The Tories have found the magic money tree that Theresa May said didn’t exist. But in his Budget review, Jim asks if there is underlying unease in the Tory Party about this dramatic switch from austerity to a bonanza of spending.
Will “events” prevent the Chancellor from launching an ambitious Budget next week at the start of the Johnson era? Jim also reports on how the towns are fighting back.
Jim was at the Labour leadership hustings in Manchester this week and saw a strong performance by Wigan’s Lisa Nandy. He feels it may not be enough to stop Keir Starmer but she is a woman to watch as Labour tries to rebuild as a credible electoral force.
Jim’s been talking to the BBC Director General about the future funding of the corporation.He outlines his idea in this blog and defends one of the few remaining British institutions respected around the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This week Jim gives firm backing to Lisa Nandy in the Labour leadership race. However he acknowledges that the Wigan MP has ground to make up to defeat the frontrunners.
Jim says this needs to be the year when Minister’s are held to their promises on real investment and devolution for the Northern Powerhouse.
In his last blog of the year, Jim looks back on the most turbulent decade ever in British politics. It began with Gordon Brown determined to make Labour the natural party of power and ended with it looking unlikely they will ever be in power again.
In his final Downtown Monthly blog for 2019, Downtown Political Editor, Jim Hancock explores what the result of the 2019 General Election might have in store.
