A fundamental Labour value is that where we provide services best collectively that is how we should do so. Nevertheless, we need to do more in those areas where the advantages of commonality are not quite so obvious. As an example, giving individuals the power to control their own health and social care is a recent but already well established route of decentralisation.

Other paths include devolving influence over policing to communities, allowing groups of responsible and interested individuals to manage community assets and giving local authorities more power – whilst making them more accountable. All these measures are in operation or in hand, whilst land use and strategic planning are obvious areas where decisions must continue to be taken at a higher level.

But it is how individuals and communities influence Westminster (not just parliament) that will be at the heart of the democratic renewal debate over coming months.

The Commons is the only democratic chamber in Britain which does not have a fixed term and that must change. This token gesture, easily achieved, is not enough.

How many MPs can claim the support of 50% of those who vote in their constituencies? I did in 1997 (barely, but didn’t we all?) but not since. The Alternative Vote system ensures that every MP has at least the qualified support of at least half of those who vote. That has got to be better than now, where in a four-way contest an MP can be elected on just 26%. The AV ballot paper looks the same, the vital constituency link remains. There is no disproportionate influence for smaller parties and majority governments would still be possible. Unlike any move to PR, we won’t be asking MP turkeys to vote for Christmas by bringing it in.

No voting system can be both truly proportional and reflect local opinion, so in supporting AV I am not even trying to square that circle. By introducing the concept of a second class itinerant MP through a top-up system, Jenkins tried to please everyone and ended up satisfying no-one, so killing sensible debate on electoral reform dead for ten years. AV represents an improvement on the accountability of the current system, so adopting it must be a no-brainer at a time when we are rightly expected to reform ourselves as a parliament.

People will remember Hazel Blears for the way and the when of her walking out of government and only time will heal the deep wounds that she caused. But I hope she will also be remembered as a genuinely community-orientated secretary of state. She was not afraid to devolve power and responsibility. She adopted the Major doctrine of subsidiarity – the exercise of power at the most appropriate level – in practice if not by name; and this must not end with her demise.

We must continue to share power, support communities in taking responsibility for their social environments, empower individuals as service users where that is appropriate. Changing our voting system is symbolic of that course, but by no means is it the end.