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English Labour Party needed to emulate Welsh Labour’s success says report

26 Jan 2022 3 minute read
Keir Starmer picture by Rwendland (CC BY-SA 4.0). First Minister Mark Drakeford. Picture by the Welsh Government.

An English Labour Party is needed to emulate the success of Welsh Labour, a report by a Labour Party group with close links to Keir Starmer has said.

Labour Together’s report, Labour’s Covenant, offers an answer to the question of what the party should stand for as it heads into the next Westminster General Election.

The report, which draws on evidence from over 100 policy advisers, academics, journalists and think tank experts, along with Labour mayors, councillors and MPs, suggest following Welsh Labour’s lead and giving the Labour Party in England a stronger national identity.

“Voters recognise that they have stood up for the places they represent,” the report says.

“But first Labour has to recognise that it is a party of England as well as Scotland and Wales and it must speak to voters who identify as English.

“Only an English Labour Party can embrace the growing strength of an English local, regional and national politics.

“The party in Wales has shown how to combine national sentiment and Labour politics.”

The report adds: “Only in Wales and the English Mayoralties is Labour a successful political force.”

‘Cultural change’ 

The report also praises Welsh Labour’s cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru as an example to English regions of how Labour could work with other parties to devolve power to a local level.

“England has the most centralised form of government and has gone furthest in removing powers from local democratic influence,” the report says. The Scottish Government has also centralised away from local councils.

“Creating local power and capacity building will need an all-encompassing shift in governance and a cultural change in Whitehall. Departmental silos must be broken down by the establishment of a coherent machinery of government for England.

“The agreement between Labour in Wales and Plaid Cymru provides an example of collaboration between different parties in attempts to devolve power and create a more joined-up approach to government.”

Writing on LabourList, Labour MP Jon Cruddas said that two of the aims of the report were to suggest ways of reforming the central state and the union of the UK, and creating strong local economies and communities.

“This devolution of resources and power in England must be part of a constitutional change in which English laws are made by English MPs and an English democratic polity is recognised,” he said.


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Doctor Trousers
2 years ago

So does this mean they’re finally going to admit that it’s mathematically impossible for them to form a government without working with the SNP?

Richard Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
2 years ago

Sadly, this misrepresentation of Labour reinforces the marketing ploy worked on the people of Cymru that says there is a ‘Welsh Labour’ political party! There isn’t! There is only ONE Labour Party. There is no such electoral entities as ‘Welsh’ Labour or Tories or Lib Dems. They are all controlled by their respective London HQ. They are parties committed to putting this poxy misnamed ‘Union’ first! Not y Cymry. Electoral Commission should sort this out. It’s completely inaccurate to have these political identity’s on the voting papers.

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

I agree I use Labour, Lib Dems or tories in Cymru

Cath Hill
Cath Hill
2 years ago

Uhrm…good point, except that you are entirely incorrect about almost everything you have claimed as fact.

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Cath Hill

I think you need to point out what is incorrect?

Brian Coman
Brian Coman
2 years ago

So you say that it shows Labour can work cooperatively with Plaid. This is only when it comes to votes on covid for example.
Not that long ago Drakeford said Plaid used “voodoo” politics. A strange thing to say negatively , and something that is actually a religion evolved in Haiti from a mixing of Catholiism and African traditional beliefs. But his context refers to something like “hocus pocus “.
Drakeford acts like a pseudo nationalist who has limited powers and acts way above his job description.

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

If you want an example of a UK politician who acts way above their job description then look to No. 10.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Don’t expect too much from Starmer, he comes over as a wet drip. A five year old could have hung Johnson out to dry in the present climate, but Starmer allowed the party kid to shout him down. Independence is our only real hope of a national future.

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