George Thorley
Scottish devolution: Time to re-boot
It’s time for an informed debate in Scotland on the next stage of the devolution journey, says George Thorley.
Scots Gov should not mark own report card
The Scottish Parliament should appoint an independent external organisation to validate the National Performance Framework and regain faith in the system of assessment. George Thorley explains.
Scotland’s police must account locally
Details of the Strategic Partnership Agreement for Policing recently signed with COSLA are still to be finalised and George Thorley says now is the time to apply lessons from the Casey review of the Met.
Making devo work in Scotland
With the arrival of a new First Minister, George Thorley wonders if now is the time for a new form of devolved Government in Scotland that delegates power to local authorities and their communities.
Creating the new normal
George Thorley looks at our nations’ challenges as they start to look beyond the pandemic. He argues for the strengthening of the role of local government as a key component of the new normal.
What have councils ever done for us?
George Thorley sets the changing structures and responsibilities of local government in both Scotland and England in a historical context – and says councils are best placed to solve national problems.