Phil Swann
@swannphil.bsky.social
Studying for a PhD at INLOGOV on politicians and central local government relations. Previously worked as a consultant and at the LGA
THE PARTICIPATORY PARTY Reflecting on our new policy paper, The Participatory Council by @sbussu.bsky.social, Phil Swann argues that political parties must also be engaged in participatory processes. inlogov.com/2026/07/21/t...
The Participatory Party
Phil Swann The urgency of Sonia Busso’s call for councils to develop participatory governance arrangements is evident in her recent INLOGOV policy paper[1], The Participatory Council. Bussu recogni…
inlogov.com
So it took me almost as long to read the stories about the meeting between Starmer and Streeting in this morning’s papers than the meeting g itself lasted!
Labour’s school improvement missions need more than a London Challenge revival. The success of place-based school improvement depends on learning the right lessons from past reforms. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
“They’re destroying more than fifty research facilities across thirty-one states, labs that house decades of irreplaceable long-term science…And they’re replacing all of it — the offices, the scientists, the institutional knowledge, the professional independence — with fifteen political appointees”
Trump administration orders dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service
Late Tuesday afternoon, with the subtlety of a wrecking ball and the morality of a foreclosure notice, the Trump administration announced the most devastating attack on the U.S. Forest Service in the ...
hatchmag.com
Our first panel is on 'Representation, responsiveness and participation' With papers from: @swannphil.bsky.social Ersi Cha Jianyu Hao Jiasi Zhou Chair: @jacknewman.bsky.social 📆 Mon 30th March 1.30pm St Catz Riverside Seminar Room A
Am looking forward to presenting early findings from my PhD on politicians and central-local government relations at #PSA26 next week. Focussing on the extent to which politicians deploy political capital to strengthen local govt. @psalocalpol.bsky.social
NALC invites parish and town councillors to shape the future of the 21st-century councillor www.nalc.gov.uk/resource/nal...
NALC invites parish and town councillors to shape the future of the 21st-century councillor
We are calling on parish and town councillors to take part in a major national event examining what it means to be a 21st-century councillor
nalc.gov.uk
In the light of the appalling recent developments this begins to make sense. I always challenge conspiracy theories but….. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-nort....
Irish state papers: How Prince Andrew 'smoothed over' Lord Mandelson's gaffe
The newly-released Irish state papers chart the Good Friday Agreement and the Patten Report.
bbc.co.uk
The first sentence of this statement is really interesting. McSweeney says he is resigning from the government. But he was not a member of the government: he was an adviser to it, albeit an important one. The govt comprises the cabinet and other ministers. Says it all? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Morgan McSweeney quits as PM's chief of staff following Mandelson scandal
McSweeney says he takes
bbc.co.uk
An interesting reminder in this piece that John Smith had nothing to do with Mandelson while he was leader of the Labour Party. The fall of Peter Mandelson and the many questions the UK government must now answer theconversation.com/the-fall-of-...
The fall of Peter Mandelson and the many questions the UK government must now answer
In the space of a few hours, Mandelson’s future has now shifted from the certainty of ignominy to the possibility of prison.
theconversation.com
Stepping Up…some historical reflections on the implications for central-local government relations of Andy Burnham’s bid to stand for Parliament. www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
Burnham’s ambitions follow 150-year trend
There has long been a perception of local government as a stepping stone or training ground for national office, writes Phil Swann, a PhD student at Inlogov at the University of Birmingham.
lgcplus.com
Spot on…. Words matter! giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Carney, Trump and the power of a good speech
Carney, Trump and the power of a good speech
Leaders don’t need to write every word themselves, but they do need to make sure it clearly represents their vision
giftarticle.ft.com
Good to see my friend and former colleague Lee Shostak criticising the ambition of the government’s new towns programme. Key figures in creation of Milton Keynes criticise England’s new towns plan www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Key figures in creation of Milton Keynes criticise England’s new towns plan
Exclusive: Planners behind postwar new towns hit out at government over lack of ambition and commitment to social housing
theguardian.com
The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report, say @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions | Institute for Government
We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Interesting (and depressing?) that the status of the government’s mission boards is now unclear.
Megan Bryer@meganbryer.bsky.social · 8mo ago1/ Last month, the government released a new list of its parliamentary private secretaries and cabinet committees following September’s reshuffle. Our explainers are updated with the new numbers! Here are some key takeaways from the releases…
Absolutely…..
Nick Davies@njdavies.bsky.social · 9mo agoGuardian’s top story is @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social’s analysis of NHS performance, the latest release from Public Service Performance Tracker 2025. There are some positives from past years but these risk being undermined by loss of GP partners, social care failures and chaotic approach to reform
"Sir Keir told the BBC: 'Every minute that is spent talking about anything other than cost-of-living is a wasted minute in my book.'" OK, so why does his government keep banging on about immigration? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Judge me at next election, Keir Starmer tells doubters
The PM tells the BBC he has made
bbc.co.uk
Reform has lost over 5% of councillors it had elected six months ago A @matildamartin.bsky.social deep dive into the councils won by Farage's party in May found what a local government expert called "unusual" levels of churn Exclusions, suspensions and resignations have taken place nationwide
Reform Is Losing Councillors Elected In May At An 'Unusual' Rate
Reform UK has lost more than 5 per cent of the councillors it had elected six months ago, an analysis by PoliticsHome has found.
politicshome.com
In an earlier era the minister responsible would have resigned. A return to that principle may force ministers to fix our broken systems.
Sad to see that Rob Lane has died. I can remember working with him when I led on transport stuff at the AMA in the 1980s. Rob Lane obituary www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Rob Lane obituary
Other lives: GLC director of highways and transport who hoped to curb car use and promote public services
theguardian.com
This is a grim read. I stick to my view that the wilful blindness of the government to the financial crisis in local government will cost them their majority at the next election. Why not roll the dice for change when the local public realm is falling apart? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
English councils to remain poorer than in 2010 despite funding rise, says report
Exclusive: Impact of austerity cannot be undone by end of parliament despite above-inflation funding, analysis finds
theguardian.com
A piece of myth-busting essential reading…. on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high
on.ft.com
Jean Payton Reid, architect and town planner (1917-97). Liberton Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Thought to have been Scotland's first female town planner. Family monument - pink granite obelisk. #31DaysOfGraves day 12 notable women. #herstory thepastandotherplaces.wordpress.com/2023/01/14/a...
Love this street name in Montréal…made even nicer by the fact it crosses a street named after JFK.
Some wise words from Andrew Marr in this week’s New Statesman magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/09/24/t...
The supreme folly of a Labour civil war
A leadership battle could hand No 10 to Nigel Farage
magazine.newstatesman.com
Born #OTD 1665, John Hervey, 1st earl of Bristol. MP for Bury St. Edmunds for nine years, he was described as "preferring the environment of home or the race course" to Westminster in #HistParl's Commons 1690-1715 volumes. Read his full biography here: ow.ly/LwTI50T35kK
And the future of local government hinges on fundamentally reforming its financial systems!
The Health Foundation@healthfoundation.bsky.social · last yr.Writing for @hsj.co.uk our Senior Economic Adviser, Anita Charlesworth says that the 10-Year Health Plan sets out a compelling vision, but its success will depend on overhauling financial systems to truly transform care. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4kvm029
