The key question for the Northern Powerhouse concept is this, how can all the fancy talk about vision for the future economic prosperity of the

Cake and eat it This is what it has come down to. The possibility of Europe living together in a family of closely linked nations,

Back in your box! The government’s commitment to devolving power to the North was the subject of sharp disagreement amongst top speakers during the first

Was it the shock of IKEA pulling out of a major investment in the Cuerden Retail Park near Preston, that has banged Lancashire heads together?

After my last two blogs on the Greater Manchester economy which took a bullish view of the conurbation’s growth; it is time to look at

If anyone was in any doubt that our town and suburban retail areas face a massive challenge, the decision of Marks and Spencer to close

First, congratulations to all my colleagues, past and present, who have contributed to 15 years of success for Downtown in Business. In the run up

After years of political turbulence, the local election results seem to tell us that deadlock has been reached in the nation’s politics. The Conservatives are

Brexit I first met George Osborne on Knutsford Heath 20 years ago when he had just been selected as the Tory candidate for Tatton. Who

THE POLITICS. What will people make of the last year in politics when they cast their votes in local council elections across the North next

Last May the city regions of Manchester and Liverpool underwent the biggest change in local government since the Metro counties were abolished over thirty years

Two areas of current debate are irritating me. One is what to do about Syria, the other what to do about representing the centre ground