Hazel Blears MP, Labour's Communities Secretary, responding to David Cameron's speech to the CPRE, said:

"David Cameron's warm words for local communities are pure political opportunism, because they are not backed up by policies to help local people. He is saying one thing to local communities but quite another back in Westminster.

"Tories in local government have a track record of cuts to local services. When they come to power locally, their first instinct is to cut spending on the services on which vulnerable people depend.

"David Cameron talks about stopping hospital reorganisations but he doesn't mention his plan for legislation that would prevent any future Tory government from being able to intervene in local NHS decisions on changes to services. He talks about local post offices but he doesn't mention that his Shadow Business Secretary won't match Labour's support for post offices and expects the network to "shrink".

"We believe in moving power away from Whitehall and Westminster, and out to town halls, and from there to local communities and individuals, because we believe that democracy is about everyone having a say over the things that affect their lives. That is why we are handing more powers to local authorities while supporting measures to help communities and individuals get involved in local democracy, such as participatory budgeting and citizens juries."