Devolution
CV19 – DEVO3.0
Steve Barwick outlines three reasons why COVID-19 is creating the shift in public opinion and institutional reality that makes the next chapter of ‘better wider, deeper’ devolution more likely.
NIC launches future of rail consultation
The National Infrastructure Commission has launched a consultation on the future rail landscape of the North and the Midlands as part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Levelling up and the Budget
Lord Bob Kerslake argues that a coherent plan is needed to ensure the Budget’s new capital spending and R&D cash geared at areas outside London and the South East has maximum impact.
Academics urge fiscal devolution
Experts have told MPs that financial powers must form part of the Government’s devolution plans.
Budget 2020: Putting the numbers in perspective
By recent standards the Chancellor’s Budget jokes were pretty good, says Charlotte Alldritt of the Centre for Progressive Policy. But it is time to get serious, if the government is going to deliver on its levelling up agenda.
Blow to cross-Humber devolution deal
Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are to work towards a devolution deal after North and North East Lincolnshire councils walked away.
Leaving nothing to chance
The ‘levelling-up’ Budget is era-defining and ambitious in scope – but we will have to wait until the summer Spending Review to understand the blueprint, says Localis’s Jonathan Werran.
Budget 2020: Mayoral authorities win big in transport
The Government has unveiled £4.2bn for urban transport as part of its spring budget giveaways.
Budget 2020: Sunak reveals spending spree for first budget
New chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a Budget to end austerity, boost productivity and tackle the problems created by coronavirus.
Budget 2020: New West Yorkshire mayor announced
A new directly-elected West Yorkshire mayor has been announced with the Government signing a new £1.8bn devolution deal amid plans to ‘level up’ the UK economy.
Councils are survivors
Claire Kober says that while the year ahead promises its up and downs, The MJ's columnists are united on the resilience of the sector and its ability to withstand whatever is thrown at it.
Reorganisation fears overshadow devolution talks
Concerns over local government reorganisation are marring devolution talks in the north-west.
Slicker cities
Cllr Huw Thomas examines the findings of a new report looking at enhancing the potential and overall productivity of the UK’s core cities.
Avoiding the dangers of a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach
Two key recommendations highlighted in a new report on the need for 'levelling-up' to include counties are for Growth Boards - and for the devo White Paper to consider devolving budgets and powers to county areas, says Paul Dossett.
Working across boundaries to build better lives and stronger economies
With a Budget and the devolution White Paper round the corner, residents now need the convening, enabling and leadership role offered by districts, says Cllr John Fuller.
Go big or go home
Chair of the UK2070 Commission into spatial inequalities Lord Bob Kerslake says everyone will lose if we fail to tackle the widening productivity and wealth gap.
The 'levelling up' agenda cannot overlook shire counties, says report
A new report today warned Government that counties are lagging behind other parts of the country.
To truly ‘level -up’ we need to power up counties
Today a new report argues that the ‘levelling up’ agenda cannot bypass county areas. Cllr Barry Lewis says that ‘if done right, this agenda would move beyond overly-simple north-south divides and would focus on all areas that require expenditure’.
Commission calls for action plan
A comprehensive review of economic decline and social division has called for a ‘large-scale, comprehensive, long-term and devolved’ plan of action to deliver change.
PM should 'get on and deliver devo'
The Prime Minister understands the importance of fiscal devolution, he now needs to get on and deliver it, London’s most prominent councillor has claimed.