The case for devolving the railways
The national government is too risk averse to fund trainlines. Let communities raise the money themselves.
ByDevolution
Who can answer the English Question?
Great Britain’s largest constituent is a nation lost within a multinational state.
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Keir Starmer must remember his mission
During the election, Labour promised to empower Britain. Now is the time to make that happen.
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What is Starmer’s story?
England’s summer riots have violently exposed the failure to resolve our national question.
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Liberate the regions
The government must empower regional mayors and place devolution at the core of its plans.
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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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