Politics is prone to hyperbole but it is no exaggeration to say that the creation of an independent infrastructure commission could turn out to be the defining achievement of the next Labour government.
John Armitt’s brainchild could be our equivalent of Bank of England independence, a huge structural reform that brings long-term benefit to the British economy and, looking back, will seem like a no-brainer.
I say this not simply because I have been calling for this change for a while, since Progress’ Politics of Solutions pamphlet.
This bold move from Ed Miliband to protect critically important infrastructure decisions from the damaging uncertainty of Westminster politics is essential to tackle the terrible British tradition of relying on short-termism and half-measures in planning energy, housing, transport and other infrastructure areas.
Giving independent oversight over infrastructure planning and delivery could well have an even bigger effect on our economy as monetary policy independence.
Certainly, the announcement today shows that Labour is serious about the infrastructure crisis facing Britain.
Take energy as an example: by 2018, Britain will lose a quarter of its electricity-generating capacity as first generation nuclear power stations are decommissioned, making the country still more dependent – temporarily at least – on imported energy, a status that recent geopolitical events have clearly demonstrated the foolhardiness of. Or housing: Labour has rightly pledged to deliver 200,000 new homes every year, but governments of all political stripes have struggled to turn such pledges into real bricks and mortar. In the face of a serious housing shortage we need an infrastructure body that will not let the next chancellor get away with this one’s trick of simply announcing a downsized Ebbsfleet garden city at each budget speech.
On transport too we know that our roads, railways and airports are creaking at the seams and that demand will only increase. High Speed Two, vital as it is, cannot be the end of major capacity-increasing investment in our railways, and the decades of dither over solving the runway shortage in the south-east of England is painful to recall.
Labour has taken an important step today in accepting the proposal for an independent commission. The party is holding up its hands – as every party should be – and saying that governments of all colour have too often fudged the big infrastructure challenges. If Britain is to deliver long-term, sustainable economic growth that works for all regions of the country, we cannot just inherit the current government’s approach to infrastructure of impressive shopping lists but little delivery. Moving the key decisions over infrastructure priorities and control over delivery to an independent board with real clout, bringing into the frame experts whose horizons extend beyond the next election, could provide the step-change that Britain so urgently needs.
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John Woodcock is member of parliament for Barrow and Furness and chair of Progress. He tweets @JWoodcockMP
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I’m very uncomfortable about elected politicians so willingly handing over their responsibilities to unelected technocrats like this – it seems to bring the whole idea of democratic politics into question. If democratic politicians don’t think they’re capable of making important political decisions, what is the point of them and of the democracy they are meant to be serving? I’m of the view we need more accountability in our decision-making, not less – but Labour is sending mightily mixed messages on devolution vs centralisation.
http://afreeleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/depoliticisation-our-old-friend.html
I totally agree with the comments from Ben Cobley – at the end of the day these are actually political decisions and must be taken by politicians.
The Government gets away with ‘tricks’ because the opposition is so poor at pointing out the lack of logic; double dealing or just plain lies. The solution is not to appoint a so-called independent commission but to be a politician who can form judgements, make arguments, take decisions and then oversee delivery -if they can’t do this we need better politicians. If the politicians can’t get their point over because of an unfair press – well tackle that problem head on as well instead of allowing vested interests to put up smoke screens, lie and have special access to the politicians.
And in what way did Bank of England independence save the UK’s economy? The Bank being asleep in the run up to the credit crunch nearly destroyed the economy. It may argue that the problem wasn’t its fault, but that is what happens when you set up a body with a remit – it sees a problem but says it is not their problem as its terms of reference doesn’t mention it so it does nothing: nobody does anything because it isn’t their responsibility. However, leaders do take responsibility and we need politicians who will be leaders.
I find this acticle depressing and doesn’t make me want to vote Labour any more than I do (or don’t) already. Stop the gimmiks and get on with being proper and better politicians.