Andy Burnham should press the button on new oil and gas fields, writes TERRY MURDEN With a pesky north London by-election out of the way and the Green Party leader put firmly in his place, Andy Burnham should once again be turning his attention northwards. This time to the far north of his kingdom where […]
Politics
Burnham putting the people in control
Can the new PM win business support for his vision of a more caring society, asks TERRY MURDEN First he gave us hope, then a list of promises. Now we await delivery. Andy Burnham’s big moment lasted more than an hour as he slowly read from a battery of autocues suspended above the packed Labour […]
Desperately seeking clarity on data centres
Should Scotland follow the English route on handling data centre consents, asks ALEX ORR The Scottish Government’s latest planning direction on data centres means planning authorities must notify Ministers of data centre applications of more than 50MW within seven days of validation. While recognising the strategic importance of data centres, the ruling should provide greater […]
Why the UK needs an English parliament
The new prime minister admits Britain is broken, but his devolution plan fails to spot the elephant in the room, writes TERRY MURDEN When Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Oxfordshire address early last year she outlined ambitious plans to rebuild the economy, creating Europe’s Silicon Valley, investing in new railways and airport expansion. It didn’t […]
SNP may not be mad for Manchesterism
The new PM’s devolution plans could dilute the demand for independence, writes TERRY MURDEN We’ll be hearing a lot about Manchesterism, the phenomenon that will turn Britain into a series of city states, each led by a cash-enhanced mayoral office that is able to get things done. It won’t mean forcing everyone to wear bucket […]