where I came from.
It’s good to be back.