Localism Bill

I have to say that I have great affection for Lord Prescott, and I am particularly enjoying his current advocacy of insurance on television. The Bill is based on a simple premise: we must trust people who elect us and we must ensure that we trust them to make the right decision for their area. To misquote Clint Eastwood: ““A Government needs to know its limitations.”” We do not have all the answers but we have to have the courage to encourage local solutions. The Bill is made up of four main elements: London governance, planning, localism and housing. The London element is relatively straightforward and redistributes power away from quangos and back to elected officials and communities. The settlement has been agreed by the Mayor of London, the London assembly and the boroughs, and it is based on consensus across the political parties. I would like to pay tribute to the constructive way in which the Mayor, the assembly and the London boroughs, regardless of their political persuasion, have worked together on these arrangements.