Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hilary Benn, was at a packed Dene Park Community Centre (23 April 2015) last week to greet local residents and set out part of the Labour government’s manifesto.
Introduced by Labour parliamentary candidate Jan Williams, Hilary endorsed her remarks that the country could not stand another 5 years of Conservative government.
Hilary Benn also talked about how Labour would create a high-skilled young workforce, exploiting openings in the £3.25 trillion global green technology industry, with apprenticeships for 18 year-olds matching numbers of university places.
The implementation of an English Devolution Act was also discussed, Hilary Benn said to end communities’ sense of being at the mercy of the bus and train companies and property developers. £30 billion would be devolved over 5 years to local authorities. Mr Benn said that there would be new legal powers to involve local people, they would be required to ensure transport networks and housing developments serve local needs.
