Devolution
McMahon returns to Labour frontbench
Former Oldham MBC leader Jim McMahon has returned to the opposition frontbench as shadow devolution and local government minister.
Powering ahead in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Combined Authority is to receive a departmental-style single funding settlement from Government that will enable it to deliver prosperity for local people in the years ahead, writes Laura Shoaf.
Rotheram threatened over Covid restrictions
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram was assigned 24-hour police security after he received threats during the Covid pandemic, he revealed today.
True collaboration will be key to the success of devo in Surrey
Cllr Tim Oliver says Surrey CC is looking forward to working with the Government and local partners to ensure all residents can feel the benefit of a Level 2 County Deal.
Autumn Statement: not what it says on the tin
Kate Ogden says it seems likely either taxes will have to rise further, borrowing will have to rise, or the range and quality of public services provided will have to fall.
Autumn Statement: Level 4 devolution unveiled
More powers will be offered to areas with a level 3 devolution deal, the Government has announced as part of the Autumn Statement.
Expected devo boost in Autumn Statement
Seven counties are expected to be among a swathe of non-mayoral devolution deals being lined up by the Government.
Devo’s the word – so what comes next?
Michael Gove’s appearance at the County Councils’ Network conference this week may have been ill-timed, but it was a masterclass in pure politics.
New Local deputy chief: 'Devolution is here to stay'
Devolution is here to stay, but the next Government needs to decide what to do with it, a think-tanker has claimed.
Plymouth pulls out of ‘unreasonable’ devolution deal
Plymouth City Council has withdrawn from a proposed devolution deal after its leader branded it ‘unreasonable and unrealistic’.
Keeping the faith
As local government battles with budgets and rising demand, Heather Jameson spoke to Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan about what he wants to see from the next government.
'Slim pickings and missed opportunities'
Baroness Sharon Taylor reflects on the King's Speech, and says it's time to stop leaving councils to pick up the pieces on their own and give them the powers to take back control.
Sector waits for Downing Street to clear devolution announcement
Councils are hoping No10 will sign off an expansion of level two and level three devolution deals in time for next week’s Autumn Statement, The MJ understands.
The next level begins
Last month saw the Levelling Up Act receive Royal Assent, but what will that actually mean for local authorities? Martin Ford takes a look.
Centralism isn’t working, can we try something different?
The all-star line-up at the launch of a Harvard report 'ultimately see centralism isn’t working', says Heather Jameson. 'It begs the question: If they see it, why can’t our current political ’masters’? Or if they do, why don’t they act?'
Autumn Statement: why we need real reform
As the Autumn Statement draws closer, Simon Christian says only complete fiscal reform will unlock the revenue funding needed for core public services, but the debate cannot stop at financial changes alone.
Why regional policy failed
A report looks at the lessons from in-depth interviews with experts on why UK regional policy has been a failure for 40 years. Ann McGauran reports from a fiery panel discussion on the findings.
Government trust in councils key to devolution
Most interviewees for a report on why UK's regional policy hasn't worked were unconvinced about fiscal devolution, says Paul Marinko. 'The whiff of mistrust in local government is unmistakable.'
'Devolution hopes rest on combined authorities'
Combined authorities represent the greatest hope for devolution in England, according to a new report based on interviews with 95 former ministers and Whitehall mandarins.
How about an updated version of Total Place
Abdool Kara says Total Place 'remains to many an idea that has the potential to square the circle of improved outcomes at less cost at a time where there are few other solutions presenting themselves'.
