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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 1d

When one company – like Jaguar Land Rover – dominates a local economy, its crisis can ripple through communities 🌊

@oliver-chan.bsky.social spoke to @lbc.co.uk's Jonathan Ray about the impact of the JLR hack + how we need to build resilient, locally rooted economies 📻 ⤵️

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

So, to resist the rise of the far right, Mayors can...

✅Reframe the story
✅Do democracy creatively
✅Create opportunity & hope with meaningful £
✅Empower communities

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

🔑 Community power is key

Nick explained: A decline in social spaces has driven discontent. Money for places should be the beginning, not end, of investment in neighbourhoods. Crucially, communities should be involved in decision making & power should be seeded from the bottom up.

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

🌻 Opportunity & hope are vital for regional renewal

Mayor Claire noted: “People feel done to" & that regions don't lack ambition, but opportunity. She talked about how she's investing in communities in deprived areas + the importance of building social housing so people can stay local & thrive.

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

🗳️ Our democracy is broken, but it can be fixed

Danny explained: People want real, meaningful control, yet we still have an unelected upper house and have "failed to evolve our democracy”. He said that we need “more forms of liquid & deliberative democracy” & creative democratic opportunities.

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

📣 Ownership inequality matters

Liz said: “Sometimes it feels like we’re living in a life-size game of monopoly” - very few people own so much so no wonder people are unhappy. On tensions around asylum accommodation, she explained that it's not the fault of people in hotels – look at who owns them.

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 7d

This week at #Lab25 we co-hosted an event with Co-ops UK, @neweconomics.bsky.social & @thrivingplaces.bsky.social on Mayors resisting the far right🎤

Our 🌟 panel: Mayor Claire Ward, @dhnnjyn.bsky.social, @cathyab.bsky.social, @nickplumb.bsky.social + @lizzeidler.bsky.social in chair

Our takeaways🧵

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Centre for Thriving Places @thrivingplaces.bsky.social · 9d

At #LabourPartyConference today? Concerned about the rise of the far right? At 2pm, our CEO Liz will chair a panel event from RORE (Reclaiming Our Regional Economies), asking how Mayors can halt the rise of populism. @clesthinkdo.bsky.social @neweconomics.bsky.social @cooperativesuk.bsky.social

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 10d

JOIN US TOMORROW at #LabourConference!

Reclaiming our regions: how mayors can resist the rise of the far right

🕑 Mon 29 Sept, 2-2:45pm
📍 Exhibition Event Hub, ECL

w/ RORE partners @thrivingplaces.bsky.social @cooperativesuk.bsky.social @clesthinkdo.bsky.social

👉 neweconomics.org/2025/09/nef-...

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 9d

“Infrastructure upgrades and plans for social housing are welcome but we also need to address who’s delivering these things to avoid more public resource being extracted by hedge funds and shareholders”.

Dr Tom Lloyd Goodwin reacts to the Chancellor's Conference speech ⤵️

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Centre for Thriving Places @thrivingplaces.bsky.social · 13d

At the Labour Party Conf on Monday? Join our RORE session on resisting the far right. Held with Mayors & regional leaders, we'll look at the healing role local & regional govt can play.
mailchi.mp/9d6532c8061c...

@clesthinkdo.bsky.social @cooperativesuk.bsky.social @neweconomics.bsky.social

Invite to the RORE Labour Party Conference event on Monday 29th September, 2-2.45pm, at the Exhibition Event Hub.

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 13d

📣 Ahead of the Prime Minister’s anticipated speech on Friday about the rise of populism in which he will announce a new “Pride in Place Programme”, @sarahlonglands.bsky.social has welcomed the move and urged places to make the money “work hard to rewire local economies” ⤵️

“Putting local people in the driving seat for place based investment is very welcome news.

“How this money is spent, and who benefits from it really matters. There is an opportunity for places to take a community wealth building approach to investing these funds – making them work hard to rewire local economies to increase the flow, circulation and democratic ownership of wealth. That way, places cannot be ‘kept back’ again.

“This is a positive initiative to tackle some of the symptoms of economic inequality, but it must come alongside a wholesale rewiring of our economy. Our economy is designed to deliver hardship and insecurity, but it can be re-designed to deliver prosperity and security for everyone”.

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 13d

As the Autumn budget draws near, it's time for the chancellor to think seriously about plugging the gap. Our Westminster editor @zoegrunewald.bsky.social put it to the experts.

Sign up to receive today's newsletter, with bold ideas from those at the forefront of the discussion.

national.thelead.uk

The Lead | The Lead Editors | Substack

Politics and culture with a campaigning heart, covering people, place and policy beyond the mainstream headlines. Click to read The Lead, by The Lead Editors, a Substack publication with tens of thous...

national.thelead.uk

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 20d

"We collaborate as equal partners with governments, local institutions and communities to ultimately transform local economies for the better. But how do we do it?"

