Any effective stewardship of the local economy badly requires a step change if it is to stay true to the progressive post-Covid vision, says Neil McInroy. It’s time for councils and the umbrella bodies that represent them to end voodoo local economics.

In light of the ongoing economic crisis, local economic plans are going to have to be radically rethought. The hope exemplified in the post-Covid ideas that we could build the economy ‘back better’, are now squashed under a cost of living crisis and a zombie-like resurrection of a voodoo economics exemplified by a belief in tax cuts, growth and trickle down.