Tag: Devolution

How to Design a Strategic Authority

This event is part of our ongoing offer to members, supporting local leaders and partners to navigate – and shape – the next chapter of the UK’s devolution story.  As the landscape of English devolution evolves, the Government has...

19th May, 2025

• •


Lunch & Learn: The Emerging Picture of English Devolution and LGR

Join us for this member exclusive Lunch and Learn session with Laura Hughes, Partner/Head of Public Law at Browne Jacobson, where we will delve into the Practical guide to the English Devolution Whitepaper she has just published. Laura will...

29th January, 2025

• •


Embedding meaningful participation through devolution

Devolution should move beyond technocratic functionality and embed meaningful participation and dialogue in decision-making, says Jessica Studdert.

14th October, 2024

• • •


Three local government priorities for the next Parliament 

As she steps into an interim CEO role, Jessica Studdert puts forward three proposals for the next government, at a critical time for councils.

13th May, 2024

• • • • •


Community power was on Labour’s fringe but didn’t feel niche

Radical devolution was a key talking point at Labour party conference, but Keir Starmer's speech didn't deliver on the detail, writes Katy Oglethorpe.

23rd October, 2023

• • • • •


Red roses

Fiscal Devolution: why we need it and how to make it work

How wealth is distributed and how much power local areas have over spending is fundamental to growing the economy. Here's how to make fiscal devolution work.

26th April, 2023

• • • •


Red roses

Fiscal Devolution: why we need it and how to make it work

We explain what fiscal devolution is, bust myths that it will lead to higher taxes, explore different ways to do it, and recommend how to make it happen.

26th April, 2023

• • • •


The Welsh Wellbeing of Future Generations Act has lessons for us all

Polly Lord sets out five lessons for England from the Welsh Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

28th February, 2023

• • •


The Westminster bubble must be burst

The centre has lost its ability to govern and radical change is needed, writes Adam Lent.

14th February, 2023

• • •


How could a new Bill enable people to Take Back Control? Moving from slogan to solution

Polly Lord outlines what's needed in any Take Back Control Bill to make it meaningful for communities.

13th January, 2023

• •


Gordon Brown’s report should warm the heart of every localist

Adam Lent argues the former prime minister has produced the most radical devolutionary programme from either of the two big parties in decades, but far less ambitious plans than this have become lost in the weeds of internal party...

7th December, 2022

• • •


A report on the UK’s Future worthy of the name

Jessica Studdert reacts to Labour’s latest proposals to reform the UK constitution.

6th December, 2022

• •


New poll: Only 14% trust Government to solve cost of living crisis

Two thirds of people do not trust national politicians to address the mounting cost of living crisis.

8th May, 2022

• • • • •


A White Paper fit for Groundhog Day

Have we been here before? Jessica Studdert on the Levelling Up white paper, and how laudable ambitions have amounted to a familiar dearth of real powers or policy coherence for local government. The regional inequalities which mar our country...

2nd February, 2022

• • • •


Devolution: What’s new in the Levelling Up White Paper?

Charlotte Morgan gives a rapid response to the Government's Levelling Up white paper - and what it really says about devolution.

2nd February, 2022

• •


We should rip welfare policy out of the hands of a failing Westminster

Today’s announcement on Universal Credit is one more example of welfare policy set to serve the interests of the politically powerful rather than the unemployed and the economy.

27th January, 2022

• • • •


Why councils should back the new call for a community power act

A new campaign seeks support for a route to decentralisation that is more meaningful and radical than the government’s, writes Adam Lent

17th January, 2022

• • •


Dear Michael Gove, here’s what real devolution looks like

Following the leak of Gove’s devolution plans, Adam Lent explores the difference between a devolution designed to empower communities and places and one that is stuck in an outdated focus on growth and productivity.

14th December, 2021

• • • •


MPs and Councillors have nothing to fear from Community Power

Some elected representatives find community power objectionable. Adam Lent explains why their concerns say more about the failings of the current system than about a community powered alternative.

6th December, 2021

• • •


Political reset: Why it’s high time for a Community Power Act

Following the launch of the We’re Right Here campaign, Adam Lent explains why we’ve joined the drive to enshrine the rights of communities in law.

30th November, 2021

• • • •


Housing Beyond Markets and State

It’s not NIMBYs preventing housing being built – it’s a system that creates conflict by design.

17th November, 2021

• • •


This week shows only ground-up pressure will change an inert and dysfunctional Westminster

Holding onto second jobs and central power - Westminster is unable to change itself from within.

12th November, 2021

• • • •


Out of COP and into communities: why the Government needs to make room for local climate action

Jessica Studdert explains how disadvantaged communities can play a part in the fight against climate change - if they are given the power they need.

26th October, 2021

• • •


Communities vs Climate Change: the power of local action

Local action is the ‘missing piece’ of plans to fight climate change.

20th October, 2021

• • •


Community-powered Conservatism: 3 ideas set to sweep government

Community power hit the political mainstream on Sunday, as Michael Gove used one of his first platforms as Secretary of State to endorse the idea of putting people in charge of local services and social infrastructure.

6th October, 2021

• • •


Trusting the People: the case for community-powered conservatism

New Local and the New Social Covenant Unit are pleased to co-publish this report by 10 Conservative MPs.

2nd October, 2021

• •


An open Letter to Michael Gove from New Local

Give communities the power they need to level up

22nd September, 2021

• • • •


Local Government Explained Part 1: Types of councils

Local government can seem complicated, but it's where local democracy happens. We start our explainer series by looking at the different types of council in England and what they do.

