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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Leaders back 'high streets' rally | Leaders back 'high streets' rally |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tory and Lib Dem leaders David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell are to address a Westminster rally calling for high streets to keep their character. | Tory and Lib Dem leaders David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell are to address a Westminster rally calling for high streets to keep their character. |
| They back the Sustainable Communities Bill - going through Parliament - to give councils more powers to save local shops, post offices and pubs. | They back the Sustainable Communities Bill - going through Parliament - to give councils more powers to save local shops, post offices and pubs. |
| But ministers say a change in the law would be too bureaucratic to work. | But ministers say a change in the law would be too bureaucratic to work. |
| Groups including Friends of the Earth, and the Countryside Alliance will also attend the rally. | |
| 'Remorseless decline' | 'Remorseless decline' |
| A spokesman for one of the organisers, Unlock Democracy, said about 1,000 people were expected. | A spokesman for one of the organisers, Unlock Democracy, said about 1,000 people were expected. |
| He added: "We would ideally like to work with the government on this. | He added: "We would ideally like to work with the government on this. |
| "They are saying the bill is bureaucratic and unworkable but you need a certain amount of such work to get things done." | "They are saying the bill is bureaucratic and unworkable but you need a certain amount of such work to get things done." |
| The private members' bill has been put forward by Nick Hurd, the Conservative MP for Ruislip Northwood. | The private members' bill has been put forward by Nick Hurd, the Conservative MP for Ruislip Northwood. |
| He says that, over the last decade, towns have suffered a "remorseless decline", losing local post offices, grocers, shops and banks. | He says that, over the last decade, towns have suffered a "remorseless decline", losing local post offices, grocers, shops and banks. |
| His bill would give councils the right to demand a breakdown of government spending on their services, and to go back to ministers with their own alternative allocations. | His bill would give councils the right to demand a breakdown of government spending on their services, and to go back to ministers with their own alternative allocations. |
| Local Government Minister Phil Woolas, who is also speaking at the rally, said the bill would be a "centralising measure". | Local Government Minister Phil Woolas, who is also speaking at the rally, said the bill would be a "centralising measure". |
| But he said he was actively engaging with its backers "to understand what they want to achieve and how best to achieve it". | But he said he was actively engaging with its backers "to understand what they want to achieve and how best to achieve it". |
| 'Powerless' | 'Powerless' |
| Ahead of addressing the rally, Sir Menzies said: "The shocking decline of local communities - 'Ghost Town Britain' - is going on everywhere. | Ahead of addressing the rally, Sir Menzies said: "The shocking decline of local communities - 'Ghost Town Britain' - is going on everywhere. |
| "I share people's anger at seeing local services and facilities like post offices, bank branches and local businesses disappear. People feel powerless to stop this. | "I share people's anger at seeing local services and facilities like post offices, bank branches and local businesses disappear. People feel powerless to stop this. |
| "We don't want Whitehall to control our lives. The Sustainable Communities Bill will give communities real power over policies affecting their own areas." | "We don't want Whitehall to control our lives. The Sustainable Communities Bill will give communities real power over policies affecting their own areas." |
| Oliver Letwin, head of policy for the Conservatives, said: "This bill creates a gradual revolution; it will turn the world upside down by empowering local communities to drive decision-making about how government spends its money. | Oliver Letwin, head of policy for the Conservatives, said: "This bill creates a gradual revolution; it will turn the world upside down by empowering local communities to drive decision-making about how government spends its money. |
| "The bill is about making the state the servant of the people." | "The bill is about making the state the servant of the people." |
| The bill gained its second reading in the Commons last month and is currently being looked at by a committee of MPs. | The bill gained its second reading in the Commons last month and is currently being looked at by a committee of MPs. |