Andrew Laird
Can we refocus on public service reform now?
Part of the challenge for governments in tackling poverty is to enable everyone to work together to do their bit - and many of the levers needed to support a family or individual out of poverty sit at the local level, says Andrew Laird.
The ‘people’s choice’ for health and care leadership
Andrew Laird says local authorities are the driving force for the levelling up agenda through co-production with local communities, and there are many reasons why council leaders are perfect for the role of leading in health and care ‘places’.
How can the NHS work with councils on levelling up?
Andrew Laird says the levelling up jigsaw is missing one major piece – the NHS – and he points to an ethical barrier to it playing a full role in this crucial policy agenda.
Levelling Up through Community Ownership
Andrew Laird welcomes the plan to create a £150m Community Ownership Fund and says the agenda should also look at local public services and assets.
COVID has highlighted the importance of community ‘bridges’
Andrew Laird and Chris Wright put the case for working through ‘community bridge’ organisations to not only improve resilience and responsiveness through times of crisis, but to deliver services in a co-operative way in normal times.
In defence of algorithms and their value to public services
Rather than turning our back on algorithms, the task is to make them better and the data they use more balanced and properly representative, argues Andrew Laird.
COVID-19 - Community ownership should play a key role in local recovery
As we look to emerge from this crisis, supporting communities to take over ownership of local assets and public services represents an opportunity for positive change and is an operationally sensible approach, says Andrew Laird.
Only devolution can protect public services from years of Brexit chaos
Andrew Laird argues that only a renewed and rapid drive to devolve power to cities and local areas can protect local public services from years of Brexit inspired central government inaction and chaos.