Heather Jameson
Heather Jameson is editor of the MJ
Will steps finally be taken to protect public servants?
As Westminster contemplates the tricky tightrope of balancing safety and democracy, free speech and abuse, the same debates must be held for local government, says Heather Jameson.
Letting the poppies bloom
Heather Jameson says the Conservative conference has put levelling up and skills front and centre, but voters may be looking for a short-term fix.
Let councils be responsible for their own decisions
We should shine a light on council payouts – sort out the audit regime which is currently failing so desperately – and let councils take responsibility for their own actions, says Heather Jameson.
Johnson vows to ‘get care done’
The Prime Minister delivered a speech peppered with quips but short on announcements at the Conservative Party Conference.
Minister: All options exhausted in hunt for social care solution
Minister Gillian Keegan has claimed ‘every single option was looked at’ before the Government considered raising National Insurance to pay for health and social care.
Devolution is my ‘unfinished business’
Pat Ritchie is leaving her role as chief executive of Newcastle City Council after more than eight years at the helm. She talks to Heather Jameson about her legacy and what she sees as her three key achievements.
Councils offer the solution for crisis-hit Britain
Heather Jameson says that without a central Government solution, local government will carry on its firefighting 'but it can’t be at the expense of tackling some of the longer-term issues – and no issue is bigger right now than climate change'.
Reshuffle puts Gove in the driving seat for next election
Last week’s reshuffle was, for local government, far more than a switch in the ministerial deckchairs. What started out as change in secretary of state has ended up as a wholesale shift in the emphasis of the beefed-up, rebranded department.
Unintended consequences of tax hikes
Heather Jameson says: 'Something that may appear straightforward – raising taxes to pay for care and capping the cost for the consumer – is fraught with unintended consequences.'
The people have spoken
Engaging with the public to gauge local priorities, Newham LBC’s first permanent Citizens’ Assembly saw members get to grips with the issues and offering practical recommendations and a good steer about what really matters. Heather Jameson reports.
Is bending the goalposts on social care enough?
'While the Prime Minister, chancellor and health and social care secretary all repeated the mantra "you can’t fix health without fixing care", it remains to be seen if they have done enough to fix either', says Heather Jameson.
Borough chief to step down
Southwark LBC chief executive, Eleanor Kelly, has announced she is due to retire early next year.
Chancellor faces tough call on on care, pensions and welfare
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will need to make a series of tough choices this autumn, the Resolution Foundation think-tank has said.
Government set to hike NI to pay for care and health
Government is set to plough ahead with plans to raise national insurance to fund health and social, with an announcement expected next week.
Time to give frontline staff the things they deserve
The perfect storm of Brexit and coronavirus has impacted on the UK in a number of different ways – including the steady supply of staff for low paid jobs.
County areas chase devo dream
County areas are lining up to strike one of the first tranche of devolution deals.
Tourist hotspots see biggest boost from 'freedom day'
Northern towns and tourist hotspots have seen the biggest rise in footfall since ‘freedom day’, while London is lagging behind, data has revealed.
MHCLG issue details on critical staff who can skip 'pingdemic' rules
Highway maintenance, regulatory and trading standards staff will not be allowed to skip isolation if they are ‘pinged’ by the NHS COVID app.
Jenrick primes inspectors for planning changes despite growing revolt
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has written to the chief of the Planning Inspectorate amid growing fears over a revolt over planning proposals.
Liverpool ordered to look again at paying former Mayor's legal bills
Liverpool City Council has been ordered by the courts to reconsider its decision not to pay the former mayor’s legal fees.
