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Labour made huge mistake in northern England strategy, says Lord Mandelson Labour made huge mistake in northern England strategy, says Lord Mandelson
(about 1 hour later)
Peter Mandelson has blasted Labour for failing to have a strategy for decentralising power from London to northern England.Peter Mandelson has blasted Labour for failing to have a strategy for decentralising power from London to northern England.
The former business secretary, a key figure in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, accused his party of having “language, not policies” for rebalancing the country’s economy and political system.The former business secretary, a key figure in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, accused his party of having “language, not policies” for rebalancing the country’s economy and political system.
And he said the lack of an alternative to chancellor George Osborne’s northern powerhouse plan had been a “huge political mistake”.And he said the lack of an alternative to chancellor George Osborne’s northern powerhouse plan had been a “huge political mistake”.
Mandelson told the BBC’s Sunday Politics North West programme: “The Labour party had positions or it had postures, or put it a different way, if I was going to be really cruel – it had language.Mandelson told the BBC’s Sunday Politics North West programme: “The Labour party had positions or it had postures, or put it a different way, if I was going to be really cruel – it had language.
Related: Liz Kendall: Labour must champion a much more devolved United Kingdom
“It had language but I don’t think it had the policies seriously to rebalance both the economy and the political system of this country.“It had language but I don’t think it had the policies seriously to rebalance both the economy and the political system of this country.
“We were not radical enough in what we were proposing to decentralise and to devolve away from London and to the regions.”“We were not radical enough in what we were proposing to decentralise and to devolve away from London and to the regions.”
Mandelson said Osborne had “got it” when it came to decentralisation, although he put it down to electoral calculation.Mandelson said Osborne had “got it” when it came to decentralisation, although he put it down to electoral calculation.
“He got an idea, whatever his motive was, and he is running with it and we let him do so and that was a huge political mistake,” Mandelson added.“He got an idea, whatever his motive was, and he is running with it and we let him do so and that was a huge political mistake,” Mandelson added.
Osborne said in May that northern England would get more powers over housing, planning, transport and policing.Osborne said in May that northern England would get more powers over housing, planning, transport and policing.