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BUT - people across the country are feeling the squeeze, and speeches at conferences won’t quell anxieties about work or money here and now. The chancellor and government must move quickly to help make that hope tangible for the north, England, the UK.

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…So it is absolutely right the chancellor is focussing the government’s efforts to get NEETS and young people into work with help of Mayors and local apprenticeship programmes 💼

It has long made little sense for local economies to be led by Whitehall, when local people and mayors know best what their areas need, and how young people can help bring that future forward. Reindustrialisation and devolution are core to bringing growth to the north once more 🚀💪

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HAPPENING NOW at Labour Party Conference, 2026: 🏘️“From resilience to renewal: Investing in Britain’s communities”, hosted by IPPR North and Local Trust 📸 chaired by @zoebillingham.bsky.social, with Kate Green, deputy mayor of GM Rachel Blake MP Andrew O'Brien, ICoN Rachel Rowney, Local Trust

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🥂 Then we headed down to @ippr.org and @thinklabour.bsky.social drinks, with a strong female representation, speeches from Miatta Fahnbullah & Northern cabinet minister, Lucy Powell 💪 Great to see so many familiar faces throughout the day who are so passionate about devolution and the north 👏

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✨👏It was a buzzing event, with real excitement for what the future holds for our northern regions. Big thanks to Katie White MP and Luke Charters MP for speaking at the event, and Riverside Sunderland for kindly sponsoring.

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Zoë Billingham @zoebillingham.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Our first day at Labour Party Conference complete ☑️ Busy day for the team, @zoebillingham.bsky.social , Mirte, and @maeveschaffer.bsky.social arrive in Liverpool representing IPPR North in our jam-packed events schedule! Sunday saw us hosting The Future of the North drinks reception👇👇

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It’s that time of year! @ipprnorth.bsky.social are at Labour conference for the next three days. Join us on Monday morning at the Museum of Liverpool for a brilliant panel on Britain’s communities followed by a discussion on good growth in every postcode 🙌

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

These powers will be GAME CHANGING for the North, because - 🤏for just a small nightly charge on hotel stays 👊there could be HUGE impact for our northern cities and regions Mayors can use the proceeds to invest in the spaces/services their regions need to thrive ✨

IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

💪 Buzzing to see that our calls for mayoral powers to collect an overnight visitor levy across English cities and regions are today being CONFIRMED by government! Because if Barcelona does it, why can’t York!?

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

What should "rewiring the state" really mean? ✍️🗞️@ryanswift93.bsky.social writes for @publicsectorfocus.bsky.social this month on what the next stages of devolution must offer for our communities and local authorities. 🔗Read the full article here: flickread.com/edition/html...

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Ryan Swift @ryanswift93.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I’ve written for @publicsectorfocus.bsky.social about how the next phase of devolution has to be felt by communities, through: reducing regional inequalities, improving public services and giving people more control over decision-making. flickread.com/edition/html...

flickread.com

Read the digital edition of today!

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Our director Zoë Billingham on BBC North West explaining No10 North splitting the Treasury's spending and growth functions could be the change this country needs. "It's their time to shine." - ✨ @zoebillingham.bsky.social

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

🏘️We desperately need more social & council homes, so it's great to see funding offered to a number of Northern mayors to help meet the target. In our recent report, we made clear the status quo of costly temp accom is in noone's best interest, we welcome this news 👏 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

More than 70,000 social and affordable homes to be built across England over 10 years

Funding has been granted to Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire as well as £6bn for London.

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street creates an opportunity to go much further on the communities agenda than ever before. So what should more ambition look like in practice? Read our latest blog to find out 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/tow...

ippr.org

Towards a Communities Agenda 2.0 | IPPR

Since coming to power, Labour has begun to give communities and neighbourhoods renewed attention, with Pride in Place marking an important shift towards lo

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

🚀Boosting this country's economy with growth in EVERY region requires a major shift in mindset for Whitehall. It's great to see the political will for institutional change; it's about time we did things differently, so we welcome this move from the PM. Viva No10 North 💪

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Zoë Billingham @zoebillingham.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

When I was a Treasury official I saw the grip of austerity in the department from 2010 & false hope that cuts have no consequence. To regionally reboot our economy it’s quite right that the PM wants to focus on growth & opportunity from No10 North. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

thetimes.com

Power shift puts growth in hands of No 10 North

Andy Burnham says ‘huge transfer of power’ from Whitehall was no criticism of John Healey’s department but would be good for the economy

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Zoë Billingham @zoebillingham.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Brilliant from our @maeveschaffer.bsky.social on the language of devolution. More to come from @ipprnorth.bsky.social on this.

