Starmer announces regeneration plan to counter Reform threat

The prime minister revealed deprived areas of the UK will receive millions of pounds each from a new government fund.

Last week Keir Starmer announced a major new regeneration programme, otherwise known as ‘Pride in Place’. The initiative, billed as a cornerstone of Labour’s response to the rise of Reform UK, aimed to signal the government was serious about tackling long-standing community decline.

Framing the plan as a departure from the top-down approach of the Conservatives’ ‘levelling up’ agenda, Starmer positioned the fund as a practical tool for communities to take charge of their own renewal. The announcement, made on Thursday, included proposals for councils to receive greater powers to decide how money is spent. 

‘As a nation we have so much that unites us, but we are also a country of a thousand neighbourhoods, where our sense of pride depends on what we can see from our doorstop,’ Starmer said. ‘I know people are proud of their area, which is why they are so desperate to look after what they love and to get rid of the boarded-up shops, shuttered youth clubs and crumbling parks that have become symbols of a system that stopped listening.

‘That’s why we’re not handing down promises from Westminster. People have the answers to the problems in their communities and now they’ll have the tools to fix it. More power to restore pride in where they live – and on their terms.’

News of the scheme, which is set to benefit 330 areas, comes as part of a wider attempt by Downing Street to neutralise discontent in areas where Reform have been gaining traction, particularly in post-industrial towns, coastal communities and former coalfields that have suffered from years of underinvestment. 

The strategy emerged as Starmer continues to face internal pressure. The New Statesman recently published an interview with Andy Burnham in which he warned the Labour party is facing an ‘existential’ threat and called for wholesale national renewal. What’s more, Burnham also revealed that MPs had approached him about challenging Starmer for his position. 

Commenting on Starmer’s announcement, Cllr Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association’s Neighbourhood Committee, said: ‘Positive extra funding and powers will help councils in these areas in revitalising high streets and shaping their communities, particularly in regulating betting and vaping shops, while also breathing new life into empty premises.

‘It is essential these funds are allocated in a fair, flexible manner based on what local places need, with necessary support from government to trust them to get on with the job.

‘Local government has long been a critical driver of economic renewal, where councils understand their communities’ unique challenges – ranging from access to skills training, transport connectivity, creating vibrant town centres to supporting rural areas – and are best placed to shape local strategies which align with local strengths.’

Image via Shutterstock 

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