Edward Davey MP

Ed Davey has outlined the Liberal Democrats' "historic mission" to decentralise British politics.

In a speech to the New Local Government Network, the party's town hall spokesman set out Lib Dem thinking on local government and their aim to set free and reinvigorate a strong local democracy.

"The party’s thinking remains firmly committed to grassroots, community politics and to radical decentralisation," he said.

Davey went on to voice concerns that councils are too reliant on Whitehall, and said a rebirth of local government is needed to end the "dependency culture" and challenge councils to deal with issues at a local level.

He said restructuring was not the answer in developing localism, but rather an increased focus on responsibilities was needed.

The Liberal Democrats' plans would have a huge impact on Whitehall with the possibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister being abolished and other departments merged.

Powers of government ministers would be trimmed back and the inspection bodies, including the Audit Commission, reformed and rationalised.

Davey said: "It’s a hugely daunting task – given where we are, and where we’ve come from. Much of the national media are at best uninterested in the agenda. Or at worst are local-sceptics – a breed often closely related to the Eurosceptics.

"Faced with such challenges, I’m concerned that this is an agenda that Labour is increasingly walking away from. And convinced it’s an agenda that the Tories really aren’t that interested in.

"So we have to fill the vacuum. Liberal Democrats have to prepare a programme of local government reform that will make the difference. And I’m increasingly confident we have, and we will."