The government have made many mistakes, concludes Jim in his latest blog, as the pandemic death toll passes 100,000. But he wonders if things would have been that different under Labour.
How safe is the car industry in the North West? Jim’s blog this week looks at the pressures of Brexit and the ban on petrol cars on this vital source of skilled jobs in the region.
Nearly a year into the pandemic, where are we with the government’s levelling up agenda for the North? Jim’s blog reports on a Downtown event where bosses of Local Enterprise Partnerships cast a critical eye on minister’s approach to the crisis.
In his blog this week Jim pushes back at any suggestion that Remainers should give up the EU cause for ever. He examines the “thin deal” that the Prime Minister has concluded and urges Returners to keep the EU flag flying.
In this week’s blog Jim Hancock looks at the crisis at Liverpool Town Hall. He asks how long the police inquiry into alleged wrongdoing will last and what the consequences could be for the city and those involved.
A year ago we were hearing vague reports of a health emergency in somewhere called Wuhan. In his review of an unforgettable 2020, Jim Hancock traces the crisis, the mitakes and hopes for the future.
As retail empires collapse, Jim Hancock favours a back to the future approach. In this week’s blog he thinks the public, deprived of pubs and shops,want to support local drives to revive the high streets.
The Liverpool area comes out of the toughest restrictions while Greater Manchester remains in Tier 3. In his blog Jim considers the approaches of different mayors. He also thinks the government has made the right call on some long term economic decisions this week.
This week Jim disputes Dominic Cummings credentials as a champion of the North. With the Prime Ministerial aide gone, Jim gives his recipe for bringing effective devolution to the North.
In his blog Jim notes the euphoria surrounding news of a vaccine against Covid-19 but forecasts it will be a while before business in the North feels the benefit. He also marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of Margaret Thatcher.
Jim reflects on the potentially dangerous tactics of likely outgoing American President Trump, as well as a bad week for Boris Johnson and a good one for Keir Starmer.
President Biden would be good for Britain says Jim in his blog. Ahead of next week’s election he analyses the damaging instability Donald Trump has brought to world leadership. He also considers the real chance of violence if Trump is narrowly defeated.
