LGC Editor
@sarahcalkin.bsky.social
Editor of the Local Government Chronicle, mum of three and adopted south east Londoner. Here for politics and geekery local and national (but especially local). Sucker for a good chart 📊
Lot of commentary on Burnham’s speech asking (not unreasonably) how his commitment to devolution will be different to Levelling Up etc. Well, if he follows through on also reforming Whitehall to work in support of places’ ambitions, rather than against them that will make a huge difference
2025 was a big year for local government, and 2026 looks set to be just as huge. In the latest episode of The Local Authority the LGC news team tries to make sense of it all and looks ahead to 2026. @kirstyweakley.bsky.social @martinrgeorge.bsky.social www.podbean.com/ep/pb-5d89t-...
2025: Review of the Year
In this special episode of The Local Authority, LGC’s editorial team review the biggest stories of the year and look ahead to what might be dominating local government headlines in 2026. Following a h...
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The highlight of my first day at Labour conference, watching a bunch of game but slightly embarrassed council leaders sporting their new ‘build baby baby’ hats. Wearing them a 3 line whip from the new SoS apparently
Are you a councillor thinking about how your role could change following LGR? Join a free to attend event on 4 November featuring @jesstud.bsky.social, Mel Stevens of @cfgs.bsky.social and @catherinemangan.bsky.social Find out more and sign up here 👇 www.lgcplus.com/politics/gov...
Free event – 21st Century Councillors
Councillors and council staff keen to influence the role of elected members following local government reorganisation are invited to share their views at a free event.
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Have written for the Local Government Chronicle on how to rebalance the country. A more balanced country with places having the autonomy and resources to deliver for themselves can be the foundation of national renewal. www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev... @sarahcalkin.bsky.social
JP Spencer: Address structural issues to rebalance country | Local Government Chronicle (LGC)
The government must build a new approach on the bedrock of local and regional government, writes the director of devolution at Labour Together. In last
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"I can't take another meeting with baby civil servants"... Telling quote from a district chief exec in this piece by @sarahcalkin.bsky.social. One of the problems with the scale of reorganisation is there won't be enough senior civil servants to do the engagement. www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
Dispatch from the DCN: Radical reform and gruesome metaphors | Local Government Chronicle (LGC)
Without further guidance on which proposals to take forward it is likely most areas will be working up at least two or three competing visions, writes LGC
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The government believes devolution will help restore trust in politics, but it must tread carefully - my LGC Briefing on the politics of yesterday’s decision to cancel nine council elections to fast track local government reorganisation www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...
Cancelled elections expose an unusual alignment
The government believes devolution will help restore trust in politics, but it must tread carefully,...
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My thoughts on the English devolution question and what it means for place - LGC *Paywall* @sarahcalkin.bsky.social www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...
Sarah Longlands: Devolution white paper risks growing nowhere
Devolution is about connecting political decision making to the emotional importance of place, write...
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We're still waiting to find out which areas are going to be on the devolution priority programme, which means I got to spend this afternoon writing about what it means to be an Essex girl www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
The many ways to be an Essex girl
With Essex expected to join the devolution and reorganisation priority programme, LGC's head of cont...
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