Where next for Lyons?
April 19, 2007

Chris Leslie, Director LGC The so-called ‘purdah’ period before the local elections began so soon after the Chancellor’s Budget that little further Ministerial comment has emerged on the next steps following the Lyons’ report. Sir Michael concluded in two halves – a short term push for council tax reform which was not accepted, coupled with [...]

Breaking boundaries
April 19, 2007
Today's social problems cannot be solved from on high. What is really needed is a new form of local leadership. Chris Leslie, societyguardian.co.uk

Post Lyons
April 13, 2007
So the media caravan has moved on and so too will Sir Michael Lyons when he arrives at the BBC. How have the prospects for devolution now changed? Dick Sorabji, Public Servant

His friends in the north
April 13, 2007

Chris Leslie, Director Progress Magazine David Cameron has Labour’s northern voters in his sights As David Cameron tries his hardest to prove that the Tories have turned over a new leaf, Labour should anticipate his next foray into new territory: the north of England. I’m not predicting that the Conservatives’ faux ‘estuary English’ drawl will [...]

The Future of RDAs
April 12, 2007

Chris Leslie, Director Parliamentary Monitor The question of regional governance has to a large extent been stuck in political purgatory since the North East overwhelmingly voted against an elected regional assembly in 2004. There are some who still believe that directly elected and accountable regional bodies are the most sensible way forward – John Prescott [...]

Constitutional Reform
April 4, 2007
The reality is that political theories which ignore the managerial needs of government do not deliver viable constitutions. It has always been so. Dick Sorabji, The Guardian

Road user charging
April 1, 2007
Councils are well-placed to work across the sectors to understand the needs of business and the impact transport policies will have on the local economy. James MacGregor, Parliamentary Monitor

The next PM should follow Lyons’ vision
March 29, 2007
“Philosophers only interpret the world. The point is to change it.” That has been Lyons’ dilemma; to produce a report that is analytically rigorous and also politically effective. Dick Sorabji, LGC