FINANCE

This is not devolution – this is not even centralism

‘Once the poster-child for devolution, Manchester is now being treated as the bad boy of politics – on the naughty step for daring to ask for a good deal for its residents’, says Heather Jameson.

Central government has not covered itself in glory when it comes to the response to the COVID crisis – but it is rapidly back-tracking on devolution too.

Most of the devolution deals we have had so far have been more an exercise in PR and window dressing than a true commitment to meaningful decentralisation.  We have moved from the language of the Northern Powerhouse to levelling up – but when it comes to local lockdowns, we are all levelling down.

The extraordinary events of the past few days, which saw Boris Johnson go head to head with Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham, has shown a government that supports devolution only when it suits them.

When it comes to localism, and the Prime Minister's pledge to create bespoke local lockdowns – different in every area – how can the Government go on to argue that Manchester can't get more money than Lancashire or Liverpool?

Mr Johnson may have misunderstood the meaning of ‘bespoke' – not to mention the concept of levelling up.

The North South divide has become a chasm that the government is refusing to bridge for the sake of £5m, while it throws money at the NHS, empty Nightingale hospitals and track and trace systems with a track record of failure when local services could have done the job at a fraction of the cost.

I look forward to the inevitable National Audit Office conclusions that are yet to unfold.

Once the poster-child for devolution, Manchester is now being treated as the bad boy of politics – on the naughty step for daring to ask for a good deal for its residents.

But perhaps the biggest faux pas of the Government so far was revealed by Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, who revealed in the now-viral clip that the Government planned to pick off council leaders one by one. Divide and rule may not work in Manchester.

Meanwhile, in London, the Government has threatened to take over Transport for London unless the Mayor raises council tax.

This is not devolution. This is not even centralism. This is a Government punishing people over politics.  

FINANCE

Local Authority of the Year revealed

By Martin Ford | 20 June 2025

The MJ’s Local Authority of the Year has been announced at a gala ceremony this afternoon.

FINANCE

Green Book Review: Evolution not revolution for local investment

By Simon Dancer | 19 June 2025

Treasury's latest review of the Green Book holds the line on orthodoxy but offers cautious encouragement for councils to build stronger, place-based investme...

FINANCE

Facing the future

By EXCLUSIVE by Dan Peters | 19 June 2025

The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is to use next month’s Local Government Association (LGA) conference in Liverpool to discuss its future with the sector.

FINANCE

Councils need to step up and get a grip on CSE

By Heather Jameson | 19 June 2025

There has been political inaction across the major parties on child sexual exploitation, spanning central and local government – and it must not be allowed t...

Heather Jameson

Popular articles by Heather Jameson