Devolution
English Devolution Bill calls dismissed
The Government has dismissed calls for an English Devolution Bill in the first Queen’s Speech after the UK has left the EU.
£250bn and more devolution needed to tackle oncoming crisis
The Government needs to invest £250bn and commit to devolution if it is to tackle the jobs, housing and environmental pressures on the horizon, a group chaired by local government stalwart Lord Kerslake has argued.
Readdressing reoffending
Not enough is being done to prevent a system that sets people up to fail as soon as they are released from prison, says Bob Neill. It’s time for a holistic, multi-agency approach, done with local government involvement.
Call for councils to be at centre of new second chamber
A former first minister (FM) has called for ‘disempowered’ local authorities to be put at the centre of a new second chamber in Scotland.
Cut business rates, claims Treasury's Truss
Business rates should be cut to support the private sector, chief secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, told a Smith Square debate last night.
The true threat emerges
In rural shire England, away from the big cities, an endangered and threatened species exists.
This 'false debate' could weaken growth of city regions
The current 'false debate' stating that the sad plight of many northern towns is a direct result of the success of nearby cities could weaken the growth of vibrant city regions at a vital time, says Paul Wheeler.
Devo choices should be open to all
If Scotland can choose to raise income tax and invest in public services, why can’t Manchester or the West Midlands, asks Heather Jameson - and if devolution gives choices to parts of the UK, why not all of the devolved bodies?
Local government must lead the way on change
Britain post-Brexit won't be a mythical land like Game of Thrones, says Heather Jameson. But there will be much to do. Why wait for Whitehall to come up with the answers when so many solutions lie at a local level?
Further delay to devolution drive
The Government’s repeatedly-delayed devolution framework will not be published until after Brexit, minister Jake Berry has admitted.
Row over devolution delay
Councils and the Government are at loggerheads over who is to blame for a 17-month delay for a decision on a devolution growth deal.
The great Brexit divide
A gulf between local and national government ambitions for devolution in a ‘post-Brexit world’ has been laid bare.
Let’s not replace Brussels with Whitehall
As local government stays stuck in the inertia of Brexit, wouldn't it be better to imagine a devolved world, asks Heather Jameson. If the Government wants councils to rebuild places after Brexit, it will need to be swift, she adds.
South Yorkshire devolution deadlock broken
The years-long devolution stalemate in south Yorkshire has finally been resolved.
Scotland and Wales 'ignored by Westminster'
Scottish and Welsh ministers say they are still ignored by Westminster despite 20 years of devolution, according to a report from the Institute for Government.
Local income tax best bet for fiscal devo - IFS
Local income tax would be the best option for fiscal devolution if the Government wanted to hand more powers to local authorities, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) argued today.
Call for place-based Spending Review
The Treasury should develop a new national place-based Spending Review, the independent Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) charity has argued.
Labour hit by raft of councillor resignations
Labour local government has been hit by a raft of resignations after seven MPs resigned from the party to form The Independent Group.
NLGN in fresh fiscal devolution call
Only full fiscal devolution with comprehensive tax-raising powers at a local level will deliver the change communities crave, a report by the NLGN think-tank has urged.
Plugging that gap
Dr Jack Brown asks what role local leaders can play in strengthening ties between London and the world beyond the M25.