Liberate the regions
The government must empower regional mayors and place devolution at the core of its plans.
ByDevolution
Will a Labour government face a mayors’ revolt?
If Keir Starmer fails to deliver growth, new fractures will emerge between Westminster and the regions.
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The council debt crisis is of the government’s own making
The abolition of the Audit Commission, and the squeeze on local authority budgets, has doubled the sector's liabilities.
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Exclusive polling: councillors give their verdict on 14 years of Tory rule
As voters head to the polling booths today, 280 English councillors report that the local government sector is in crisis.
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What does Labour’s South Yorkshire metro mayor stand for?
Oliver Coppard is up for re-election on 2 May, but he doesn't readily betray a big, defining political project.
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Labour’s publicly controlled buses policy is vital – but it’s only the first step
Transport for London-style franchising will improve local services. But councils need to open decision-making to the public.
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How Wales could save the world
Sophie Howe, the nation’s first-ever commissioner for future generations, on what it takes to prioritise well-being over GDP.
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Manchester and West Midlands devolution deals are just the beginning
Officials whisper about the abolition of combined authorities. But they are already having success through partnership and experimentation.
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What would a Labour government do about HS2 and levelling up?
As the party’s conference nears, the opposition will have to set out its plans to bring economic growth to all…
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The new radical? What to expect from the shadow levelling-up secretary
Angela Rayner now presides over a sprawling policy remit – and the opposition’s most far-reaching reforms.
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Rishi Sunak’s LTNs review exposes the hollow promises of devolution
Both parties promise to end decades of centralisation – but only if the beneficiaries stick rigidly to Whitehall’s plans.
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Partner content
Can redesigning cities boost economic growth? – with PwC
A special podcast from Spotlight, the New Statesman’s policy supplement.
Andy Street criticises government messaging on the 2021 Levelling Up Fund
At a New Statesman conference, the West Midlands mayor said it should have been clear the policy was more than…
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Andy Street: “Our devolution deal is the end of the begging bowl”
The Mayor of the West Midlands on how the “landmark” shift of powers from Whitehall to his authority will transform…
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Dehenna Davison on devolution: “We have instigated the greatest transfer of power in living memory”
Our new deals will hand strong, effective metro mayors the tools they need to grow their regions.
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The Policy Ask with Martin Tugwell: “Free public transport could deliver economic, environmental and social benefits”
Transport for the North’s chief executive on devolution, infrastructure delivery, and his role in the Olympic opening ceremony.
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The Policy Ask with Henri Murison: “We need to shrink central government and transfer civil servants to the regions”
The chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership on devolution, HS2 and dealing with the Treasury’s red tape.
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It’s time for Whitehall to stop micromanaging councils’ spending
To truly rebalance the UK’s economy, central government needs to devolve more fiscal power to local leaders.
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What does the Budget mean for levelling up?
Four takeaways for the regions from the Chancellor’s announcement: more powers, but little reprieve from austerity pressures.
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It’s time to talk policy in the SNP leadership race
So far, constitutional matters have dominated the debate over key issues like the climate and child poverty.
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