An in-depth attempt to explain nearly five years of levelling up funds: what they are, why they are, and why people have been so unhappy with them

With ⁦Amy Borrett⁩ and ⁦Anna Gross⁩

(The first in a 4-part series about levelling up)
on.ft.com/3Ux0AYE

It's 'the poor competing with the poor'

A telling Financial Times analysis here of the failures of levelling up funding since 2019.

Includes data from our own research.
ft.com/content/45c12c…

While the offers to communities from mayors are maturing, there remain big questions to be answered by whichever party forms the next Government, says @Zoë_Billingham IPPR North

bit.ly/4aSUpUC

#localgov

Three different statistics released today show the shocking lack of progress in making streets more attractive for walking, wheeling and cycling and the impact this has on widening health inequalities.

A 🧵

We have long argued for progressive taxation in Scotland in our various budget briefings and reports, calling for local tax reforms, higher income tax, wealth tax etc. Read some of our analyses on why this is needed and how it can help address wealth and income inequalities (1/)

Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set out plans to tackle what he called the country’s ‘sick note culture’. But his diagnosis of the problem is wrong as is the medicine he prescribes.

Chris Thomas for Tribune ⤵️

tribunemag.co.uk/2024/04/auster…

🚨 TWITTER Q&A - ONE WEEK TO GO 🚨

Next Wednesday our Adrian Pabst and Max Mosley and The Productivity Institute's Jack Shaw will answer your questions on 'The State of Local Government Finances' ahead of the #LocalElections ⚡️🗳️

Tweet us your questions using #AskNIESR National Institute of Economic and Social Research

Recruitment update🚨Thank you to everyone who has applied for our North East (Senior) Research Fellow role. We are delighted to have received a very large number of quality applications so our recruitment process is taking longer than expected. We will be in touch very shortly.

Getting the Safety of Rwanda bill passed was the easy part. Now the government faces an array of logistical and legal hurdles to making the Rwanda plan work in practice.

At this stage, the prospects of the scheme operating at scale seem distant.

Excited to be in Newcastle today for the Tyne & Wear Citizens Mayoral Assembly with the new North East Combined Authority mayoral candidates & many of our friends & partners.

The furious row over Gateshead FC being denied in a place in the National League play-offs is about more than just football - it's shone a spotlight on the decisions facing austerity-hit local councils...

Read today's newsletter at: …letters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/YUg5epuysoGoD4…

Even if the Rwanda bill passes today, it is still unlikely to ever work at scale. But what could?

Marley Morris spoke to Julia Hartley-Brewer on TalkTV earlier today about alternatives ⤵️

Today's stats show a mixed picture. UK house prices are showing signs of stabilising. Rents, on the other hand, continue to increase with the UK average rent going up 9.2 per cent over the past 12 months, and more than 11 per cent in London.

Maya SH ⤵️

New research from The Health Foundation shows that the number of working-age people living with major illness is expected to rise from 3 million to 3.7 million, and most of this increase will be in the more deprived half of the population.