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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The way devolution policy has been communicated in recent years has been jumbled, inaccessible, and hasn’t connected with the broader public Devolution needs buy-in, and that requires making it mean something to people's everyday lives, writes @ipprnorth.bsky.social's @maeveschaffer.bsky.social

politicshome.com

The word devolution needs to actually mean something to people

Devolution needs public buy-in. Public buy-in needs effective storytelling.

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Zoë Billingham @zoebillingham.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Positive news today on PM’s push to reduce numbers of gambling & vape shops on high streets. So often cited as symbols of decline. It’ll also be important that the public know what decisions are being made about their places & how to influence them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said town centres had been "hollowed out" by decades of decline.

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But fares are too high for everyone, and for those outside the range of railcard discounts the support isn't there. We'll be watching closely to see what comes next for Great British Railways and from this government.

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Reliable and affordable connections through train networks can be a huge boost to the economy - bringing jobs, housing, investment It's refreshing to see the government recognise that with its commitments to Northern Powerhouse Rail and schemes like this.

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But everyone can see there's a problem with rail costs. If a flight to Spain costs less than a peak time ticket between Liverpool and London, something is not right. Rail travel doesn't have to be this expensive - anyone who has used public transport in Europe knows that...

👏🚆It is absolutely right that after buses, govt is making rail travel more affordable for young people. With NEETs at record highs, 18y/olds shouldn't be priced out of travelling to jobs & better opportunities, or simply moving around the country with ease 🧵

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🚂 We need to get the details right - giving mayors the freedom to borrow against future revenues 🔃 A mechanism to ensure no region is left behind. 🫂 And giving local people and communities have a say in how this is spent ...

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⌛ In fact, it's about time - The share of national taxes collected at a local level in the UK is 5.8% - the lowest in the G7 - making is one of the most centralised places OECD when it comes to power on tax revenues. 👀 But with great power, comes great responsibility....

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👑 Allowing strategic mayors to keep a share of income tax and business rates revenues, marks a key shift from the begging-bowl of mayors relying on funds from Westminster. Local leaders know what their places need to 'drive growth in every postcode' - they need the tools to be able to act on it...

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👣 Today marks a BIG step forward in the march for fiscal devolution. This is one of the biggest transfers of power and funding from Westminster in a generation....

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Maya SH @msingerhobbs.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

📣 The prime minster has announced new powers for mayors.... Here's what we think 👇

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This thread from my colleague Will is exactly why we called for rent stabilisation earlier this year Renters are vulnerable to shocks - there's nothing stopping landlords passing on increases in mortgage costs. We argue these risks should be shouldered more fairly: www.ippr.org/articles/hou...

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

When political trust is low, moving power out of Whitehall and into the North must be used to prove to people politics can be something done WITH them, not just to them. The prime minister has worked quickly on his other policies - now’s the time to do the same with devolution.

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

👏Today is one day closer to a country decentralised, where power is no longer concentrated in one postcode of London. No10 North must be the “nerve centre” of devolution as the prime minister promised - not just an office relocated, but a place where decisions are handed down to local leaders 🧵

IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

🚌A £2 bus fare cap is brilliant news for everyone who relies on buses to get to work, school, or simply travel in their local area. It means cost won't be a barrier to accessing opportunity, while offering better value for money than cars. We're big fans of buses here...

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IPPR North @ipprnorth.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

📰Today, Sir Keir Starmer will step down as PM, and Andy Burnham will take his place. Devolution is a key part of Labour's vision, and under Burnham, it is expected to be turbocharged. But what does that look like? Mirte Boot spoke to @sophyridge.bsky.social on Sky News this morning: