In a striking intervention that could redefine Labour's approach to power, senior frontbencher Lisa Nandy has delivered a powerful warning to Sir Keir Starmer: decentralise power from Westminster or risk repeating the party's historic election defeats.
The Shadow Cabinet minister declared that the Labour leadership must undergo a "big reckoning" and embrace the radical devolution of economic and political power to mayors and local communities across England. Her comments come as a direct challenge to ensure the party truly delivers on its promise to "take back control" for forgotten towns and cities.
A Direct Challenge to Starmer's Leadership
Nandy, who previously contested the Labour leadership against Starmer, pointedly stated that the party had "been here before" with promising poll numbers that ultimately failed to translate into general election victory. She emphasised that without concrete plans to redistribute power from Whitehall, Labour risks making the same fatal mistakes that kept them from government for over a decade.
"The lesson of the last few decades is that we have tried to run everything from the centre in Westminster and it hasn't worked," Nandy asserted, highlighting how both Conservative and Labour governments have consistently failed to address the growing regional inequalities across Britain.
The Manchester Model: Andy Burnham's Blueprint
Nandy pointed to Greater Manchester, where Labour mayor Andy Burnham has pioneered what many see as a template for successful devolution. The so-called "trailblazer" devolution deal has granted the region significant new powers over transport, housing, and skills development.
She argued that this model should be expanded nationwide, giving local leaders the tools and funding needed to drive economic growth tailored to their communities' unique needs and strengths.
Beyond Constitutional Reform: A Economic Imperative
This isn't merely about constitutional tinkering, Nandy stressed. It's about fundamental economic transformation. By empowering regions with control over budgets and decision-making, Labour could unlock what she describes as "the biggest transfer of economic and political power out of Westminster that we've seen in this country."
The warning comes at a critical juncture for Starmer's leadership as he prepares his party for a potential general election while maintaining a consistent polling advantage over Rishi Sunak's Conservatives.
The Stakes for Labour's Future
Nandy's intervention represents more than just policy disagreement—it strikes at the heart of Labour's identity and electoral strategy. Her message is clear: without embracing genuine devolution, Labour risks appearing as just another centralising party that promises change but delivers more of the same Westminster-centric governance.
As the party develops its manifesto, all eyes will be on whether Starmer heeds this warning and makes regional empowerment a cornerstone of Labour's offer to the British electorate.
