Latest editorial
A FOOL returns to his folly as does a dog to its vomit.Thus it was that George Osborne used the first speech of the new parliament yesterday to yet again — very sketchily — outline his plans for “radical devolution” for regions of England.
Plans under the Cities Devolution Bill will help to implement the so-called “northern powerhouse” — or should that be “poorhouse” — announcement he made last time round.
Cities would be given power over local transport, housing, planning, policing and public health — all the things the Tories have already wrecked.As usual with Osborne, the devil is in the detail, of which there was characteristically none.
Durham Miners’ Association general secretary ALAN MARDGHUM speaks to Ben Chacko about the PM-in-waiting, the threat of Reform and the radical change of direction this country needs
The new Scottish Parliament looks set to continue a cycle of managerial tinkering while public services face the axe, writes STEPHEN LOW
Behind the cute names of Scotland’s road gritters lies a workforce underpaid and overlooked – a fitting reflection of a Budget that protected profits, bungled its rollout and offered hardly a glimmer of hope, writes MATT KERR