John McDonnell says Labour will help local councils bring public services in-house
Shadow Chancellor will unveil his party’s new Community Wealth Building Unit, which will nationalise public services and set up new energy companies
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour is set to offer help to local councils to bring public services in-house, as John McDonnell warns the party cannot afford to wait for power nationally to begin dismantling austerity.
The Shadow Chancellor will today use a speech in Preston to claim that austerity measures have “blighted” communities in Britain and forced councils to cut and privatise public services.
Mr McDonnell, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies in Westminster, will also unveil Labour’s new Community Wealth Building Unit that will aim to offer help to councils to nationalise public services and set up new energy companies.
The organisation aims to bring together councillors, unions and independent experts with experience of delivering frontline services to offer advice to the party’s councillors across the UK.
In his speech on Thursday, he will say: “The next Labour government will end austerity and properly fund local authorities, instead of cutting back and passing the buck like the Conservatives are doing. But we cannot afford to wait until we are in power nationally.
“There are many creative solutions being used already, like in Preston, and we need to spread this inspiring work around other Labour councils now, so we can bring services back in-house, stimulate the economy and provide decent jobs, extend ownership and control and strengthen local democracy.
“By working together to share these principles where Labour is already in power locally, we can sow the seeds of a country that works for the many, not the few.”
Mr McDonnell said the new unit will build on the experience of Preston City Council, which he said had returned almost £200m to the local economy, supporting more than 1,600 jobs, by using the city’s institutions and local government contracts to keep money in the local economy.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments