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Did you know that Leeds is the largest city in western Europe without a mass transit system? The Leeds tram is a great example of intra-regional transport that's critical for connecting communities in the North. But our communities cannot wait any longer... 👇👇 www.reuters.com/world/uk/tra...

📰The Social Mobility Commission’s state of the nation report is out. At IPPR North we're not surprised at its findings. The government must address these disadvantages so the next generations can break out of the doom-loop of regional inequality. 👇👇 www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

New year, new start? Great new job @ipprnorth.bsky.social will be posted this week👀

📈 This morning, our Director @zoebillingham.bsky.social presented to The Great North Board on securing pan northern investment. ⚽And the brand new Everton stadium was a brilliant location for the board meeting! Pictured below...

Great to be on BBC North West couch this morning, live from Media City with Paul Waugh MP & Conservative Cheshire & Warrington mayoral candidate Ben Fletcher. Broad consensus on the need for mayors to be able to have financial freedoms & more devolved power, some disagreement on Budget 2025!

This, this & this👇 Removing the two-child limit supports working families.

Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements. Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Some good calls today, with room to improve on the cost of living & regional investment..

🔔It’s Budget Day!🔔 This Budget will show who the government is working for. We’ll be looking out to see if it passes our three tests: ⚖️ Is it fair, asking more of those with the broadest shoulders? 💷 Does it reduce the cost of living? 📈 Is it pro-growth?

We hope government will help lift 500,000 children out of poverty today. High time to end the arbitrary two-child benefit cap.

Great to have worked with many of England’s mayors, @np-partnership.bsky.social, @centreforcities.bsky.social & @clesthinkdo.bsky.social on helping to make the case 🙌

Devolution is essential for empowering our communities, councillors & mayors - but also our MPs. Read why in my opinion piece for @labourlist.bsky.social✍️ Do you agree? labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...

Targeting the cost of living wins elections. Can Mayor Mamdani deliver with so many working against him? He is willing to be “caught trying” to improve affordability & will no doubt communicate progress well, so I feel hopeful. If he fails, we’ll still know whose side he’s on.

Yes

Should UK mayors learn from @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social? Like Mamdani they should be not be afraid to be "caught trying" to reduce the cost of living. Read my latest column for the The Municipal Journal✍️ www.themj.co.uk/uk-mayors-le...

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Our Marcus' take on the announced Pride in Place funding

Such a brilliant panel this afternoon where we responded to the PM’s challenge of ‘grassroots growth’.

How do you grow the country in every corner? Join us this afternoon for our final event at Labour conference with @mayorofwy.bsky.social @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social @rjpartington.bsky.social & our own Marcus Johns.📍15:45, Arena Room Dee, ACC.

So far we've already heard about visitor levies, council tax, transport fares, and the politics of devolution...

Proposed tweak:

And we're kicking off with our event ✨ Devolution Revolution✨ with @andyburnham.bsky.social @allymcgovern.bsky.social, @localtrust.org.uk' Rachel Rowney & Big Local's Jack Burkinshaw. Chaired by our @zoebillingham.bsky.social #LC25 #IPPRfringe #devolution

Are you in Liverpool for Labour conference? Come & join us @ipprnorth.bsky.social today with @allymcgovern.bsky.social & Andy Burnham to talk devolution with our partners @localtrust.org.uk at 3.15pm at the Museum of Liverpool. Full IPPR schedule here: www.ippr.org/events/ippr-...

Are you in Liverpool for Labour conference? Come & join us @ipprnorth.bsky.social today with @allymcgovern.bsky.social & Andy Burnham to talk devolution with our partners @localtrust.org.uk at 3.15pm at the Museum of Liverpool. Full IPPR schedule here: www.ippr.org/events/ippr-...

💡 Coming up at #Lab25 | IPPR’s Big Ideas Debate: How to be an “insurgent government”? 🕒 17:30–19:00 📍 Education Area 3, Museum of Liverpool With: 👉 @stephenkb 👉 @pollymackenzie 👉 Zoë Billingham 👉 Jane Gingrich 👉 Matthew McGregor 👉 Sacha Hilhorst

As the “Devo Bill” makes its way through Parliament, it’s very welcome that @labourtogether.bsky.social @jpspencer.bsky.social are calling for it to go further on fiscal devolution, powers over public services & reform to the Lords. static1.squarespace.com/static/64f70...

