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Tom Arnold

@tjarnold.bsky.social

Manchester-based policy wonk working on devolution, housing and planning.

502 Posts2302 Follower517 Folgt
Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 3w ago

Arrived into Euston to see lots of people wearing cowboy hats? Who appear to be heading to see someone called Luke Combs? Who is apparently a country singer? And seemingly big enough to sell out several nights at Wembley Stadium?

Alan Partidge saying “stop talking about American things”.
Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 4w ago

If Burnham is reviving the National Economic Council and mayors are attending, there are now three separate intergovernmental forums for English mayoral-national relations (Council of Nations & Regions and the Mayoral Council being the others). A bit of institutional tidying up required I think.

Regional mayors to take key roles in UK policy decisions as part of No 10 North plans

Burnham says ‘no one in government loses when power is shared’ as he revives Brown-era national economic council

theguardian.com

Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Not a huge surprise but the Northern Powerhouse Bill included in the King's Speech kills the idea of a new Manchester-Leeds via Bradford line. Only new bit of NPR will be Manchester-Liverpool via Warrington and Manchester Airport.

NPR will be delivered in three phases: ○ The first phase will include upgrades to lines east of the Pennines for delivery in the 2030s, focusing on electrification and upgrades in the Leeds-Bradford, Leeds-Sheffield and Leeds-York corridors, including the stations. ○ In the second phase, the Government will take forward a new route between Liverpool and Manchester via Warrington and Manchester Airport. The adapted High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill will provide the necessary powers to construct and operate the connection into Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport. 14 ○ In the third phase, the Government will deliver better cross-Pennine links over and above the Transpennine Route Upgrade already underway.
Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 4mo ago

"The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, the Planning and Infrastructure Act, changes to the NPPF - what does that say to you about planning legislation?" "There's too much of it?" "That's one way of looking at it. Another way is - the OBR likes it, let's do more of it"

Alan Partridge pitching ideas to Tony Hayers
Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This is super interesting for a bunch of reasons but the suggestion from NISTA that West Yorkshire's tram proposals are based “around a political agenda rather than a recognised programmatic approach” is particularly revealing. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

How A Secret Government Report Delayed Leeds' Long-Awaited Trams

The long wait in Leeds for a tram network was recently extended yet again. Noah Vickers uncovers the real reasons for the latest delay

politicshome.com

Tom Arnold@tjarnold.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Another consideration for Labour is that the English Devolution Bill isn't law yet, which means a snap mayoral by-election could be under first past the post and not the preferential vote that will soon be reintroduced. That would likely favour Reform, if last May's elections are anything to go by.

Rob Ford@robfordmancs.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I think what the "blocking Burham looks petty" arg misses is that Labour NEC have a strong reason for blocking - Burnham would have to walk out on a Combined Authority Mayoral job he was elected to less than two years, triggering by far the largest by-election in British history