Labour has accused the remaining Tory leadership contenders of having abandoned Boris Johnson’s “levelling up” agenda in the race to promise tax cuts.
Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy argued that “the Tories’ commitment to levelling up is dead” during a speech in Darlington on Monday.
But she declared that “levelling up is not dead, not for the millions who voted for change”, and vowed that “Labour is going to meet this moment”.
She set out plans for a Labour government which will introduce a licensing system for holiday lets to protect “the spirit and fabric” of communities in coastal and rural areas, while allowing them to “reap the rewards of thriving tourism”.
Ms Nandy also pledged a strengthened community right to buy to enable local people to take control of assets such as live music venues and football clubs that come up for sale or fall into disrepair.
Under the proposals, they would be given first refusal on assets of community value, including the right to buy them without competition.
Communities would also have the right to force a sale of land or buildings that have fallen into a state of significant disrepair, and they will be given 12 months to raise finance, a doubling of the current allowance.
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“Those voices in the Tory Party who did try to advance the levelling up agenda have been roundly defeated and now the ugly truth of all of this is on display as leadership contenders vie for the mantle of Margaret Thatcher, promising tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, and more managed decline for the rest of us,” she said.
“This leadership contest looks set to be the final nail in the coffin for the Conservatives’ short-lived ambitions to level up. Promises that were made with a bang are now fading with a whimper, half-baked ideas that barely made it into the oven.”
“But while the Tories’ commitment to levelling up may be dead, levelling up is not dead, not for the millions of people across our country who voted for change and who need and deserve to see it delivered.”
She said it “falls to Labour to meet this moment”.
Ms Nandy also announced plans to put local people “back in charge” with a powerful new Community Right to Buy, giving communities the opportunity to take control of pubs, historic buildings and football clubs that come up for sale or fall into disrepair. At present, local groups only have the right to bid for such assets.
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To ensure communities can make the most of this new right, a Labour government will also improve the Community Ownership Fund to ensure seed capital is available for communities to generate revenue so they can invest in their town, village or city, and ensure the proceeds of growth benefit those who live there. The time period for communities to raise finance to buy assets of community value will also be doubled from six months to 12.
But Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark hit back at Ms Nandy’s remarks, saying: “These claims are nonsense – we’re pressing full steam ahead with levelling up and the second round of our £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund opened on Friday.
“Our Community Ownership Fund is also helping local people take control of clubs, venues and other prized assets.”
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