Keir Starmer isn’t just cancelling elections – his latest power grab is secretly worse | Politics | News
As a councillor, you may sometimes feel like you can’t do anything right.
Earn funds for a new bench and some will be delighted to have a new place to rest their legs. But there will also be others who believe the bench in question is a beacon for antisocial behavior. It can be difficult to please everyone.
Of course, the risks rise to a whole new level when something big is proposed: a large retail store that could cause a road-blocking nightmare, a late-night venue in the wrong location, or – most commonly – a massive new housing estate.
I understand the accusations of NIMBYism, but frankly, I’m pretty proud to be a NIMBY if it means ensuring residents’ opinions are heard before miles of land are concreted for new housing. In my ward of Nunthorpe, where I serve as a Conservative councillor, this has been an ongoing issue since I was elected and for many months.
As councilors and community leaders we have worked hard to give residents what they deserve, and our area often bears the brunt of the town’s new housing. A long-awaited community centre, a new GP surgery and funding for local schools have all come true thanks to local people who genuinely care.
That’s why I was completely horrified to hear that Keir Starmer’s new plan could shake the foundations of these local powers. His new plan is to deny council planning committees (elected councillors) the right to decide on minor developments by delegating decisions to “specialist trained planners”.
The Local Government Association has warned about this planning change.
He said: “Planning committees are the democratic backbone of the planning system; councils are accountable to their communities for what should be built where. This is a central principle that must remain under a reformed planning system.”
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly knows the extent of this, saying Labor risks “destroying communities, overriding local democracy and consolidating the countryside”.
Yes, we absolutely need to stop opposing development for development’s sake; After all, most of us live on lands that were once fields. But Starmer, as usual, got it very wrong. What really needs to happen is to hold greedy developers accountable. They should be forced to pay for proper infrastructure and build meaningful communities, rather than making vague promises to their diggers before moving on.
First of all, local elections across the country are in danger of being cancelled. Now there is a ruse to quietly disempower those elected to fight in our corner and protect our interests. I understand that at first glance it seems like a completely dry planning setup. But upon closer inspection, it appears to be about removing local voices from the picture and delegating power to unidentified “experts.” And that should worry everyone.
