Two common objections to regionalism are that another tier of government means more politicians and more cost. It needn’t in fact mean either. First though, let’s be a bit more broad-minded. We need government to be more effective and efficient – but to achieve that you need to invest, politically in the right people andContinueContinue reading “Reasons to be Regional”
Tag Archives: Finance
Pop Goes the Weasel
“Governments with money centralise and claim the credit. Governments without cash decentralise and spread the blame. Those are not the views of a hardened media cynic. They are what I was told by one of the Tories’ top policy wonks before the election.”Nick Robinson, BBC Political Editor, December 2010Surprised? Why? The masters of the universeContinueContinue reading “Pop Goes the Weasel”
Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk
The Conservative regime that came to power in 1979 – continuing without interruption through 13 years of ‘Labour’ rule – draws its political philosophy from economic theory. A theory as deeply flawed as anything emanating from Marxist sources but far more of a challenge to anyone seeking to confront it. In this theory, all individualsContinueContinue reading “Nudge Nudge, Wonk Wonk”
A Taste of Wessex
Political fiction has a long and influential pedigree, from More’s Utopia to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. One of our aims is fun: to make politics relevant and enjoyable. So here’s a brief glimpse into one possible Wessex of the future. A very Happy Scottish Referendum Day tomorrow to all our readers: may all be inspired byContinueContinue reading “A Taste of Wessex”
Defence: Deceit & Denial
We’ve discussed before the centuries-old military occupation of Wessex by the UK’s armed services, and how this distorts both our economy and our objectivity in making moral judgments about foreign intervention or the ability to ‘project influence’ abroad. There’s also an environmental cost. Enter Tidworth from the north at present and you’ll find it aContinueContinue reading “Defence: Deceit & Denial”
Democracy’s Debt
Malmesbury – the oldest borough in England – is one of many Wessex market towns on the front line in the struggle against London overspill. The Coalition, for whose parties all constituencies in Wiltshire mainly voted in 2010, is doing its best to make sure that Malmesbury loses. The National Planning Policy Framework – theContinueContinue reading “Democracy’s Debt”
Digital Devastation
As the implications of the Heartbleed bug continue to be revealed, it becomes clear that while a digital society, including a digital economy and digital government, delivers many benefits, many of these are exceedingly fragile. Two items from the press last month further illustrate the point. The first is from Metro, which reported on theContinueContinue reading “Digital Devastation”
Housing Whom?
Oxford professor Danny Dorling is the rising star of radical sociology. Some of us heard him speak in Witney during the 2010 election campaign. He has his critics, but he has an impressive grasp of statistics and deploys them with devastating effect. A review of his latest book, All That Is Solid: The Great HousingContinueContinue reading “Housing Whom?”
Wallace versus Wonga?
The Anglican Bishop of Portsmouth, speaking on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, warned of the social consequences of ending naval shipbuilding in the city, including that jobless families could turn to loan sharks as the lenders of last resort. Cue Labour’s latest, greatest initiative. And what an odd policy announcement it was: Ed Miliband commitsContinueContinue reading “Wallace versus Wonga?”
The Wealth of Wessex
Here is a link to the case for Scottish independence, set out in maps and numbers. The second map shows the extent to which the wealth of England, measured in GDP per head, is concentrated along the M4 corridor. It’s our wealth: our answer to the claim that we all depend on London’s cleverness withContinueContinue reading “The Wealth of Wessex”
Wessex Regionalists 