Political comfort blanket masquerading as a growth strategy Politics Rachel Reeves has warned that we’ve entered “an age of insecurity” – and she wasn’t referring to Keir Starmer’s precarious grip on power. In declaring that “globalisation as we’ve known it is over” the Chancellor set out her response to this hard-edged new reality, focusing on regional growth, closer ties with the EU and a [...]
Rent control law to ‘knock £11bn’ off commercial property Property New legislation introducing rent controls could lead to £11bn being stripped from commercial property values, fresh analysis has shown, in the latest blow to the confidence for investors. The government is proposing a ban on upward-only rent hikes on commercial property in a bid to support small businesses with costs. The proposed ban can be [...]
Labour’s plan to gerrymander London’s mayoral election will backfire Opinion Giving the vote to teenagers may be getting the headlines, but Labour are also planning to rig London’s mayoral elections by restoring supplementary voting. It’s a plan based on dangerous assumptions, warms James Ford Labour is clearly panicking. There is a very real fear that, come 2028, the combination of a deeply unpopular Labour government [...]
The best 25th birthday present for the GLA would be more devolution July 11, 2025 25 years since the GLA’s creation, London has made major strides in devolved policy areas, particularly in transport, but now urgently needs more fiscal powers and a formalised partnership between boroughs and central government, says Antonia Jennings Trailblazing. The first of its kind. A UK leader in regional devolution settlements. All phrases which have been [...]
Andy Burnham wants Manchester to add an extra £13bn a year to the UK economy – this is how January 24, 2025 A decade-long plan to increase Greater Manchester’s contribution to the UK economy by £13bn a year has been unveiled by the region’s mayor, Andy Burnham. The proposal, which has been made public today, would see the “whole Greater Manchester system mobilised” to deliver £1bn of investment every year between now and 2035. Burnham has also [...]
Metro mayors to control railways and housing in ‘landmark’ devolution plans December 16, 2024 Mayors of large cities and regions across England will soon be able to take control of local infrastructure and skills projects under a new devolution bill, which was introduced in Parliament today. The English Devolution White Paper will give metro mayors – directly elected regional leaders who chair combined authorities – significant new powers in [...]
Starmer pledges to ‘rebuild our economy’ with decade-long local growth plans May 13, 2024 Firing up the UK’s regional prosperity will be key to Labour’s plans to “rebuild our economy”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as he called for mayors to deliver 10-year local growth plans.
Devolution: Should London have power to raise its own taxes? May 9, 2024 Calls for the government to share some tax revenue with devolved administrations - including in London - have been backed by organisations in the capital.
Starmer’s most exciting policy may not be the one that garners any votes April 17, 2024 While Labour's devolution plans alone won't pull in the votes, giving the public a bit more of a say over what happens in their neighbourhoods can only be a good thing, Jessica Frank-Keyes writes