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.
Jim reflects on an exceptional period of political turbulence in the North. The Covid Crisis has raised questions about the real powers of elected mayors and devolution itself. North West Tory MPs have engaged in blue on blue combat and Labour has seen four resignations over Keir Starmer’s approach to national security.
On both sides of the Atlantic, our leaders want us to look beyond the pandemic to a bright future. But in his blog, Jim says most people are stuck with the gtim realities of the present.
Boris Johnson should have been in Birmingham this weekend as the
Conservative conference celebrated the General Election victory. Instead Jim reflects on the sombre mood surrounding the Prime Minister, but says all is not yet lost in the Red Wall seats.
Jim gives his first reaction to the Chancellor’s bid to save jobs amid the worsening virus crisis. He also think’s Labour is on the right track after their virtual conference and he marks the passing of one of the greatest journalists the North has produced.
