, he was my neighbour in Leigh for a long time,” she explained. “He’s been really a bright spot on the horizon during some very dark years of the last Conservative government, showing how we can do things differently, and I think he’s doing an incredible job.”
“But this endless speculation about the government is really unhelpful to the country,” Nandy continued. “It holds us back from making the change that people have been crying out for for such a long time, and have voted for in overwhelming numbers just 18 months ago.”
Labour’s Focus on Regional Development
The Culture Secretary is also involved with launching the first-ever UK Town of Culture competition. This initiative aims to showcase towns across the nation and revive forgotten places. Nandy hopes this will help restore pride in communities that have been disproportionately affected by Conservative decisions.
“We want towns to be able to benefit from that as well,” she said, referring to the idea behind the UK Town of Culture competition. “That’s where the idea of Town of Culture came from last time Labour was in government. It was Andy Burnham who came up with the idea of City of Culture, and that’s been a runaway success for those cities that have won the contest.”
Supporting Mayors Across England
Nandy emphasized the importance of mayors like Burnham as advocates for areas outside London and the southeast. “We’re working with mayors and councils the length and breadth of the country, putting them in the driving seat of decisions that are made about their communities,” she said.
Mayors, including Andy Burnham, have been crucial in promoting regional development and understanding the potential of local assets better than those based primarily in Westminster. Nandy cited Burnham’s work in Japan as an example of how mayors can bring significant benefits to their regions by leveraging international connections.
The Culture Secretary concluded that Labour’s focus should remain on making real changes for people, rather than getting distracted by internal party politics.
