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Michael Burton

Michael Burton

Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ

Articles by Michael Burton

Pickles vows to cut paid union officials

By Michael Burton | 05 October 2011

Two Cabinet ministers – including local government secretary, Eric Pickles – have promised to cut...

The Osborne council tax freeze bung

By Michael Burton | 04 October 2011

Perhaps the Conservatives should take up the emblem of a sofa for their annual conference this week.

Tory Conference: Ministers fight back on union officials

By Michael Burton | 04 October 2011

Two Cabinet Office ministers promise to cut back 'taxpayer-funded' public sector union officials.

Tory conference: Pickles pledges legal powers for traveller camps

By Michael Burton | 03 October 2011

Eric Pickles promises to give councils tougher enforcement powers.

Don't create a vacuum at the top

By Michael Burton | 29 September 2011

Michael Burton wonders why councillors are suddenly questioning the value of having chief executi...

Here today -and here tomorrow

By Michael Burton | 21 September 2011

Michael Burton looks at how local government's role and services influence far outweigh its publi...

'Widen elected mayor policy,' Lib Dem urges

By Michael Burton | 19 September 2011

Directly elected police commissioners are likely to stimulate the public appetite for directly el...

Is the bandwagon now rolling for elected mayors?

By Michael Burton | 19 September 2011

The Liberal Democrat conference got underway last weekend with a fringe debate on elected mayors....

Clegg calls for fast-tracked infrastructure spending

By Michael Burton | 16 September 2011

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has asked ministers to identify 40 major projects to be fast-tra...

Going down: chief executive pay

By Michael Burton | 14 September 2011

Just as Eric Pickles urged, top pay is on the way down while even the job itself faces the axe, s...