We need more job cutbacks in Government - Liam Byrne talks to the Post

Dec 2 2008 By Jonathan Walker, Political Editor

people in the region, and it’s a model we have now asked to be copied in every other English region, so that people are prepared for economic shocks.

“We know that this downturn will be painful, and if we are to keep it short and shallow then it’s crucially important that Government and the business community is acting together and acting together quickly.

“So the West Midlands has really pioneered these new ways of working right across the country.”

Another string to his bow is a role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - making him responsible for managing estates across Britain, on behalf of the Queen.

The Duchy is the inheritance of the Duke of Lancaster - which dates back to 1351 - and became the property of the crown in 1399, when Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, became King.

Although his role is ceremonial, Mr Byrne intends to visit some of the Duchy’s estates in Staffordshire.

“The Duchy of Lancaster is a big property protfolio that provides an income for Her Majesty, so I’ve got to sign off the accounts once a year. There is some quite innovative work the Duchy is doing, for example developing sustainable ruiral housing in some areas of its estate.

“There are some estates it holds in Staffordshire, which I’ll be trying to visit over the next few months.

“Although it’s princiuple purpose is to provide a certain amount of money to he Queen, it is doing some interesting work in regeneration.”

It’s been a rapid rise for Mr Byrne, aged 38, who only became an MP in 2004.

He now attends cabinet meetings, although he is formally not a member of the cabinet, and colleagues predict he has an even brighter future ahead.

But incidents such as the leaked memo to staff, written as he began a new job as immigration minister in 2006, don’t help. Did he cringe when he looked back on it today?

“Back in 2006, we were confronting a huge job in the re-organisation of the UK Border Agency.

“I was a very eager minister, my background being in the business community I have always believed in well-ordered arrangements around me in order to do the job effectively

“But did I go over top? Yeah, of course I did.

“But both me and my wife, and I think it’s fair to say my office, have had quite a good laugh over the amount of coverage we’ve got out of it over the last week.

“I never thought in my ministerial career that I’d ever be compared to Maria Carey, and I’m sure I won’t be again.”

He argues that he has much more to do in politics - and tacitly admits that 11 years of Labour Government have not solved the problem of poverty in major cities such as Birmingham.

“I came into politics because I wanted to help renew Britain’s inner cities. That’s a life-time’s work. It’s why I still carry on working so hard in Hodge Hill.

“I find that that I learn more delivering regenration in Hodge Hill than many other things that I do in Westminster and Whitehall.

“I joined the Labour Party at 15 because I wanted to see a fairer society in this country. I think Britain has got a lot fairer over the last 10 or 11 years but the world is changing very quickly and this new globalised economy has got huge opportunitioes for this country.

“But if we are to really seize those opportunities with both hands then the rewards of globalisation have to be fairly shared throughout British society.

“I think there are still too many poor places and too many poor communities in Britain. I think a lot of them are in our major cities, and what I want to do for as long as I’m allowed to carry on serving in politics is make sure the fruits of this new world help rejuvenate our great cities.”

LIAM BYRNE TIMELINE
1996-1997: As a successful entrepreneur and Labour activist, Liam Byrne advises Labour how to appeal to business leaders.
2004: Picked to fight Birmingham Hodge Hill for Labour following the resignation of former MP Terry Davis.
Labour’s majority is cut to just 460 against a strong Liberal Democrat challenge, down from 11,168 at the 2001 general election.
During the campaign, Labour brands Lib Dem candidate Nicola Davies “Nokia Davies”, as she works for a mobile phone company, in an attempt to play on local opposition to mobile phone masts.
2005: Labour’s majority increases to 5,449 in the general election, and Mr Byrne is made a junior health minister - an extremely rapid promotion for someone so new to the Commons.
2006: Mr Byrne becomes a Minister of State - a more senior minister - with responsibility for policing in the Home Office. Within a fortnight he is moved to become minister for immigration, placing him in charge of one of the most difficult and politically-sensitive issues facing the Government. He oversees a range of reforms to immigration rules, but comes under fire from some Labour colleagues for a perceived anti-immigrant policy.
2007: Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister and appoints regional ministers, making Liam Byrne the Minister for the West Midlands. Later in the year, the MP was fined £100 after admitting using his mobile phone while driving.
2008: Mr Byrne is appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office, and now attends Cabinet although he is not formally a member.