5th May, 2021

• • • •


Learners in Rochdale

Why only community-led devolution will give us the skills we need

Even before the Covid pandemic, UK skills were falling behind other countries in terms of participation and spending. With huge employment and economic challenges on the horizon, Charlotte Morgan argues that local areas and their communities could transform skills...

26th November, 2020

• • • •


No Strings Attached: How community-led devolution would transform England’s skills sector

With huge employment and economic challenges on the horizon, Charlotte Morgan argues that local partnershiops of councils, colleges and communities could transform post-16 education in England - if they are given the powers and resources to do so.

26th November, 2020

• • • •


We urgently need a fresh approach to devolution

Amid doubts about the government's plans for a devolution white paper, Adam Lent outlines three principles to guide a new approach to reform.

9th October, 2020

• • •


A (New) Design for Learning: Doing skills devolution differently

When we talk about devolution, as we will do increasingly when the UK Government’s Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper is published this Autumn, we should remember that it is the enabling arm of subsidiarity. This principle holds that...

1st September, 2020

•


A guide to English devolution

What on earth is devolution, what’s held it back & what might come out of the new government White Paper? This animation accompanies this handy FAQ by New Local policy researcher Charlotte Morgan.

30th January, 2020

• •


A guide to devolution and why it matters

English devolution is back in the spotlight. As the Government prepares to publish a White Paper to set out its “offer for enhanced devolution across England”, we at NLGN have put together some FAQs to give you the devo-lowdown...

24th January, 2020

•


Not enough revolution in government’s devolution plans

So, Her Majesty told us yesterday that her counsellors will be launching another round of devolution. It won’t happen of course unless Boris Johnson marches back into Downing Street with something like a workable majority. But it shows that...

16th October, 2019

• •


Four Ways for Councils to Give Power away

Since publishing The Community Paradigm in February, a question I get asked more than any other is what community-led services look like in practice. Clearly, there is a hunger out there to understand the mechanics of shifting to a...

10th July, 2019

• •


Wrench public service inspection away from Whitehall and hand it over to local communities

What is the point of public service inspectorates like Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission? The standard line is that they are there to make sure public sector bodies offer the very best to the communities they serve. But...

9th July, 2019

• •


Cities in Action 1: Workplace Automation

This report highlights ideas and best practice successfully implemented by countries, regions and cities around the world in response to similar challenges faced by places in the UK.

3rd July, 2019

• • • •


How does the North of Tyne Devo Deal help local people?

This month, three councils in the North East came together to create a Combined Authority and start the next phase of our devolution journey. Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland are, from scratch, putting together what I hope will be...

7th December, 2018

• •


North of Tyne: Deal, not much Devolution

Blink and you might have missed it. Amid the fireworks of last week’s Budget, we had some positive devolution news. On Friday 2nd November, the North of Tyne devolution deal was formally signed off. This development must be seen...

7th November, 2018

•


A budget that leaves councils at the mercy of Boris Johnson

The Chancellor was clearly feeling the hand of history on his shoulder. A new chapter and a turning point were declared as Phillip Hammond informed the House that austerity was now ending just like the PM said it would....

30th October, 2018

• •


The social impact of devolution must not be overlooked

There is nothing new about English devolution being couched in economic terms, particularly as the UK Government has pinned the devolution agenda in England firmly to the spatial framework of city regions. What is remarkable is that, under May’s...

19th June, 2018

•


Key Cities: Ready to Meet the UK’s Biggest Challenges

NLGN has been commissioned by the Key Cities Group to undertake research into how mid-sized cities can contribute to resolving the big national challenges that the UK currently faces. The first report, ‘Key Cities: Ready to Meet the UK’s...

5th June, 2018

• •


Local Government squabbling will blow chances of better deal

This article first appeared on the Local Government Chronicle website on 30th May 2018 You don’t need to trawl the archives of The New York Times to know that a 2,500 word special on the Knowsley Council wards of...

30th May, 2018

•


The devolution drive has become devolution drift. This must change if we’re really to take back control after Brexit

The prospect of “taking back control” motivated many who voted to Leave in the EU Referendum. Whether it was the institutions of Brussels, the policies of the EU or the wider impact of globalisation, a balance of people in...

11th November, 2017

• • •


Communicating devolution: A guide to keeping it simple

The local elections earlier this month saw several city regions elect first time Metro Mayors. The turnout in places like Manchester (29%), where Andy Burnham was elected, was pretty good for a plebiscite on a newly devolved role. In...

30th May, 2017

•


Devolution is now at the mercy of the bureaucrats

After months of worry, devolution’s loved ones finally got some news from Dr May. The patient, it turns out, isn’t terminal, but sadly there will be no return to the old, vibrant ways. Devolution has suffered ‘life-changing injuries’. The...

21st May, 2017

• •


NLGN’s manifesto for localising GE17: Fiscal devolution

We need to talk about fiscal devolution. Fiscal devolution is an issue that national politicians won’t touch even with someone else’s bargepole. So scared are they of the electorate getting a whiff of the prospect of a tax increase,...

28th April, 2017

• • •


Brexit, GE17 and Beyond Top down Economic Regeneration: ‘that growth was never for me anyway’

Yesterday NLGN hosted a roundtable with senior local government executives and a handful of academics to discuss ‘place based policy’ after Brexit. The starting point of the discussion was work by Will Jennings and Gerry Stoker of the University...

21st April, 2017

• •


NLGN’s Manifesto for localising GE17: Devolution

One entirely unforeseen consequence of last year’s referendum was the brakes being put on the devolution locomotive. Despite Government protestations to the contrary, May and Hammond have shown little of the true-believer enthusiasm exhibited by Cameron and Osborne. As...

19th April, 2017

• •