Sarah Longlands
Left and behind: women at work
Building gender equality and diversity into plans for economic growth has benefits for everyone, writes Sarah Longlands.
Time for a fightback
Political parties think the general public doesn’t care about councils, which is why, electorally, they are not on the agenda – but they’re wrong, says Sarah Longlands.
Right place and time for change
Despite more than a decade of austerity and no end in sight, local authorities do have the power to get wealth flowing more directly to residents, and many are doing so, writes Sarah Longlands.
Leaping to a four-day week
CLES is permanently adopting a four-day working week, and Sarah Longlands says there is no reason why councils should not be at the forefront of challenging preconceptions about the way the public sector works.
A compelling vision
Sarah Longlands says we cannot let pragmatism dampen our belief in better times ahead and she sets out two ambitions for better local economies in the future.
Be brave when times are tough
Inflation may have eased, but there are tough times ahead. Sarah Longlands urges local authorities to step outside their comfort zone and reimagine economic growth
Getting healthier and wealthier
The potential of Integrated Care Systems to harness their economic heft and level up locally is enormous, says Sarah Longlands. But progress on this agenda is often due to a few wilful individuals who see the potential.
Investing in the basics
A new kind of northern politics needs a new kind of economic thinking, not the piecemeal approach of levelling up, where local authorities have to go cap in hand to Westminster, says Sarah Longlands.
No green shoots from the Spring Statement
Sarah Longlands says that Westminster may be retreating to a pre-COVID state of policy inertia on the cost of living crisis, but there is no reason why local government should follow.
You can’t level up from Whitehall
The Levelling up White Paper spent a lot of time talking about ancient history, but will do little if anything to address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, says Sarah Longlands.
Devolved potential in Cornwall is under threat from central Government inertia
Sarah Longlands says that unlike the ‘hero’ style approach of the mayors elsewhere, Cornish devolution has been characterised by collaborative leadership. But lack of Government action is putting devolved potential at risk, she believes.
Back where you started
We are 'finally starting to see through the fog of rhetoric on levelling up', says Sarah Longlands. What's emerging reveals the only winner from the competition prescription is central government, she adds.
The chancellor must go beyond warm words
Director of IPPR North Sarah Longlands poses three core questions for chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of this week's Budget, including: 'Who does he want to 'level up'?
Westminster must not sidestep local capacity and expertise on net zero
Local government has already shown its commitment to net zero, so it is crucial that Government invests in this collective effort across the UK, says Sarah Longlands.
The restructure we require is not to be found in our town halls
The devolution White Paper will reveal Boris Johnson's 'northern growth body'. But this will have a fatal flaw as its creator is Whitehall, writes Sarah Longlands.
Plan, plan and plan again!
Sarah Longlands argues that 'if we really want to build back better, creating decent homes and communities in which to live, then good strategic planning is part of the solution, rather than a scapegoat for politicians'.
Level up, bounce back - wise up
Our recovery will be even slower, more difficult and unequal if it depends on waiting for Whitehall to formulate a plan from the centre, argues director of IPPR North Sarah Longlands.
Now is not the time for Westminster to tighten its centralising grip
Reducing the spread of the virus requires Westminster to loosen the reins of power and to trust decision-makers in local and combined authorities to know what is right for their communities, argues Sarah Longlands.
Let's get serious about decent pay
If we are serious about building a resilient northern economy then we need to start with the people who live and work here, says Sarah Longlands
The real task ahead after deal or no-deal is to reconcile the bitter divisions
If we are to overcome the divisive nature of Brexit, we must let people into the decision-making process - and devolution provides an ideal test bed for new democratic innovation, says Sarah Longlands.