EAMONN O'BRIEN: 'Labour sets out why we will need decade of renewal'

From our roads to our NHS, there is a sense that 14 years of the Conservatives has left us all worse off – and yet, paying more.

As someone in local government, I share that frustration. I see the drastic consequences of those 14 years of failure.

We have growing demand for and complexity of need in our social care services, a growing number of young people struggling with their mental health, a growing number of people facing homelessness and needing temporary accommodation, the list could go on.

The question is whether this can change for the better.

Labour’s mission-led government is designed to do exactly that.

It doesn’t promise easy choices or quick wins, it deliberately sets out why our country will need a decade of renewal.

Council leader Cllr Eamonn O'Brien (Image: Cllr Eamonn O'Brien)

That is the leadership our country desperately needs. It starts with getting Britain building again and delivering the type of economic growth our country hasn’t seen over the past 14 years.

This means building more affordable and social homes, with specific help for first time buyers to have “first dibs” on these homes.

We know in Bury that some of the reluctance to plan for new homes comes from a genuine concern about affordability for local people, well these changes will help address that.

This mission also seeks to deliver the employment sites we need, like our Northern Gateway/Atom Valley plans in Bury, Rochdale and Oldham.

It supports the development of sites with high value, high skilled jobs. Without a strong economy, we can’t have strong public services – the last 14 years have shown us this.

Of course, it isn’t just about building for the sake of it and hoping local areas and people benefit.

This idea that prosperity will “trickle down” from the top or “trickle out” from the centre has been proven wrong time and time again.

Instead, it requires an approach that removes the barriers to these opportunities – another of Labour’s missions.

By introducing free school breakfast clubs and more high-quality teaching with specialist maths and science teachers we can start to provide the next generation of learners with the best possible start in life.

This will sit alongside a broader curriculum than is currently being offered, developing creativity, digital and speaking skills to equip young people for life and the world of work.

Labour is already pioneering an approach across Greater Manchester to promote more technical education and skills under our devolution deal.

These changes will allow us to really see the benefits when Labour gets Britain building again.

A better future is possible under Labour’s plan for government, this is change we can believe in.