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.
By
Jack Shaw
Jack Shaw is a Fellow at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.
Latest articles
All Articles
Where have all the rebel councils gone?
Nottingham is the latest authority to issue a bankruptcy notice, signalling a broad crisis for local government. Why aren't…
By
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.
By
Councils are the victims not the cause of their poor finances
National government blames local mismanagement, but the problems in local authorities stem from years of underinvestment.
By
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.
By
Local authorities need an emergency rescue package
Starving councils of much-needed finance will prove to be a false economy.
By
Where has the levelling-up fund money been distributed?
As the second tranche of successful bids are announced, we look at where investment has headed so far.
By
Councils will crumble under Jeremy Hunt’s spending cuts
Growth does not have to require the hollowing out of public services.
By
The next PM should radically rethink levelling-up funding – here’s how
Exclusive analysis of the Shared Prosperity Fund shows it is not allocated according to need.
By