Remember levelling up Rishi?
24/03/2022
Jim looks at the implications of the Chancellor’s statement on the Levelling Up agenda and the date of the next General Election.
Critical budget for Sunak’s prospects
17/03/2022
Refill the Covid depleted coffers or protect families from a severe cut in their living standards? Jim looks forward to the Chancellor’s choices in next week’s spring statement
Sunak massive bailout part 2
10/03/2022
The Chancellor is contemplating a second massive bail out just two years after the pandemic furlough scheme. Jim looks at the energy options facing the government on the world stage.
Does North want to be taken seriously?
03/03/2022
One of the North’s leading politicians has been hounded out of office at the age of 48. Jim considers the fate of Newcastle leader Nick Forbes and its implications for our voice in the Levelling Up debate.
The testing time
24/02/2022
As Russia attacks Ukraine, Jim assesses the appetite of people in the West for paying the cost of sanctions, leave alone fighting Putin’s forces. He also concludes that the Prime Minister is safe for now.
At the court of Putin
17/02/2022
Jim finds the spectacle of world leaders beating a path to the Kremlin worrying. In this week’s blog he concludes that ,whatever happens, democracy is on the defensive in the world.
Flogging a dead horse?
10/02/2022
Is “partygate” losing its impact? Jim thinks so and in his blog he looks at future threats to the Prime Minister. He also looks at the contenders to be the new BBC Political Editor.
Jury out on levelling up
03/02/2022
With political instability and an energy crisis raging, can levelling up Britain get any priority from the government?Jim takes a comprehensive look at the White Paper as a new row blows up between the Prime Minister and Greater Manchester’s mayor over clean air fines.
Laying down friends for his life
27/01/2022
Jim looks forward to how the Prime Minister will handle the Gray Report and probably survive. He also asks if Bury South Labour Party will be free to decide if defector Christian Wakeford represents them at the next election
Can Lancs have cake and eat it?
20/01/2022
The defection of the Bury South MP to Labour has only served to prop up Boris Johnson according to Jim. But his blog this week focuses on Lancashire’s unusual bid for devolution and the challenge faced by small businesses by Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone.
“Worn out defending the indefensible”
13/01/2022
The forthcoming report on Partygate could seal the Prime Minister’s fate. But in his blog Jim warns that Johnson could still escape,with Scottish Tories splitting away.
Turning point… or more of the same?
06/01/2022
The soaring cost of living could soon be more of a worry for the Conservative government than the pandemic or Johnson’s blunders. That’s the main point in Jim’s wide ranging look ahead to 2022.