Alex Walker
@alwalker.bsky.social
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Senior Researcher
@re-state.bsky.social
Interests include devolution, governance, democracy, trust
Catching up on this and it's seriously good. Clear sighted but ends (somewhat) optimistically: "Manchester at least proves decline is not inevitable. Britain is not doomed. Institutions can improve. Growth can return. Places can regain confidence."
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about 16 hours ago
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James Breckwoldt
5 days ago
If you want to know what "actual existing Manchesterism" is and how it came about ššš (Plus every section in it is a Stone Roses lyric, so how can you resist that???)
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"Over time, legacy IT leads to legacy government." Great piece from Laxshia on the cost of legacy IT systems for the public sector - as illustrated by the crazy time Guy's & St Thomas' had to go analogue because its ageing data centres failed during a heatwave
restate.substack.com/p/legacy-gov...
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5 days ago
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Re:State
9 days ago
The Re:View is up ā¬ļø This week
@alwalker.bsky.social
takes a look at the ideas shaping the Labour leadership contest from
@labourgrowth.bsky.social
and the Tribune Group.
restate.substack.com/p/the-review...
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The Re:View 15 May 2026
āBut where we need vision, we have a vacuum.
https://restate.substack.com/p/the-review-15-may-2026
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Owen Garling
7 days ago
Bring on compulsory voting and the democracy sausage!
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Wes Streeting wants a "battle of ideas" about where the government goes next - and earlier this week
@labourgrowth.bsky.social
and the Tribune Group in
@renewaljournal.bsky.social
set out their take on what those ideas might be. I take a look at some of them for this week's Re:View!
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9 days ago
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Joe Hill
9 days ago
A week is a long time in politics. But there's no chance that the debate within the Labour Party about the Government's policy agenda is going away. It's been great to see how impactful our work has been on some of the leading thinkers in Labour this week - great summary from Alex.
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Renewal
12 days ago
NEW ISSUE: In this special extra edition of Renewal,
@louisehaighmp.bsky.social
,
@yuanfenyang.bsky.social
, and other members of the Tribune Group of Labour MPs set out paths to repairing Britain's broken economic settlement.
renewal.org.uk/journal/volu...
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UCL Constitution Unit
11 days ago
Today is a big day at the Constitution Unit as
@alanrenwick.bsky.social
takes over as Director and Tom Fleming becomes Deputy Director. Congratulations and good luck! Read our announcement from last month š
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Alan Renwick to succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit
In May, Alan Renwick will succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director. A new lecturer is also set to join the Unit next year.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/news/2026/apr/alan-renwick-succeed-meg-russell-director-constitution-unit
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Owen Winter
10 days ago
The local elections in one chart. Labour has been squeezed between the Greens in young wards and Reform in older working-class wards
www.economist.com/britain/2026...
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Joe Hill
12 days ago
It looks like leaders in the Labour Party are going to spend the next few months on the hunt for new ideas. So itās great to see so many of our own reflected in this
@labourgrowth.bsky.social
paper out today, where the Groupās leaders set out their stall for a future economy
www.labourgrowth.co.uk
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Good piece. People may have voted for change, but what can local government do to actually deliver it? Not a lot without more political and fiscal autonomy and a new social care funding model (which might in time also mean higher levels of participation)
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12 days ago
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Pete Miles
17 days ago
I like this a lot. Rather than producing yet another report, Re:State will "...draft legislation, codes, rules, plans and frameworks - that the current or an incoming government can use to rewire Whitehall."
@charliepickles.bsky.social
@re-state.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
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How to fix a problem like Whitehall
Why we are launching a plan for government.
https://open.substack.com/pub/restate/p/how-to-fix-a-problem-like-whitehall?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=livl7
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Re:State
18 days ago
A New Civil Service Code Today we have published a new draft of the Civil Service Code - in the wake of the Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo setting a review of the Code as one of her objectives.
re-state.co.uk/publications...
