🔥Telegram İfşa

Let’s hope he’s read it!

Spot on piece by Soumaya Keynes I reached in similar conclusion in a piece for the Political Studies Association just before the election.

1/ Serious exclusive from Heather Jameson & The MJ today that the English Devolution White Paper - expected some time before end of year - and even the Budget will suggest major structural change to England's system of local government. Quick thread 🧵👇

Some people seem to have forgotten how bad a president Trump was, so I made a list of the 100 Worst Things About the Trump Presidency, in no particular order. Please share and add anything I missed. 🧵

Ahead of today’s crucial Budget, how do @livuni academics reflect on the progress made so far by the new government? Read our new publication for insights from leading thinkers on the big themes of the first weeks and the challenges to come. liverpool.ac.uk/heseltine-inst…

The Labour manifesto implied a radical restructuring of the UK state, with the aim of making English devolution the ‘default option’....But🧵 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/14…

New: the BBC has learned the most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton, is will stand down in January. Sir Philip made the announcement in an email to FCDO staff today. The process of choosing his successor as will begin shortly. 1/5

Councils could still face financial ruin despite a boost to funding in the Budget, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Read more⬇️ localgov.co.uk/IFS-Budget-may…

It is a great resource…

In New York Times Opinion “American voters have made the choice to return Donald Trump to the White House, setting the nation on a precarious course that no one can fully foresee,” the New York Times editorial board writes. nyti.ms/4hyYRLP

So good to read such an inspiring piece in such gloomy times: The best medicine: could a shift to prevention help save the NHS? on.ft.com/3UHZVTH

Some sound advice here…..Liberals need to better understand why people voted for Trump (and to leave the EU). How to live in a polarised age on.ft.com/48GBImC

Interesting questions on prevention and citizen engagement but nothing on local government finance apart from the impact of property tax on growth. Massive gap? assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67320709…

My initial thoughts on the devolution white paper: inlogov.com/2024/12/19/dus…

English councils so badly need reorganising - a mere 56 years after last failed effort. Phil's "flaws" demand urgent action for it to succeed - local finance/choice - local community led, not even more London control. Nor over large disconnected councils. And no messianic mayors.

I love Transport for London’s nostalgia for old pub names. The stop near this pub is still called “The Mitre” and the Nags Head survives, on bus stop signs alone, on the Holloway Road!

We should learn lessons from how the sector was sidelined during the creation of the National Health Service Excellent piece from Phil Swann LGC lgcplus.com/services/healt…

Phil Swann: Casey Review should contribute to wider debate on local government’s future lgcplus.com/services/healt…

Phil Swann examines what happened to Missions in the spending review? inlogov.com/2025/06/26/the…

T Dan Smith is one of the 12 politicians I have studied for my PhD on politicians and central-local government relations.