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PODCASTS

Inside the Local Authority of the Year

Back in June, Knowsley Council was named 'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden.

Back in June, Knowsley Council was named  'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden. 

Mike's career in local government spans almost 40 years - 28 of them at Knowsley. He talks about the culture and achievements that made the council award-winning. Mike will be retiring from his position at the end of 2024, and will be doing so on an incredibly high note!

Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local' podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. 

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify  and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

PODCASTS

Political convenience is no justification for unconstitutional local election tinkering

By Colin Copus | 02 February 2026

The Government’s decision to ‘postpone or cancel’ local elections is ‘a travesty of constitutional propriety’ say emeritus professors Steve Leach and Colin C...

PODCASTS

The challenges, opportunities and risks of devo

By Martin Ford | 29 January 2026

The Government’s drive for devolution is set to radically alter the landscape of local government. The National Audit Office (NAO) and The MJ brought togethe...

PODCASTS

The new reality of visible leadership

By Sunita Patel | 29 January 2026

Sunita Patel outlines how the need for community cohesion has presented an important challenge for today’s local leaders, and is affecting the way we recruit...

PODCASTS

The NHS 10 Year Plan: Why listening at scale matters for local government

By Ruth Cousens | 28 January 2026

Ruth Cousens outlines what 250,000 voices reveal about prevention, place and the future role of councils.