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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 1d

Is there any polling you'd point to on this, Rob?

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 1d

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. It's focus is on urban policy.
www.gov.uk/government/p...

Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of the UK and The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, on Urban Policy

www.gov.uk

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 1d

The answer? Yes. According to Reform UK, 20 councillors have defected to them during Conservative Party Conference alone.

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 1d

This morning Reform UK announced nine defections from the Conservatives in Bournemouth, Rushcliffe, Gravesham, East Riding, Hertsmere and South Kesteven. The London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge also left the Conservatives for Reform UK last week. Will it continue?

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 1d

This morning Reform UK announced nine defections from the Conservatives in Bournemouth, Rushcliffe, Gravesham, East Riding, Hertsmere and South Kesteven. The London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge also left the Conservatives for Reform UK last week. Will it continue?

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 2d

The Government has published the Prospectus - and the allocations - for the Pride in Place Fund: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Pride in Place Impact Fund: prospectus

www.gov.uk

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 6d

On the re-organisation of local authorities, last week the final proposals were submitted. Essex has submitted four proposals, as have Sussex and Hampshire. Norfolk has submitted three and Suffolk has submitted two. Decisions are expected in March 2026.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 13d

The Pride in Place Programme - announced today - has published its allocations.

At first glance, I think £3.5 billion of the £5 billion is new - mooted in the Spending Review - and £1.5 billion is from the Long-Term Plan for Towns that has been previously announced.
www.gov.uk/government/p...

Pride in Place Programme phase 2: methodology note

www.gov.uk

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 14d

I've written in The MJ with Patrick Diamond about London devolution.

Stronger governance and more fiscal autonomy are important enablers to get London motoring, alongside more muscle to build infrastructure and homes:
www.themj.co.uk/stronger-dev...

Stronger devo can solve the London problem

Before Labour entered Downing Street in July last year, the Conservatives had a fractious relationship with London's mayor. The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps,...

www.themj.co.uk

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

This dynamic may further strain already complex and often contested local-central relations, but to date it has not come to pass.

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Fourth, how will the Government respond to the fragmentation of local governance? Fragmentation raises important questions about how Westminster will engage with authorities – including whether it will continue to encourage local autonomy or seek to dismantle it.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Moreover, Reform is eligible to engage with cabinet ministers through fora such as the Council of Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Nevertheless, Reform is represented at the Local Government Association and County Council Network, and does have formal routes to shape policy outside of the individual authorities they oversee.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

It is not clear what Reform’s programme for administrative reform is for local authorities, and it’s even less clear how their newfound responsibility aligns with their national political strategy.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Third, will elected representatives in Reform-controlled authorities seek to take advantage of the institutions where they are now represented?

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

This is beginning to take shape over issues such as asylum policies and extends to actors including the Local Government Pension Funds, which have been subject to criticism.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

The centralised control Reform UK exercises over its local authorities and their councillors, combined with the brinkmanship proposed to date, suggests that Reform-run authorities will adopt a confrontational approach to central government.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Second, will local authorities become a site of resistance – as the sector did most prominently in the 1980s?

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

I've written in Renewal Journal, in which I pose four questions.

First, how will Reform UK govern locally? While concerns about radical disruption persist, early signals suggest that authorities under Reform control are adopting performative but pragmatic approaches to governing.

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 21d

Local authorities run by Reform manage over £9.5 billion in public expenditure – delivering services for 18 per cent of people in England. They're the 5th largest party in local government with over 800 councillors. How will Reform oversee its authorities?

renewal.org.uk/articles/ref...

Reform UK and local government: performative but pragmatic?

A quarterly journal of politics and ideas, committed to exploring and expanding the radical potential of social democracy.

renewal.org.uk

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Reposted

Renewal @renewaljournal.bsky.social · 22d

SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: @jacktshaw.bsky.social takes a look at the new Reform-led councils, and considers how Farage's party will fare when confronted by the realities of local government

renewal.org.uk/articles/ref...

Reform UK and local government: performative but pragmatic?

A quarterly journal of politics and ideas, committed to exploring and expanding the radical potential of social democracy.

renewal.org.uk

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 26d

According to new polling from Ipsos, there is significant cynicism - particularly among Reform UK voters - that public services are "ready to listen to complaints":

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 26d

I agree - I recognise this is more politically performative that an assessment of finances, which is understandable. One of the issues is, I think, there is less clarity in Whitehall (though they have their own modelling) about the financial health of local authorities.

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 26d

This week Shropshire and Halton have both declared warnings that they are 'at risk' of a Section 114. That may be the case, but declaring so has historically proved quite meaningless. I've written about this previously: www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/measure...

Better measures needed to flag financial health of local authorities - Bennett School of Public Policy

While it is clear that councils are under more pressure now than at any point since the financial crisis, insufficient attention has been paid to how the financial health of local government is measur...

www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 26d

Children's services are under significant strain. According to the National Audit Office, in some authorities more than 40 per cent of placements are outside of their boundaries:

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jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 29d

I'm surprised more attention hasn't been on Reform UK and their proposals for the Local Government Pension Scheme - which are not clear, but almost certainly will be disruptive.

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