Oxford Street’s decline is a parable for the UK
The failure to pedestrianise the shopping street shows our local government system is broken.
ByLocal government
Local government in the United Kingdom manages services for people and businesses in local areas. Some of these services are schools, housing, social care, business support and registrar services. Local councils are a common type of local authority. Local public elected councillors sit on these councils and are responsible for working with local people and businesses to provide these services. Find all our latest news, comment and analysis on local government here.
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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It’s time for local politicians to show climate leadership
Where national parties are failing, mayors, councillors and devolved parliaments must step up.
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Exclusive: Hundreds faced jail over unpaid council tax since 2010
New data reveals how councils have been taking action against people in debt – many of whom can’t afford to…
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It’s time for the SNP to set Scotland’s councils free
As long as Holyrood greedily hoards power to itself, the public will continue to suffer.
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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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How would Labour do levelling up?
Labour's shadow levelling up minister, Alex Norris, on the opposition's plans for devolution and regional policy.
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Three leadership pivots for rapidly changing times
Inflation is affecting local government delivery everywhere.
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Inside the Lib Dem and Labour assault on Tory commuterville
As England goes to the polls in the local elections, the Conservatives are under threat in southern Blue Wall seats.
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The shattered Tory bloc and the end of levelling up
Exclusive New Statesman polling reveals what local councillors really think of the government’s flagship regional policy agenda.
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The death of local government
Westminster has been systematically stripping councils of power, funding and stature for decades. As a result, our local politics is…
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“No tangible benefits”: Tory councillors give their verdict on levelling up
An exclusive New Statesman survey reveals waning support for the government’s flagship policy.
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In defence of Town Hall “fat cats”
If the TaxPayers’ Alliance is so opposed to high pay, why does it want to abolish the top rate of…
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The Tories begin expectation management for the local elections in style
By predicting losses of 1,000 seats, Greg Hands has signalled just how much trouble his party believes it is in.
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It’s time for Whitehall to stop micromanaging councils’ spending
To truly rebalance the UK’s economy, central government needs to devolve more fiscal power to local leaders.
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How do we restore trust in the public sector?
Speaking at the New Statesman Future Generations conference, panellists discussed how to prevent young people from losing faith in crucial…
Why communities are vital to tackling the multiple crises we face
Radical local policies can build the Green New Deal.
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“Levelling up” was always a farcical vanity project
It was the latest iteration of Boris Johnson's monument-building – funnelling money into headline-grabbing developments.
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More power for communities can’t just mean more power for councils
Keir Starmer's Take Back Control Bill needs to truly empower citizens.
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Labour’s attempt to make “take back control” its own could win back Brexit voters
In his New Year speech, Keir Starmer retold the Leave vote as a call for greater devolution.
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