No U-turn on reform says Kelly

Ruth Kelly has warned that the government must continue to reform or risk defeat at the polls.

Speaking to local groups in Birmingham the communities secretary said that there will be no backtracking on policy reforms.

In a clear call to the Labour Party to stick to Tony Blair's programme she indicated that straying from it would jeopardise the party's chances at the next general election.

Kelly is aiming to counter suggestions that the new white paper on local government is being watered down.

She promised to give local people more of a say, making it easier for them to challenge council decisions, and to own or run community halls, libraries and sports centres.

She said: "From being reluctant decentralisers, we have reached a tipping point. We must now instinctively hand down power unless there is a good case not to.

"If we lose that focus on bringing forward change in the interests of better services, we'll become a party of opposition, not a party of government.

"All this is part of a new era of shifting power, not just to the town hall, but also from the town hall to local communities.

"I am committed to bringing forward proposals which deliver devolution to the doorstep, putting more power into the hands of local people than we have ever seen," she added.