I’ve written about where we at @ipprnorth.bsky.social think the devolution agenda should go next under a Burnham government. www.ippr.org/articles/on-...

On home ground: The future of devolution | IPPR

The Labour government has made an impressive start on devolution. More places have devolved powers to deliver on their regions’ priorities, more mayors hav

ippr.org

I’ve written about where we at @ipprnorth.bsky.social think the devolution agenda should go next under a Burnham government. www.ippr.org/articles/on-...

On home ground: The future of devolution | IPPR

The Labour government has made an impressive start on devolution. More places have devolved powers to deliver on their regions’ priorities, more mayors hav

ippr.org

🧵 Some thoughts on today's Burnham speech. 1/ The speech wasn't just about devolution. It was about a much bigger question on how Britain is governed. The central argument was that Westminster is too centralised, too tribal and ultimately too disconnected from the places it's supposed to serve.

🧵 Some thoughts on today's Burnham speech. 1/ The speech wasn't just about devolution. It was about a much bigger question on how Britain is governed. The central argument was that Westminster is too centralised, too tribal and ultimately too disconnected from the places it's supposed to serve.

🪧 NEW REPORT: The idea that young men are turning towards right-wing politics is overstated. Our data shows they are becoming more progressive, but increasingly alienated from politics. We set out how to give young people a real voice 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/a-g...

I’ve written for @lbc.co.uk on the case for expanding the right to recall, giving voters the ability to remove any MP if they wish to do so. www.lbc.co.uk/article/shou...

Voters need more chances to recall their MP | LBC

Expanding the right to recall could act as a democratic ‘safety valve’ for political dissatisfaction, giving voters a meaningful outlet between elections, writes Dr Ryan Swift

lbc.co.uk

Politics in Britain feels increasingly broken. Too many people feel decisions are made to them, not with them. Trust in parliament and politicians has collapsed and the consequences are serious. Today we’re launching a new @ippr.org report on how to rebuild democratic trust in Parliament🧵 1/

I’ve written for @lbc.co.uk on the case for expanding the right to recall, giving voters the ability to remove any MP if they wish to do so. www.lbc.co.uk/article/shou...

Voters need more chances to recall their MP | LBC

Expanding the right to recall could act as a democratic ‘safety valve’ for political dissatisfaction, giving voters a meaningful outlet between elections, writes Dr Ryan Swift

lbc.co.uk

🤝 | NEW: At IPPR North, recent polling shows trust in politicians, MPs & Parliament is at rock bottom. Today, IPPR launched a new report on how to rebuild democratic trust in Parliament. Written by our very own @ryanswift93.bsky.social Take a look 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/rei...

Reimagining lawmaking: How to rebuild trust in parliament | IPPR

All too often citizens are merely spectators as decisions are taken and laws are made in Westminster that shape their lives. This must change. People must

ippr.org

🗳️ | NEW REPORT: Trust in parliament is at a historic low. Our new report sets out how to reimagining how laws are made. ✔️ Expand right to recall MPs ✔️ Ban on MPs holding second jobs ✔️ Citizens’ assemblies Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/rei...

Politics in Britain feels increasingly broken. Too many people feel decisions are made to them, not with them. Trust in parliament and politicians has collapsed and the consequences are serious. Today we’re launching a new @ippr.org report on how to rebuild democratic trust in Parliament🧵 1/

The new political map of Greater Manchester. Unsurprising that we’ve seen big shifts. Polling for @ipprnorth.bsky.social on the eve of the election showed trust in both local and national politicians and institutions was a rock bottom levels across GM (except interestingly for the mayor).

