For too long, places like Bassetlaw have been held back because too much power sits too far away.
Decisions about local transport, skills, housing, high streets, jobs and public services are still too often made in London by those who do not understand our area. That has not worked.
I feel and understand the frustration and disappointment of many people in Bassetlaw that the pace of change since the Labour government took office has been too slow. It is time to take the gloves off and crack on with the job.
This week, Andy Burnham set out a different way forward and a clear vision of hope for the future, but hope must come with real change. This means real change in who holds power and where decisions are made.
I strongly support that agenda.
One of Andy’s key proposals is to create a “No 10 North” in Manchester. I know some will dismiss that as a gimmick, but it represents a culture shift in the heart of government. It must be the place where government is forced to think differently about the whole country.
Andy has spoken about power flowing out to the Midlands, the North, the South West, the East of England and every part of Britain. That is important because devolution should not only be about big cities. It must also work for towns and villages like ours.
I believe Andy Burnham understands that. He now represents an area very much like Bassetlaw in Parliament. His ‘Makerfield test’ is also the ‘Bassetlaw test’.
He talked about giving local areas more say over skills, industry and growth. That means training people for the jobs that actually exist here, and the jobs we want to bring here. It means backing our young people into good work, not accepting that they have to move away to get on.
He talked about reindustrialisation. That matters in a place like Bassetlaw, where people remember the pride of secure work and strong local industry. We need a serious plan for new jobs, new technology and manufacturing.
He talked about regenerating places. That means high streets that are not left to decline. It means looking again at business rates so local shops, pubs and small businesses get a fairer deal. It means using public money to support British businesses, so contracts help local workers and communities.
He talked about housing too, including a major council housebuilding programme. That is vital. A decent home is the foundation of a decent life.
It can no longer be about telling people to be patient while decisions are made somewhere else. It is about trusting local areas with power, responsibility and investment.
We have strong communities, brilliant local businesses and young people full of potential. But we need to be able to make decisions about our own future, not have things done to us.
That is why I support Andy Burnham’s agenda. It is about shifting power closer to the people. It is about giving places like Bassetlaw a fair chance. It is about proving that growth, good jobs and investment can reach every postcode, not just those closest to Westminster.