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A new Civil Service Code - Re:State
Criticisms of the Civil ServiceĀ seem to be aĀ constantĀ featureĀ of our politics, with government after government promising to driveĀ reforms toĀ moderniseĀ aĀ Whitehall machineĀ thatĀ is too slow, too siloe...
https://re-state.co.uk/publications/a-new-civil-service-code/
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AndrĆ©s RodrĆguez-Pose
18 days ago
#Growth
is not made only in capitals. The JRC report "Local taxes and economic growth" shows how prosperity often starts at the municipal desk: a permit, a road, a nursery, a bus route. Give towns a fiscal stake and caution becomes thirst for development.
dx.doi.org/10.2760/1826...
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Re:State
19 days ago
How to fix a problem like Whitehall Governments normally rely on the civil service to reform itself - an approach which has not delivered results. Re:State are launching our new 'Plan for government' to fix that. Read more from
@charliepickles.bsky.social
restate.substack.com/p/how-to-fix...
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How to fix a problem like Whitehall
Why we are launching a plan for government.
https://restate.substack.com/p/how-to-fix-a-problem-like-whitehall
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Great to be quoted in this piece in
@thehousemag.bsky.social
on English devo - fiscal decentralisation is needed to properly unlock spending flexibility for strategic authorities, and reorientate accountability towards local electorates rather than Whitehall.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
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Government Promises Devolution Reform But Mayors Say 'Begging Bowl' Culture Persists
MHCLG and the Treasury are promising more powers to the devolved regions through a series of reforms. But for all the progress, regional mayors rem...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/government-promises-devolution-reform-mayors-say-begging-bowl-culture-persists
23 days ago
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Alex Walker
29 days ago
NEW SUBSTACK: The latest installment of the Ideas Bank is out ā a series for my new-ish Substack, Notes on Local Government. This week I explore another 10 practical examples to push power out of Whitehall and into places.
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Devolution Revolution: The āIdeas Bankā II
A live collection of practical ideas to push power out of Whitehall and into places ā from governance reform to transport and regeneration.
https://jackshaw.substack.com/p/devolution-revolution-the-ideas-bank
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Great piece on why we should return to a tried and tested mechanism for funding infrastructure - public corporations issuing long term debt with specific future revenue streams to pay back bond holders
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/new-tow...
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Why the governmentās New Towns strategy is likely to fail - Bennett School of Public Policy
As the UK government advances its New Towns agenda, Thomas Aubrey argues that current funding plans are ill-equipped to deliver infrastructure at scale, and makes the case for reviving proven long-ter...
https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/new-towns-strategy/
30 days ago
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New Re:Think from me for the
@re-state.bsky.social
Substack! I argue that we should properly empower strategic authorities with the fiscal tools to pursue different approaches to place-based economic policy and allow them to test out new levies.
restate.substack.com/p/why-we-sho...
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Why we should embrace the postcode lottery
Fiscal devolution could be a gamechanger ā but only if we escape our fear of variation
https://restate.substack.com/p/why-we-should-embrace-the-postcode
about 1 month ago
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Re:State
about 1 month ago
Postcode lotteries are the worst nightmare of any Whitehall policymaker. But they're inevitable, and we should embrace regional variation in policy.
@alwalker.bsky.social
has written for Re:Think on why fiscal devolution is an essential next step.
restate.substack.com/p/why-we-sho...
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Why we should embrace the postcode lottery
Fiscal devolution could be a gamechanger ā but only if we escape our fear of variation
https://restate.substack.com/p/why-we-should-embrace-the-postcode
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UCL Constitution Unit
about 1 month ago
We are set to enter a new era on 13 May as
@alanrenwick.bsky.social
takes over from Meg Russell as our Director. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director and a new lecturer will join us next year. We can also confirm that our annual conference will happen on 24 and 25 June. Read all about it š
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Alan Renwick to succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit
In May, Alan Renwick will succeed Meg Russell as Director of the Constitution Unit. Tom Fleming will become Deputy Director. A new lecturer is also set to join the Unit next year.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/social-historical-sciences/news/2026/apr/alan-renwick-succeed-meg-russell-director-constitution-unit
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Great thread!
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about 1 month ago
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Piece from me on fiscal devolution in England for the
@acadsocsciences.bsky.social
Devolution Hub. I look at some of the evidence around fiscal decentralisation, and the key questions that need thinking about as the Treasury prepares its fiscal devolution 'roadmap'.
acss.org.uk/the-missing-...
