The advance of elected mayors continues apace, despite the negative votes in city referendums last week. The London mayoral contest dominated May’s local elections. London’s transport, and much else besides, has been transformed for the better by twelve years of the mayoralty. Polls show more Londoners now favour independence for the capital than the abolition [...]
From yes2mayors.com: My response to remarks made by the departing Leader of Bristol City Council Barbara Janke in her resignation letter: Yet again, Bristol’s unstable city council is undergoing a change of leadership. Barbara Janke’s resignation marks the eighth change of leadership in the city council in 12 years – almost one leader a year. [...]
From the Guardian This morning the committee of MPs and peers who have been studying the government’s draft bill for reform of the House of Lords publishes its report. After an unprecedented 30 meetings, hours of evidence-taking and comprehensive deliberation, the speculation and misrepresentation will be over. On some points of detail, the committee was [...]
From the Evening Standard London would not be hosting the Olympics in 100 days had we not invested in its transport system. With the mayoral campaign dominated by the row over whether we have to choose between investment or cutting fares, Londoners should recall who is really responsible for the current improvements: Ken Livingstone. Boris [...]
My suggestion that a reformed House of Lords should be located in a major city in the midlands or the north has stimulated a big debate. Here are some of the contributions: Let’s move the Lords to Manchester From the Spectator’s “Coffee House” blog Andrew Adonis, one of the [...]
Originally published in the Birmingham Post There was a time when Birmingham was undisputedly the nation’s second city. Nowadays a host of other cities are nipping at its heels. Greater Manchester is now by far the most autonomous and powerful city outside London, it also boasts the biggest airport. Leeds is the biggest provincial hub [...]
Originally published in the New Statesman The party will get back into government by having a better plan for the future, not by opposing changes that are working well. Free schools are Labour’s invention. They were a crucial part of our drive to promote equality of opportunity and social mobility, particularly in disadvantaged communities with [...]
Originally published in The Times Can you name the leaders of Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds city councils, three of the largest cities in England? No? You are in good company. When I asked the question at a conference of local authority chief executives, not even they could name all three. But have you met [...]
Originally published in The Times The urgently needed high-speed modernisation of our railways is being put at risk by slow-footed ministers The only thing high speed about the development of High Speed 2 in Britain is the treading of water. If Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, gives the go-ahead to the new rail line from [...]
Originally published in The Times We are in as big a bind on civil partnerships as we are on women bishops and gay priests The House of Lords votes tomorrow on whether religious premises can be used for civil partnerships. A Tory peeress proposes to strike down the relevant legal provisions, arguing that religious [...]