In her blog, @naomimason.bsky.social explains what we do, and what we could do with you ⤵️

cles.org.uk/blog/scottis...

Scottish policy and practice update: Sept 2025 | CLES

cles.org.uk

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Institute of Economic Development @theied.bsky.social · 23d

For #IEDConf2025, we welcome back @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, Chief Executive @clesthinkdo.bsky.social.

Sarah will be joining our Question Time panel, sponsored by The Growth Company.

Ticket sales are strong, so grab yours whilst they are still available sasevents.eventsair.com/ied-conferen...!

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 27d

"While the official measurement of growth is GDP or GVA, speak to councillors...& they will talk about jobs, security, housing & special educational needs support"

@sarahlonglands.bsky.social writes about why we must look beyond growth in her latest column ⤵️

www.themj.co.uk/looking-grow...

Looking beyond growth

I was reminded this week of Michael Heseltine's 2012 report, No stone unturned: in pursuit of growth, which featured a cartoon of the man himself hunting for growth...

www.themj.co.uk

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 28d

📣 While the PM‘s been reshuffling, we’ve made a key appointment of our own!

👩🏻‍💼 Welcome @rosielockwood.bsky.social, our new Associate Director of External Affairs!

🧠 Rosie brings a wealth of experience to CLES' work on community wealth building & local economies.

🔗 cles.org.uk/about-cles/p...

Rosie Lockwood | CLES

cles.org.uk

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · Sep 2

🗣️ Today, MPs will debate the English Devo Bill. There's a notable omission: fiscal devo.

💬 In a new essay for @compassoffice.bsky.social, @sarahlonglands.bsky.social explains the fiscal devo debate, & argues for Prescott’s vision for a federalist nation.

🔗 www.compassonline.org.uk/publications...

From Whitehall to Townhall: What the English Devolution Bill Needs - Compass

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill provides a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver the radical change to local government needed […]

www.compassonline.org.uk

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

The Northern Agenda @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social · Jul 21

'If we want to keep the spirit of Oasis alive in Manchester and help an Oasis of the future thrive, we've got to make sure people can come through the system'

@sarahlonglands.bsky.social of @clesthinkdo.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast

Listen here: podfollow.com/the-northern...

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Centre for Thriving Places @thrivingplaces.bsky.social · Aug 11

'CWB practices enable us to rethink and rewire our local economies around the people and places they serve with the objective of increasing the flow, circulation and ownership of wealth.' Blog from @clesthinkdo.bsky.social on boosting local economies cles.org.uk/blog/boostin...

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · Jul 14

What opportunities can good, fair employment play in addressing health inequalities?

In the latest in a series of essays from @clesthinkdo.bsky.social, @davidjbuck.bsky.social & @lucatiratelli.bsky.social explore how employment policy can be a powerful lever to address health inequalities with. 🔽

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · Jul 14

🚨 New essay: how can strategic authorities use employment powers to tackle health inequalities? Tom Lloyd Goodwin, David Buck & Luca Tiratelli set out four key actions:

🔑 Join up systems
🔑 Align resources
🔑 Push for devolved powers
🔑 Use anchors for good jobs

👉 cles.org.uk/publications...

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · Jul 14

The 10-Year Health Plan acknowledges that work is a crucial determinant of our health.

We are pleased to support this from @clesthinkdo.bsky.social and @thekingsfund.bsky.social on the opportunities and challenges for Strategic Authorities in improving health through good employment ⬇️

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · Jul 14

🚨 New essay: how can strategic authorities use employment powers to tackle health inequalities? Tom Lloyd Goodwin, David Buck & Luca Tiratelli set out four key actions:

🔑 Join up systems
🔑 Align resources
🔑 Push for devolved powers
🔑 Use anchors for good jobs

👉 cles.org.uk/publications...

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Carnegie UK @carnegieuk.bsky.social · Jul 17

📢"People are stronger together."

We were thrilled to support the @clesthinkdo.bsky.social summit at the start of July.

Read some reflections about this event and the links between Community Wealth Building and wellbeing from our CEO: @sarahdavidson.bsky.social

carnegieuk.org/blog/strengt...

Strength in numbers: Reflections from the Community Wealth Building Summit - Carnegie UK

carnegieuk.org

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Reposted by The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES)

Codema - Dublin's Energy Agency @codemadublin.bsky.social · Jul 21

🪴 We’re pleased to welcome @sarahlonglands.bsky.social
from the @clesthinkdo.bsky.social as one of our #DecarbonisingDublin Summit 2025 speakers!
Innovation for achieving a low-carbon Dublin is one of our main discussions. Get your early-bird ticket: bit.ly/4mBUoKY

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The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · Aug 4

🌱 Ready to take action on building stronger local economies? We’re excited to offer An Introduction to Community Wealth Building – a comprehensive online workshop this September!

📅 Date: 4 September
💻 Format: Online
👉 Don’t miss out! Sign up today: cles.org.uk/events/an-in...

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