Britain has just had elections for the three regional assemblies (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and for many local governments in England, as well as a national referendum on changing the voting system for Westminster elections to the Alternative Vote (AV) Here are some random thoughts on these events – I’ll be adding to them […]

From the Financial Times Minimum wage rated top policy, say academics By Nicholas Timmins, Public Policy Editor Published: May 1 2011 What is the most successful policy of the past 30 years? Ask a bunch of political academics and their answer – perhaps surprisingly – is the minimum wage, followed by devolution, privatisation and the […]

The poor nature of the debate about AV – and especially the focus on personalities rather than the issues – has obscured the fact there are serious discussions to be had about our voting system, rather than just slap-stick jousting. So I was immensely pleased to get this reaction from the Leader of the Tory […]

The World Bank is updating its approach to public sector management.

I have never understood how on earth our current electoral system became known as “first past the post” (FPTP)? The metaphor implied is clearly that of some sort of race to a winning post, and the first one past it wins. The problem is, there is no winning post in our system. Or at least, […]

A very useful, balanced, discussion of the above over at Flipchartfairytales – including important international and historical perspectives.

The Public Management and Policy Association (UK) has just published a new report on Redefining Local Government, and is available for free download here. It includes a chapter by Carole Talbot and myself on “Local government strategies in an age of austerity” in which we analyse some of the possible responses and look at the […]

See my comment for Public Finance on “The Five States We’re In”

by Davy Jones 15 April 2011 The Introduction to the Government’s new Best Value: new draft statutory guidance announces the repeal of two statutory duties on local authorities: the duty to involve, and the duty to prepare a sustainable community strategy. This is explained as reducing “red tape” for local authorities.