John Healey
John Healey MP is former local government minister
Silence the talk of benefit cuts
John Healey says it’s time for councils to join the campaign against the chancellor’s crude housing benefit cuts
Keeping score
In his last Viewpoint before the May general election, former housing minister John Healey assesses the coalition’s economic record
The three steps to wisdom
The North-South divide is history? Only if you choose to ignore it, claims John Healey.
Choices remain on how to balance the books
Each political party’s borrowing requirement would see the books balanced in the next Parliament, but there remains a set of substantive choices, with significant implications for local government budgets, writes John Healey.
Where Lyons purred, councils can roar
John Healey looks at the key points of the Lyons review and highlights the challenges local authorities will face implementing the results.
Is it good night for bedroom tax?
The backbench Bill still has to pass stages in both the Commons and the Lords to become law, but the bedroom tax is loathed by the majority. John Healey believes there is still time to make changes to the bill.
Gove gone but not forgotten
John Healey says local authorities need be put back at the heart of education and training policy.
The challenge for councils
John Healey looks at the lessons of the recent local elections and urges a strong response from local authorities
How to fix our unbalanced economy
John Healey outlines a radical three-step programme of reforms to give Local Enterprise Partnerships the power, money, freedom and geographic fit they need to drive economic growth.
Setting council housing free
John Healey argues the Treasury must bite the bullet and allow state investment in social housing for the national good.
It's time to review housing
A major rescue and recovery programme is needed for social housing – and local government needs to lead the charge, as John Healey argues
Saving private renters
Political parties are finally waking up to the pressures that private renters face.
How to speed economic development
Localism is in retreat, says John Healey, as he looks at how decentralisation holds the key to future growth.
Salvaging education’s missed opportunity
Educated, employable youth is the aim. But, John Healey argues, previous and current governments have ignored the rise in the leaving age, stifling the chances of many to flourish.
Stop the agents letting us down
There are too many despairing tenants who are let down by low standards and ripped off by high fees, writes John Healey.
School's out
John Healey asks if the 'free-for-all' surrounding Michael Gove's academies and free schools risks inefficiency – not innovation.
A home banker
John Healey looks at Margaret Thatcher's housing legacy, and says we all need to get involved to shape future policy for the better.
The borrowers
John Healey believes local government can prove that borrowing to invest and build can be good thing after all.
Welfare dog hasn't barked... yet!
Housing benefit claimants are about to face huge changes. And John Healey has grave misgivings.
What a difference a year makes
Last week's Autumn Statement has confirmed that Britain has gone backwards, says John Healey.