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The Missing Piece: Fiscal Devolution and the Future of English Governance ā Academy of Social Sciences
https://acss.org.uk/the-missing-piece-fiscal-devolution-and-the-future-of-english-governance/
about 1 month ago
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John Oxley
about 1 month ago
šØNEW BLOGPOST šØ From Vance and the Pope to Tommy Robinson, the populist right is both embracing and quarrelling with Christianity. It points to the rise of Christianism, an identity focused, civilisational and often incoherent co-option of faith.
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
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Borrowed Faith
On Christianity and Christianism
https://open.substack.com/pub/joxleywrites/p/borrowed-faith?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1o0ogx
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Re:State
about 1 month ago
New leadership. New tone. But will it deliver? In this weeks Re:View,
@alwalker.bsky.social
discusses Antonia Romeo's objectives as Cabinet Secretary ā a rare move that signals a shift toward transparency, performance and accountability. Read more:
open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
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The Re:View 10 April 2026
Earlier this week, the new Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Antonia Romeo, published her objectives for the year ahead.
https://open.substack.com/pub/restate/p/the-review-10-april-2026?r=7984zg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
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Andy Westwood
about 2 months ago
This is really good - Henry Kippin on how to do good place based policy. Feels like the right mix to me.
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Re:State
about 2 months ago
We are pleased to be working with the North East, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire Combined Authorities on this important work. āļø Read the launch essay from
@stkaye.bsky.social
&
@alwalker.bsky.social
:
restate.substack.com/p/where-shou...
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Where should devolution go next?
Why we're setting up the Devo Next Initiative to shape the future of English devolution policy
https://restate.substack.com/p/where-should-devolution-go-next
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Really excited about this! The English devolution agenda is making progress. But this should not represent the limit of ambition - which is why we're launching 'The Devo Next Initiative' today to define and shape the future of devolution policy.
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about 2 months ago
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Simon Kaye
about 2 months ago
So chuffed to announce this - and to get to work! This new initiative is a chance to define where we want devolution to go next, and where we want the whole agenda to take the country in the decades to come.
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Pete Miles
about 2 months ago
This looks like an excellent and much-needed initiative to shape where devolution goes next.
open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
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Where should devolution go next?
Why we're setting up the Devo Next Initiative to shape the future of English devolution policy
https://open.substack.com/pub/restate/p/where-should-devolution-go-next?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
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Re:State
about 2 months ago
"The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act may open a new chapter for local places and people, but it cannot write it." š£ NEW: Today Re:State is launching The Devo Next Initiative to define and shape the future of devolution policy.
re-state.co.uk/devo-next-in...
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The Devo Next Initiative - Re:State
https://re-state.co.uk/devo-next-initiative/
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Re:State
2 months ago
Dame
@meghillier.bsky.social
highlights the need for systemic change in how we regulate:
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Re:State
2 months ago
šØNEW REPORT - The law of rulešØ Britainās regulatory system grows by default. Rules are easy to create, rarely reviewed, and almost never removed. This report sets out a package of reforms to achieve ābetter regulationā by strengthening the system at every stage.
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Really big devolution news! England is a major outlier when it comes to how fiscally centralised it is. Allowing Mayoral Strategic Authorities to retain a share of income tax generated in their area would be a major step forward, unlocking more autonomy and direct benefit from local growth.
2 months ago
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Mark Sandford
3 months ago
What's the point of a Local Public Accounts Committee? More bureaucracy, meetings, reports...? See some thoughts on the gaps that a body of this kind could fill at
www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...
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Mark Sandford: Scrutinising the local state
A local public accounts committee model could examine how mayors are performing their stewardship roles, writes an honorary professor at the School for
https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/mark-sandford-scrutinising-the-local-state-09-03-2026/
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I've written this week's
@re-state.bsky.social
Re:View on the spring statement - which already feels like a long time ago. Have a read!
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3 months ago
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Robert Saunders
3 months ago
Why did the People's Vote campaign fail? Could Brexit have been stopped? What lessons can be learned? Join us on 19 March to launch
@morganj0nes.bsky.social
's new book: "No Second Chances: The Inside Story of the Campaign for a Second Referendum". All welcome!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/no-second-...