Great to see senior Labour figures now directly endorsing this proposal to undo the two-child limit & help reduce child poverty in the UK.

ICYMI: for the New Statesman weekend essay, author of recent IPPR paper @sachahilhorst.bsky.social describes the decline of community in former mining towns, and how we can build it back www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...

I spoke on TalkTV’s ‘Debate desk’ with Peter Cardwell & Reform Cllr Maxwell Harrison this morning. We discussed (& disagreed) about the week’s news inc. on immigration (my view is one-in-one-out shows control; safe routes still needed) & Gaza (two state solution right). Now r&r!

Today I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of @ipprnorth.bsky.social on a panel chaired by Youth Futures Foundation's Anna Round. Was great to be in Sunderland, with fellow northerners talking about such an important topic....

📺Yesterday our @zoebillingham.bsky.social addressed the devolution bill committee. 👀Scrutiny is vital to the future of devolution. Local and mayoral accounts committees are essential for strengthening accountability and enabling further devolution of power and resources. Watch her here: 👇

This afternoon I am giving evidence to the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill Committee. The Bill covers v helpful ground but needs to go further on fiscal devolution, protections for devolution, accountability & representation of political leaders.

TODAY'S THE DAY! ✨ Looking forward to seeing everyone and having a fruitful discussion about how The Kid's (sadly) Aren't Alright

Media job alert! Deadline is midnight this Thursday. Don’t be shy, apply!

Nationally, the widening disadvantage gap in absence can account for all the growth in the gap in secondary school results since 2018–19. Tackling high absence must be central to the opportunity mission. A recent IfG report highlights the importance of joined-up preventative measures in doing this.

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We’re recruiting! Join us @ipprnorth.bsky.social at an exciting & critical time for the regional agenda. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested.

We're pleased to welcome @deseonu.bsky.social as an Associate Fellow ✨ A lecturer in politics & policy, & founder of the Racial Equity in Policy Network, Dayo is expert in racial equity & participation She'll support us on participation & equity in politics & policy www.ippr.org/profile/dayo...

This is great & shows how mayors can take direct action in pursuit of their goals for their region.

The UK must immediately recognise Palestinian statehood. There can be no two state solution if there is no viable state left to call Palestine.

Today the government have announced that votes at 16 will be part of the upcoming Elections and Democracy Bill 👏 @zoebillingham.bsky.social reacts 👇

Call to close culture funding gap: London receives twice as much culture funding as the North.. says @ipprnorth.bsky.social www.themj.co.uk/close-cultur...

🚨 Today we publish State of the North 2025 🚨 The North gets just half as much arts and culture funding per person as London. We reveal the impact this & other regional divides have on young people, and what must change 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/the...

As part of a new bill, the government is planning to reintroduce the Supplementary Vote system for mayoral and PCC elections. This is a hugely welcome return, and a change we have been calling for – to put more choice back into the hands of voters.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has been published 📜 It tips the balance of power further into the hands of local and regional leaders, & it gives voters more choice & a louder voice 🗣️ @zoebillingham.bsky.social reacts to its first reading ⤵️

Today I’ve published an intervention @ipprnorth.bsky.social on visitor levies 🏨 Backed by calls from Mayors like Oliver Coppard and @davidskaith.bsky.social, the @yorkshirepost.co.uk says it puts pressure on Rachel Reeves to hand over the power to Mayors 🧵

Brilliant discussion last night - thanks for hosting @productivity.bsky.social @alliancembs.bsky.social

Great piece by @zoebillingham.bsky.social of @ipprnorth.bsky.social in today's Northern Agenda Extra - have a read here... www.linkedin.com/pulse/starme...

How do we measure the government's success one year on? @zoebillingham.bsky.social, Director of IPPR North, talks to @channel4news.bsky.social at the trade offs that have been made between investing in the future and the impact on people's day to day lives.