Is Labour coming home?
13/02/2020
Mayoral selections and the leadership contest suggests that Labour has finally realised the futility of Fantasy Island politics according to Downtown boss Frank McKenna.
Cummings the sacker of Chancellors
13/02/2020
This week Jim comments on the shock sacking of the Chancellor, believes we need to look carefully at the government’s rail plans for the North, and urges Andy Burnham to get behind Lisa Nandy in the Labour leadership election.
Is Birmingham Still A Developer Goldmine?
06/02/2020
Tom from Barrows & Forrester takes a look at a recent FOI request report from Glide.
Colmore Food Festival moves to Centenary Square for 2020
06/02/2020
Brums biggest free-entry food and drink festival returns this summer with a new city-centre location.
It’s infrastructure stupid
06/02/2020
Frank Mckenna calls on the government to prioritise infrastructure spend to get the UK economy moving in his lates Downtown blog.
Action on Apprenticeships!
06/02/2020
Jim reports on growing frustration in the business community about the apprenticeship system. The number of starts has fallen since a controversial levy was introduced in 2017. He has also been meeting the new Speaker who aims to turn a page on the Bercow years.
The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful at The Malmaison Liverpool
05/02/2020
Downtown Director, Chris McKenna headed to Malmaison in Liverpool recently. Read his thoughts of his experience at this week’s ‘Venue of the Week!
NO COINS OR BONGS FOR ME
30/01/2020
As we leave the EU, Jim looks back on the opportunities missed by those that embraced the European Vision to win the hearts and minds of the British people for the project.
Lancashire – Keeping Britannia Cool
30/01/2020
Lancashire – Keeping Britannia Cool, a Guest Blog written by Marketing Lancashire’s CEO, Rachel McQueen,
Moving powers will make more difference than moving The Lords
23/01/2020
Downtown boss Frank McKenna isn’t impressed by talk of the House of Lords moving North. He tells us why in is latest blog.
Will towns be the government’s priority?
23/01/2020
Will towns be the new driving force of the Northern Powerhouse? This week Downtown held an event with one of the leading Chief Executives in local government, Wigan’s Alison McKenzie-Folan. Jim hosted the lunch and reports on her forthright views on the cities v towns debate.
Labour’s last chance saloon
16/01/2020
This week Frank McKenna suggests that the election of Rebecca Long-Bailey as leader will kill the Labour Party.