Pleased to write for Politics Home on the local elections, turnout and lessons for local democracy. 👇

PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · 3mo ago

"Beneath the national political turbulence lies a more localised crisis in confidence about the ability of councils themselves to deliver." ✍️ @ryanswift93.bsky.social, research fellow at IPPR North

Pleased to write for Politics Home on the local elections, turnout and lessons for local democracy. 👇

PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · 3mo ago

"Beneath the national political turbulence lies a more localised crisis in confidence about the ability of councils themselves to deliver." ✍️ @ryanswift93.bsky.social, research fellow at IPPR North

It’ll be interesting to see how the new political makeup of councils alters the dynamics in MCAs. Here in W Yorks we’ll be going from 4 Labour run councils and 1 noc working with a Labour metro mayor, to 2 Reform run councils (Calderdale, Wakefield) and 3 with noc (Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees).

I spent way too long this weekend correlating 81 census variables with local election results, so you don't have to. Enjoy! datawrapper.dwcdn.net/QQQ3D/7/

Local elections 2026: aggregate-level correlations | Created with Datawrapper

Pearson correlation coefficients between aggregate-level census data and the 2026 local election vote share and swing for each party, for the electoral ward or County Electoral District.

datawrapper.de

The new political map of Greater Manchester. Unsurprising that we’ve seen big shifts. Polling for @ipprnorth.bsky.social on the eve of the election showed trust in both local and national politicians and institutions was a rock bottom levels across GM (except interestingly for the mayor).

England’s local political map has been transformed. Across the North, Reform have made major gains in councils with “all out” elections, often at Labour’s expense: Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, St Helens, Wakefield, Barnsley, Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford

England’s local political map has been transformed. Across the North, Reform have made major gains in councils with “all out” elections, often at Labour’s expense: Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, St Helens, Wakefield, Barnsley, Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford

☁️A troubling reality hangs over today's local elections: trust in politics has collapsed. New polling in Greater Manchester finds low trust in political institutions to listen to ordinary people and act in the interests of their local area. But why is trust so low?

The dog’s been to vote! #DogsAtPollingStations

New polling in Greater Manchester for @ipprnorth.bsky.social lays bare the crisis in political trust. 1/3

New polling in Greater Manchester for @ipprnorth.bsky.social lays bare the crisis in political trust. 1/3

It’s becoming harder to ignore the growing weight that extremely wealthy donors appear to carry in British politics, not just in scale, but in proximity to key political decisions.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3mo ago

Revealed: Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024

🗳️It's the last day to register to vote in next month's local elections, taking place across the north! With 8million eligible citizens unable to vote at the last general election due to being unregistered, signing up has never been more important ⬇️ www.gov.uk/register-to-...

Register to vote

Register to vote to take part in elections in the UK. Includes how to get on the electoral register and how to update your address on the register.

gov.uk

Great to see further action being taken by the government today to tighten up regulations on money in politics and foreign influence following the Rycroft review.

The government has set out its decisions on the initial wave of councils going through reorganisation today. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

questions-statements.parliament.uk

IPPR North@ipprnorth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Big news from MHCLG on the latest in local government reorganisation! IPPR North's @ryanswift93.bsky.social reacts to the announcement today 👇

Interesting to compare this map on county identity with yougov’s one on regional identity from last year.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 5mo ago

How strong is county identity in England? Cornwall: 53% have very strong attachment Cumbria: 44% Northumberland: 42% Devon: 42% Tyne and Wear: 41% North Yorkshire: 41% Merseyside: 38% Dorset: 38% West Yorkshire: 37% South Yorkshire: 36% Bristol: 36% Norfolk: 36% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

Great to write in @labourlist.bsky.social today about our latest @ipprnorth.bsky.social report and how local government reorganisation must result in local democracy renewal. labourlist.org/2026/02/unit...

'Unitarisation risks weakening local democracy unless communities are put in the driving seat' - LabourList

Nearly 30% of England faces local government overhaul. Without safeguards, unitarisation could cut councillors, weaken accountability and distance communities from power.

labourlist.org

We cannot afford for devolution not to work. If government want to make devolution its flagship programme, they must put communities in the driving seat, the future of democracy depends on it. 📋Read the full report here: www.ippr.org/articles/mak...