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No Second Chances: The Inside Story of the Campaign for a Second Referendum
Join Mile End Institute to celebrate the publication of Morgan Jonesās new book about the campaign for a second EU referendum and its impact
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/no-second-chances-the-inside-story-of-the-campaign-for-a-second-referendum-tickets-1984366574843
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David Klemperer
3 months ago
This is actually what I most wanted to highlight. I remember hearing a Labour MP argue that politics was ultimately just "a game of competitive storytelling", and then reflecting on just how disturbing the implications for democracy, accountability, and policymaking would be if that were wholly true
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David's piece is brilliant in highlighting the stakes involved in the "deliverism" debate - the potential implications for policymaking and democratic accountability are pretty profound (and this often seems underappreciated)
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3 months ago
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Re:State
3 months ago
š£ NEW REPORT: 'The State of the State 2026: delivery that matters' in partnership with Deloitte, is out now! š It examines the key issues and opportunities facing public services, drawing on an exclusive Ipsos poll and over 100 interviews with public sector leaders.
re-state.co.uk/publications...
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The State of the State 2026 - Re:State
The 'State of the State', in partnership with Deloitte, explores the key issues and opportunities facing public services. The report is based on an exclusive Ipsos public poll, and over 100 interviews...
https://re-state.co.uk/publications/the-state-of-the-state-2026/
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Big new
@ukandeu.bsky.social
report on UK-EU alignment and divergence, which looks at the story so far and what lies ahead. I've written a chapter on the intersection with devolved powers and the implications for UK intergovernmental relations. Have a read!
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3 months ago
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Joƫl Reland
3 months ago
Big new report out from us today looking at the state of UK-EU alignment and divergence. The key findings are that 1) the UK govt is turning to greater 'alignment' with EU rules as 'Brexit benefits' from divergence have been hard to come by. But 2) alignment is much easier said than done.
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There's an interesting question around whether deeper devolution can help alleviate some of this. But also needs to be coupled with better public understanding of who is responsible for what
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3 months ago
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Alice Lilly
3 months ago
Hmm. Secondary legislation is, of course, much quicker than primary legislation. Itās also unamendable and frankly subject to less robust scrutiny procedures than primary legislation.
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Zoƫ Billingham
3 months ago
I think it's right that the May local elections will be going ahead, even in areas undergoing local government reorganisation. Democracy cannot be a matter of convenience or cost.
mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/02/16/u...
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Update on May 2026 local authority elections
We have today issued the below statement for immediate use on the local authority elections taking place in May 2026. An MHCLG spokesperson said: āFollowing legal advice, the Government has withdrawn ...
https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/02/16/update-on-may-2026-local-authority-elections/
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Sam Freedman
3 months ago
New post out: We have a guest post today from the excellent
@dsquareddigest.bsky.social
. "Build the Rail! Save the snails!" Or how we don't need to sacrifice the environment to speed up our mad planning processes. (Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
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Build the Rail! Save the Snails!
How to speed up the planning system without trashing the environment
https://open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/build-the-rail-save-the-snails?r=72szy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
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Re:State
3 months ago
The Re:View is out! š This week, Director of Policy and Research,
@stkaye.bsky.social
unpacks the Governmentās latest move in the devolution agenda, as the MHCLG seeks to āfill in the mapā of England with a new wave of Strategic Authorities. šRead it here:
bit.ly/4auVwuB
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The Re:View 13 February 2026
āHousing need in England cannot be met without planning for growth on a larger than local scale.ā
https://bit.ly/4auVwuB
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Pete Miles
3 months ago
"Perhaps the next 'grand theory' of public service reform will not come from the centre, but from the periphery."
@alwalker.bsky.social
writing for
@re-state.bsky.social
Yes, seems far more likely to me, as long as the centre allows enough flexibility.
open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
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My first Re:View is out - I look at Kent county council's struggle to find big spending cuts, what it says about the difficult work of public service reform, and whether the next āgrand theoryā of public management could come from the periphery rather than the centre.
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4 months ago
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