Luton’s two Labour MPs have backed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s vision for the country, highlighting plans for a National Care Service, more council housing and greater investment in young people.
Luton North MP Sarah Owen and Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins both welcomed the Prime Minister’s speech to Labour Party conference, in which he set out a programme focused on what he described as taking back control of essential services and delivering greater economic security.
Ms Owen said the Prime Minister was right to argue that “politics as normal isn’t working” and highlighted policies she believes could make a difference to people in Luton North.
She said: “What a speech from Andy Burnham.
“He’s right – politics as normal isn’t working for people in Luton North and across the country. We need change.”
A central part of Burnham’s speech was a proposal to create a National Care Service, modelled on the NHS, with everyone contributing and everyone covered.
Ms Owen said her own experience working in care had given her a particular insight into the problems facing the sector.
She said: “I’ve worked as a care worker. I know that the system is just not working. A National Care Service will be absolutely transformational for those needing care and care workers alike.”
Ms Hopkins also highlighted the proposed National Care Service in her response to the conference, saying care had been allowed to “collapse” around dedicated care workers.
She said the service would be based on the principle that everyone would contribute and everyone would be covered, with changes to the pension triple lock after the end of the current Parliament helping to fund it.
Mr Burnham said the service would provide free personal care for older people and that the government would begin laying the groundwork during this Parliament, with an independent review led by Louise Casey advising on its development.
Housing was another major theme of the Prime Minister’s speech, with Mr Burnham pledging the biggest expansion of council housebuilding in a generation and reiterating his commitment to ending rough sleeping.
Ms Owen said the measures could have a direct impact in her constituency.
She said: “Proper, meaningful investment in council homes and ending rough sleeping will make a huge difference to people’s lives here in Luton North, ensuring everyone can access a safe, affordable and secure home.”
Ms Hopkins similarly welcomed the focus on housing in her Luton South constituency.
She pointed to the government’s pledge to deliver the biggest expansion of council housebuilding in a generation, alongside proposed reforms to Right to Buy, changes to leasehold law and new powers for councils to intervene where privately rented homes are allowed to fall into serious disrepair.
She also highlighted a new 2.5 per cent deposit scheme announced ahead of conference, aimed at helping people who cannot rely on financial support from their families to get on the housing ladder.
Young people were another major focus for both MPs.
Ms Owen said greater investment in education, training and apprenticeships was particularly important given the talent she sees in Luton schools and sixth forms.
She said: “And more opportunities to invest in our young people, better training, apprenticeships and qualifications, to benefit from the incredible talent I seen every time I visit our schools and sixth forms.”
Ms Hopkins pointed to proposals including rebuilding the education system around academic and technical education, increased investment in youth services, the employment of 1,000 additional youth workers and a new Local Apprenticeship Service.
She said the focus was particularly relevant to Luton South because of developments including Luton Airport, Power Court and The Stage.
“The Prime Minister was clear that we must invest wholeheartedly in our young people to secure our future and give them the bright futures they deserve,” she said.
Mr Burnham also used his conference speech to set out plans aimed at reducing the cost of living and increasing public control over essential services.
Those proposals include a National Energy Plan intended to increase clean domestic energy generation and reduce prices, alongside a publicly owned Great British Grid.
Burnham also pledged to repeal the legal restriction on government ownership of water companies, potentially allowing the government to take control of companies that fail to meet required standards.
The announcements build on measures already announced by the new government, including the return of the £2 bus fare cap and the removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills.
Ms Hopkins said the package represented a return to what she described as Labour’s traditional approach to essential services.
She wrote: “Care, housing, energy, water. The things Labour governments of the past have invested in, built up, and seen flourish, yet have been left to crumble through centralised political power and privatised economic power.”
She said the government was seeking to “put our core Labour values back at the very heart of government” and ensure people in constituencies such as Luton South had the foundations of a secure future.
The MPs’ comments come as Burnham seeks to establish his priorities following his first Labour conference as Prime Minister and party leader.
For Ms Owen, the focus now is on turning the announcements into action.
She said: “These are just some of the things the PM spoke about today. Now, we get to work.”
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