Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

A thread on levelling up: it’s a constitutional issue.

Start with a good summary of the problem with the current government’s approach by @MarvinJRees, Mayor of Bristol. Lack of coordination and games of “scrambles”. (From modernleft.substack.com/p/bristol-mayo…)

Then this, by a group of authors for @UKandEU ukandeu.ac.uk/regional-local…

That piece picks up the “scrambles” problem and points out that this funding model keeps control of what is spent and where with central government (and risks pork barrel politics and exacerbating regional differences).

It also picks up the problem of fragmented implementation: different local agencies in different policy areas all accountable to the centre and limited ability to coordinate with each other.

Conclusion:

That is a deep-seated constitutional issue: the inability of our current constitutional arrangements to provide a basis for effective and accountable local government.

(Devolution excepted: but see the current government’s chipping away at that.)

NB this too: we need better local democracy. Issues there of structure, inadequate local media, as well as (I would add) proportional representation to end one-party fiefs.