Ben Franklin
Farewell levelling up – we barely knew you
Future attempts to address spatial inequality must have serious financial backing to avoid groundhog day and this requires honesty over future tax and spend, writes Ben Franklin.
Are the grown-ups in the room?
Labour’s alternative to levelling up could mark a step change to a more mature relationship between the centre and our regions, say Annabel Smith and Ben Franklin.
Growing pains
With local growth high on the political agenda, Ben Franklin sets out his recipe for success.
We don’t need a Lyons’ 2.0
With the seminal 2007 Lyons Review in focus, Ben Franklin and Annabel Smith look at why place-shaping has captured the zeitgeist and argue local government does not need another review, and should instead 'get on and do it'.
Behind the levelling up smoke and mirrors
The Government’s flagship super-deduction policy stands to benefit London and the South East the most, says Ben Franklin – and it is not explicitly targeted at the most deprived communities in the capital.
