Andrew Carter
@andrewcities.bsky.social
Chief Executive at Centre for Cities. www.centreforcities.org. Views my own.
The Prime Minister knows what mayors can achieve. That's why devolution is one of his top priorities. Here's my take on what the job is really about. substack.com/home/post/p-...
What does a Mayor know about running the country?
Andy Burnham spent almost a decade in my job and that changes what's possible for the West Midlands.
substack.com
at the stack, I talk rent again, and explain the One Weird Trick behind the Zohranmarket backofmind.substack.com/p/rent-alway...
rent, always rent
economics of the Zohranmarket
backofmind.substack.com
A bit from me on devo max and the outlines of an emerging question: what will councils be for? as.ft.com/r/731ed47f-f...
Andy Burnham rewires the ‘unaccountable’ state
Prime minister’s opening devolution gambit does not lack ambition
as.ft.com
Quotes: "during our period of study (1993-2024), mechanisms designed to regulate spending tended towards input control and short-term decision-making, struggled to support strategic investment and often failed to deliver sustained improvements in outcomes."
Giles Wilkes@gilesyb.bsky.social · 2d agoThis is the Nuffield research that the incredibly productive Diane Coyle refers to in this article. www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/publications...
Greater Manchester Mayoral By-Election Result: 🌹 Craig | LAB: 47.2% ➡️ Astley | RFM: 21.0% 🌍 Coggins | GRN: 12.2% ◼️ West | RES: 8.7% 🌳 Eckersley | CON: 7.7% 🔶 Kilpatrick | LDM: 2.2% 🙋 Farmer | Ind: 0.6% 2nd Round: 🌹 Craig | LAB: 66.3% ➡️ Astley | RFM: 33.7% Labour HOLD.
I am lucky to a member of several excellent policy groups. (Nearly) universal response has been positive to today's devo statement to assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a6c7a...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
"We will strengthen the framework for public development corporations to drive local housing and infrastructure development" assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a6c7a... "This will be supported by considering how areas could benefit from increased land values from housing and infrastructure
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
This isn't just reversing Thatcher, it's turning around and driving off in the opposite direction. Lots of important detail to work through but this really is a change to the prevailing consensus to stand alongside those of Attlee and Thatcher. www.gov.uk/government/p...
Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement (HTML)
gov.uk
Today’s set of announcements amount to the most significant rebalancing of power from Whitehall to local areas in a generation. www.centreforcities.org/press/centre...
Centre for Cities welcomes "unashamedly pro-growth" income tax sharing for mayors - Centre for Cities
"The devolution announcement today marks a new era for the British economy."
centreforcities.org
The tax retention news is so big it has overshadowed some of chunky stuff in the press release that complements it and fills out the devolution strategy pursued by the new PM. Some initial reactions by me and some @centreforcities.bsky.social thinking below to get you started 👇
Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 6d agoThis is a great move:
London gets to keep less tax revenue than almost any other leading G7 city. Greater fiscal devolution will be good for growth, housing and infrastructure – the Bakerloo extension blocked by Reeves can be self-financed. www.arguably.uk/p/set-london...
The biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation… Now that’s real devolution.
This is exactly how devolution should operate - a good thing www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Mayors plan tax rebates for voters with devolution windfall
While most mayors are expected to use the money on infrastructure and services, Tory and Reform politicians are exploring ways to return money to the public
thetimes.com
Jobs & affordable housing will reduce UC spending- @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis shows: 👷♀️Every 100,000 extra people working: c£700m 💼Every 100,000 extra sick and disabled people able to work: c£1.3bn 🏘️Every 100,000 new social homes built: c£300m 🏠Modest rent control: c£800m 2/3
On Times Radio just now, @adamboulton.bsky.social asked me if people in Manchester are excited about No10 North. They are! I certainly am. As I wrote for @manchestermill.bsky.social recently: even if it's a gimmick, it's our gimmick. manchestermill.co.uk/number-10-no...
Number 10 North might be a gimmick, but it's our gimmick
Burnham's plans are very, very good for Manchester
manchestermill.co.uk
Andy Street calling for mayors to be given fiscal powers www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti.... We talked about this at our recent @centreforcities.bsky.social event www.centreforcities.org/event/devolu...
Burnham should give mayors more tax powers – and the Tories should work with him
Fifteen years ago, David Cameron and George Osborne took a hard look at how the United Kingdom governs itself.
politicshome.com
If you stood on Briggate at 8am on a weekday in 1957, and stood there again in 2026, in which year could you reach more of the city in half an hour? Samuel Bancroft has crunched the numbers. Since the 1950s, Leeds has got bigger - but the city has effectively shrunk.
When the editor of the Guardian finds out her econ correspondent is from the same Warrington suburb as the new Prime Minister… A pleasure, yet daunting to write. Hope I’ve done Culcheth justice: I grew up near Andy Burnham. This is what shaped the UK’s new PM www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
I grew up near Andy Burnham. This is what shaped the UK’s new PM
In the Warrington suburb of Culcheth, people are hopeful about what one of their own can achieve as the first northern PM in half a century
theguardian.com
Late to posting this as today has been…a day. But here I am trying to reconcile the Burnham story of Manchester with a national governing platform as.ft.com/r/9cab97e6-0...
What Manchester can’t tell you about Burnhamism
His governing record in the city tells us what he would like to do but how it scales nationally remains uncertain
as.ft.com
Andy Street calling for mayors to be given fiscal powers www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti.... We talked about this at our recent @centreforcities.bsky.social event www.centreforcities.org/event/devolu...
Burnham should give mayors more tax powers – and the Tories should work with him
Fifteen years ago, David Cameron and George Osborne took a hard look at how the United Kingdom governs itself.
politicshome.com
Burnham’s instincts to turn to transport first are on the pulse of public opinion, the public service that people across the country seem most dissatisfied with
Angela Rayner returning as housing secretary + Matthew Pennycook remaining as housing minister + John Healey as chancellor = very good outcome of reshuffle for housing. Hard to think of a better one
Jules Birch@julesbirch.bsky.social · 2w agoJohn Healey as housing secretary would have been good but John Healey as a chancellor who gets housing is arguably even better
Lessons from Cleveland🎙️ @andrewcities.bsky.social sat down with the Mayor of Cleveland @justinmbibb.bsky.social to discuss what lessons can be learned from Cleveland for UK mayors and local government. Watch the episode here 👇
City Talks: Lessons from Cleveland with Mayor Justin Bibb
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive, is joined by the Mayor of Cleveland, Justin Bibb, to discuss what lessons can be learned from Cleveland for UK mayors and local government.
buff.ly
A bit from me about how the new northern No 10 is taking shape (and how Whitehall seems to be trying to Manchesterify) as.ft.com/r/a2d0b7a7-3...
Andy Burnham’s ‘Number 10 North’ is already up and running
Government intends Manchester office to be ‘engine room of devolution and good growth in every postcode’
as.ft.com
