Conservative Conference
Letting the poppies bloom
Heather Jameson says the Conservative conference has put levelling up and skills front and centre, but voters may be looking for a short-term fix.
On the level
When it comes to the Conservative Party conference, there was only one true star of the show – no, not the endlessly entertaining Prime Minister, who admittedly did go down a storm with the party faithful.
A focus on areas with stronger leaders will not be good news for all places
What will the devolution agenda look like under Michael Gove, asks Arianna Giovannini? The cases of Ben Houchen and Andy Burnham are 'equally telling on what the way ahead might look like', she says.
Mayoral devolution is 'central to levelling up,' claims Clarke
Devolution is central to the levelling up agenda, chief secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke, told the Conservative Party Conference.
Johnson vows to ‘get care done’
The Prime Minister delivered a speech peppered with quips but short on announcements at the Conservative Party Conference.
Michael Gove sets out his stall for levelling up
Michael Burton says the vision levelling up secretary Michael Gove touched on for the policy at the Conservative Party Conference implies the need for more resources if necessary - 'which may not please the chancellor'.
Javid vows to reform health and social care
Health secretary Sajid Javid has three clear priorities – COVID, recovery and reform – he told delegates at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this week.
Gove lays out his vision to level up the red wall
New communities secretary Michael Gove has signalled an enhanced role for local government coupled with localism, the big society and ‘double devolution’.
Labour's Burnham praises Conservative Gove
Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has praised new levelling up secretary Michael Gove and offered to help him ‘define and deliver’ the policy.
EXCLUSIVE: Single tier fear reignited
County councils are being offered the option of unitary local government as part of a devolution deal, The MJ understands.
Council chiefs in dark over 5G future, survey finds
Almost half of council chief officers are still unsure whether superfast 5G broadband will arrive in their area according to a survey by The MJ and BT.
Do we all hate each other?
Local government could teach Downing Street and Westminster a thing or two. It has always had to deal with people who disagree on issues and have different world views, writes Dan Corry.
Social care funding is still a bridge too far
Social care is still the issue that threatens to derail the Conservative party's forthcoming election campaign, just as it did in 2017, says Michael Burton
Tory spending plans could be derailed by economic downturn - IFS
Multi-billion pound Conservative spending plans could be derailed by a further deterioration in the economy, a fiscal think-tank has warned.
Ministry grapples with planning performance
Ministry mandarins are attempting to work out how to measure councils’ planning performance before they agree to increase fees, The MJ understands.
Javid promises devo White Paper
A new White Paper to devolve more powers to local areas was announced in the Chancellor’s speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester today.
Let’s see the cap ‘gone for good’
The Prime Minister’s decision to scrap the housing borrowing cap gives councils a ‘huge opportunity’ to build homes, says Lord Porter. The Treasury needs to fulfil the promise ahead of the Budget
Strictly housing
Theresa May has lifted the cap on how much councils can borrow against their Housing Revenue Account assets – but more problems lie ahead, says Heather Jameson
soapbox
Now that the annual party conference season is over, Claire Kober says it's time to reflect on what policy commitments have been made. She argues the 'overwhelming emphasis on Brexit seems to have left public policy on the backbenches'.
Domestic decisions
Positivity, pragmatism and long term thinking – the latest Tory conference has left local government with a lot to mull over, as Bob Neill describes
