Michael Burton
Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ
Can Boris the Brexiteer revert to Boris the inclusive Mayor?
Mike Burton has two questions. Will Boris bring some of his trusted former local government leaders to No 10 to give the support that proved so successful when he was Mayor? Will he, once elected by his Brexiteer party, swing back to the old Boris?
Civil service chief calls for more cross-Whitehall working
Whitehall chief Sir Mark Sedwill has called for more cross-boundary working among civil servants to tackle social issues like knife crime, troubled families and mental health.
Jam tomorrow from the Conservative candidates
As the candidates for election as prime minister are targeting 2% of the voters - namely Conservative Party members who are mainly older, white, wealthier, and Brexiteers - it is barely surprising they focus on the goodies, says Michael Burton.
Dawes renews commercialisation warnings
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) top civil servant has renewed warnings about tougher Whitehall action to prevent risky commercial ventures by councils.
Recognition for council pair in Queen's Birthday Honours
The leader and former chief executive of a district council have both received awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Accessing key drivers for partnership working
Access to skills, technology and investment were among the key reasons for local authorities to work with the private sector says a recent survey jointly commissioned by The MJ and Serco. Michael Burton reports
Inequality is back on the next PM's agenda
Michael Burton says reducing inequality has been absent from the Tory leadership campaign but has been rightly highlighted by the think tanks. It should now be top of the next Government's agenda.
Regional imbalances match the Euro-election results
Michael Burton says on regional unfairness IPPR North makes a good point - 'the stark ONS figures explain Brexit but there is little sign of Government actually being able to do anything to reduce the imbalances'.
Redistribution call after imbalance findings
A think-tank has called for a redistribution of public investment from London to England’s poorer regions after latest figures showed a huge imbalance between levels of tax and public spending.
Public finances remain robust
The public finances continue to remain robust despite uncertainty over Brexit, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Ministers need to be mindful of the poll tax debacle
That an 'apparently esoteric' local government finance issue could bring down a powerful Prime Minister such as Margaret Thatcher should be taken seriously by today's government, says Michael Burton.
The cost of the care challenge
The recent collapse into administration of care provider Four Seasons has highlighted the huge financial pressures the sector faces. Michael Burton examines the figures
Local government should factor in inequalities review
The UK's policy vacuum has been left to think-tanks, noticeably the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) which has launched a five year study into inequalities. So far its panel does not include anyone from local government, says Michael Burton.
Rise of independents suggests localism is on the move
Brexit, which has split the two main parties down the middle nationally, has clearly also extended its reach down to local level. If this breaks the national stranglehold over local elections this is a promising outcome, says Michael Burton.
We need to give the full picture about high earners
Some facts were missing from this week's TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) 'Town Hall Rich List', says Michael Burton.
Investors upbeat over UK’s cities and regions
Michael Burton tests the mood of international investors’ attitudes to the UK’s cities and regions at this year’s giant MIPIM event.
Council housebuilding figures highest in 17 years
Local authorities built 3,540 homes in the UK in 2017/18, the highest in 17 years. according to latest figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, but a total of 12,059 council homes were sold.
The UK needs a great debate like President Macron’s
President Macron's 'great debate' after riots by the 'gilet jaunes' finishes at the end of next month. Ministers should initiate their own version to gauge the public's views and feed them into Post-Brexit domestic policy, says Michael Burton.
Scotland and Wales 'ignored by Westminster'
Scottish and Welsh ministers say they are still ignored by Westminster despite 20 years of devolution, according to a report from the Institute for Government.
Whitehall and the NHS keep driving up public sector jobs
Michael Burton says the latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics show a record number employed in central Government and a record low in local government staff - down 44,000 over 2017.