Section: Web exclusive Articles

Business on the public accounts committee is hardly glamorous, but I am learning just how gemstone-precious are the insights it offers. Recent discussions surrounding elements of the government’s devolution efforts to date have been enlightening in many ways: and not...

One of the key debates in democratic government over recent decades has been the restoration of the profile given to cities. If not quite on a par with the city states of renaissance Italy, cities are nevertheless clearly recognised for their role in the new global...

Why do Labour councils not pass illegal budgets? Because it would be irresponsible, unsustainable, and damaging to communities – and their electorates would not stand for it. But it would also mean a Whitehall takeover of local services – services that Labour parties...

In just a few weeks' time, 1.9m people could drop off the electoral register. Why? Because of changes to the way we register to vote. These changes could bring about the biggest single act of electoral disenfranchisement in our history. Added to the already eight...