Michael Burton
Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ
Cost of Universal Credit set to soar, says watchdog
The cost of running Universal Credit is likely to be more expensive than the systems it replaces, is placing a huge burden on staff administering it and has the highest rate of overpayments for any benefit other than tax credits according to a National Audit Office report.
LGA gets improvement boost in a bid to aid recovery
Ministers have given a boost to sector led improvement by allowing it a key role in helping councils recover from the coronavirus.
Care chiefs reject Boris' COVID claims
Care chiefs have rejected claims by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that it was their lack of vigilance that led to a high number of coronavirus deaths in care homes.
Think tank calls for £200bn rescue package from Sunak
Chancellor Rishi Sunak should announce a targeted £200bn fiscal stimulus package in his statement tomorrow equal to 10% of GDP to aid the economic recovery says think-tank the Resolution Foundation.
Clarke vows to 'finish the job' on mayors and create more unitaries
Local government minister Simon Clarke has emphasised the Government’s commitment to introducing more elected mayors and unitary councils.
Ministers urged to create a 'green bank'
Ministers have been urged to create a Green Bank to fund climate change investment as part of the Government’s multi-billion pound infrastructure investment programme announced earlier this week.
Starmer to replace House of Lords with elected body
A Labour government will replace the House of Lords with an elected body of representatives from local and regional government, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told a virtual Local Government Association conference session.
Ministers urged to invest in West Midlands
Ministers have been urged to inject £3.2bn over the next three years into the West Midlands economy to offset the impact of the pandemic.
Time to relax borrowing rules
An Institute for Fiscal Studies report on coronavirus regional variations paints a stark picture for councils’ budgets, says Michael Burton.
Life after lockdown: managing local variations
Wide local variations in the impact of the coronavirus pose a major headache to the government. Michael Burton reports on a new Institute for Fiscal Studies report examining varying needs judged by local authority areas.
Former Chancellor calls for infrastructure devo deal
Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling has called for all infrastructure projects below £500m to be managed by local or combined authorities.
ONS figures show the devastating effect of COVID on public finances
The UK’s total public debt is now larger than the entire economy for the first time in nearly 60 years according to latest monthly figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing the devastating impact of the coronavirus on the public finances.
Shadow chancellor pushes for emergency Budget
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds has called for an emergency Budget in the summer with greater support for sectors worst hit by the coronavirus lockdown.
Johnson launches racial equality commission
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set up a cross-government commission to look at ‘all aspects’ of racial inequality in the UK including health and employment following the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Public administration is the only sector left undamaged by coronavirus
The UK economy shrank by a record breaking 25% between February and April with steep falls in the education and health sectors and only public administration remaining unaffected by the coronavirus shutdown from March, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics
Leisure centre closures threaten the drive to boost the nation’s health
Health secretary Matt Hancock does not want to be in the awkward position of calling on better prevention to reduce demand on the NHS just as leisure centres across the land are closing their doors, says Michael Burton.
Councils call for leisure bail out
District councils have called on the Government to bail out cash-strapped leisure centres as they face permanent closure because of lack of income due to the coronavirus shutdown.
Council planning powers under threat
Planning powers could be shifted from local authorities to development corporations as part of an economic stimulus package to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this month.
Hughes gets key OBR role
A former Treasury director has been nominated to become the next chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the public finances watchdog.
Free community groups to take on assets - think-tank
Powers allowing community groups to take on local assets should be kick-started to build on the volunteer spirit generated by COVID says a report released today.
