Lothian East MP Douglas Alexander has called for an urgent focus on empowering local communities and securing fair resources for councils across Scotland, following comments by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Wales outlining the government’s commitment to regional devolution.
Highlighting the UK-wide relevance of local decision-making, Alexander said local councils must be equipped with the financial tools and freedoms necessary to deliver directly for their areas. His remarks follow the Prime Minister’s visit to Port Talbot, where Burnham reaffirmed a deeper-devolution agenda and said Number 10 North should work for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as England.
Writing on social media, Alexander said:
“As Andy made clear in Wales yesterday empowering local communities is an agenda relevant to every part of the U.K.
“Here in Scotland there’s an urgent need that Councils and communities have the resources, the tools and the freedom they need to deliver for their areas.”
Advocating for local government resources
Alexander’s intervention aligns with ongoing calls from Scottish Labour for a renewed focus on local government funding. He has previously argued that Scottish councils have been starved of cash and powers, and that decisions are best made by local authorities and community leaders who understand regional needs, rather than being managed solely through centralised structures.
Key priorities championed by Scottish Labour for local council empowerment include:
- Fair and sustainable funding: ensuring local authorities receive stable, predictable multi-year budget settlements to protect essential municipal services.
- Local decision-making freedoms: granting councils greater flexibility over regional economic planning, housing initiatives and local transport networks.
- Community-led regeneration: directing funding straight to grassroots projects and neighbourhood renewal initiatives across Scottish towns and cities.
Aligning UK-wide devolution pledges
The comments build on the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Wales, where the administration reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local growth, industrial renewal and devolved economic partnerships.
By advocating for equal focus on Scottish local authorities, Alexander emphasised Labour’s commitment to ensuring that community empowerment benefits every nation and region across the United Kingdom.
