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.
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
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.
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.
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.
This week Jim looks back on 2021 a rollercoaster year for business and the Prime Minister, whilst abroad there were worrying signs of future conflict.
This week Jim looks back on the two years since Boris Johnson triumphed in the 2019 general election.
Jim gives his views on this week’s shake up in Labour’s shadow team as it affects the North. Five Greater Manchester MPs are in the Shadow Cabinet and none from Liverpool as Sir Keir Starmer continues his march to the middle ground.
How much notice do business investors take of the political shenanigins at the Town Hall? Jim previews a lecture next week by distinguished academic Michael Parkinson who will look at Liverpool. A city massively regenerated but with a political system that’s bust.
Labour cries betrayal over government plans for northern rail upgrades. But Jim looks through the fog of acrimony to see that there are some benefits.
Are northern Red Wall Tories about to replace the old guard as the MPs with clout in the Conservative Party? Jim poses the question in the aftermath of the Paterson Affair. He also reports on some great ideas for helping state school pupils suggested at a recent Downtown event.
The climate change debate is mostly cast in negative terms. In this week’s blog Jim looks at the great employment prospects the green revolution can bring to the North West.
