No-one has explained why it was essential to issue the White Paper on local government in October. We had already written that it was premature to publish the Government's plans before it had received the Lyons report – and digested reactions to its proposals – in The MJ on 28 September and 9 November.

 The Government first established the Raynsford review of the balance of funding, and then, to avoid doing anything, set up the Lyons inquiry, and extended its remit. And, just as it was on the point of issuing its conclusions, ministers postponed publication.