Politics must be rooted in communities

Just back from a leisure visit to Strasbourg. Lovely city. What struck me was its self-confidence and sense of identity. This goes back all through its history, when it has more than once declared itself a republic (good idea!) with its own identity, economy and religious or humanist attitudes different from those of its neighbours or "host" country. Alsace's food, wine, architecture and culture are quite distinct from those of France [now] or Germany [at other times].
So why report this? It seems to me that one of this country's problems lies in its London-centricity. What is written about in the media is dominated by London, whether this concerns fashion, arts or politics. A small coterie of institutions mainly based in London dominates thought and action, often with little understanding or consideration for other parts of the country.
Where are our Strasbourgs? Until the middle of the last century cities like Birmingham and Leeds, Newcastle and Liverpool were the powerhouses of the country, with their industries and civic economies writ large and manifested in the great buildings and influence on national policy. The post-war period has seen this diluted and industry has been wrecked in the name of financial services, with local government reduced to insignificance by the centrism of both Labour and Tory governments. Now we are in a presidential age with few voters really aware of local leaders' names and roles.
Labour has to reconnect with people across the country; people whose lives are in communities, not merely subservient to London. We should, before it is all lost, celebrate local cultures, local differences, local needs by encouraging local politics, empowered by local knowledge and with control of assets and tax income. It takes true leadership to let go - Ed Miliband can show this leadership by relaxing some aspects of central control and allowing localism to flourish instead of stifling the country in a blanket of uniformity in which nobody feels pride or engagement.

Tom Serpell