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

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 | LBCExpanding the right to recall could act as a democratic ‘safety valve’ for political dissatisfaction, giving voters a meaningful outlet between elections, writes Dr Ryan Swiftwww.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/

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

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).

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

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

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 ParliamentInformation from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.questions-statements.parliament.uk

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

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' - LabourListNearly 30% of England faces local government overhaul. Without safeguards, unitarisation could cut councillors, weaken accountability and distance communities from power.labourlist.org