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Economic Development

Miliband pledges to reverse centralisation

Opposition leader reacts to the Government's spending spree by pledging to reverse a "century of centralisation"

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband(Image: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

Opposition leader has reacted to the Government's this week by pledging to reverse a "century of centralisation" by giving authorities a bigger role in services.

Local authorities would oversee police services, further education, local schools and part of the health service under a , Mr Miliband has announced.

It follows decades in which authorities have seen their powers reduced, and schools leaving their control.

Sir Albert Bore, the Labour leader of has welcomed the proposals, which would see authorities set up independent spending watchdogs in return for increased powers and funding.

Under the proposals, local authorities, medical professionals and patient representative groups will take responsibility for keeping elderly and vulnerable people out of hospital by running health and social care programmes.

Mr Miliband said: "The next government can make big reforms without big spending. By reversing the centralisation of power we will empower those who are best able to use the resources we have and have shown they can deliver."

Under Labour plans, councils will take responsibility for equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed by managing further education for 19 to 24 year olds as well as a new service for under-21s looking for work. They would have a say in the appointment of local police commanders and council leaders will sit on policing boards which will replace police commissioners.

Councils, health services, education services, police and other local bodies would form partnerships to help families in poverty or struggling in other ways, with a share of a £1.5 billion nation budget.