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Michael Burton

Michael Burton

Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ

Articles by Michael Burton

POLICY AND POLITICS

The public will accept straight talk from politicians so long as there is a rationale

By Michael Burton | 20 May 2026

By claiming the public could have both high public spending and low taxes, the main parties opene...

FINANCE

Funding the future: Local government finances, reform and resilience

By Michael Burton | 11 May 2026

Against the backdrop of mounting fiscal pressures, more exceptional financial support requests an...

REORGANISATION

Does the public care about local government reorganisation?

By Michael Burton | 20 April 2026

So far, the public has been pretty disengaged from consultation over the future shape of LGR, but...

POLICY AND POLITICS

A bit more 'no, minister' is needed

By Michael Burton | 20 January 2026

A succession of government U-turns over badly-considered policies suggest the Whitehall machine i...

BUDGET 2025

Making a start on SEND costs

By Michael Burton | 02 December 2025

With social care funding still unresolved, the Budget at least took a decisive first step toward ...

REORGANISATION

Local government reorganisation: Better late than never

By Michael Burton | 04 November 2025

While LGR is already proving a challenge, for many Labour ministers it also represents unfinished...

REORGANISATION

Now for the fair funding fireworks

By Michael Burton | 25 June 2025

The Government has finally grasped the nettle of fair funding by producing a controversial draft ...

SOCIAL CARE

Streeting urges NHS to 'work better with local government'

By Michael Burton | 12 June 2025

Health and care secretary Wes Streeting has promised mayors and council leaders ‘a seat at the ta...

DEVOLUTION

Why the Total Place bandwagon should roll again

By Michael Burton | 15 May 2025

John Denham was Labour’s communities secretary 15 years before Angela Rayner. He tells Michael Bu...

POLICY AND POLITICS

The paradox of populism

By Michael Burton | 23 April 2025

When it comes to public spending, left and right are in agreement says Michael Burton.

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