INLOGOV
@inlogov.bsky.social
Part of the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Birmingham and a leading centre for the study and teaching of public management.
Blog: http://inlogov.com
Blog: http://inlogov.com
It's not just Andy Burnham, there has long been a perception of local government as a stepping stone or training ground for national office...
Phil Swann writes in the Local Government Chronicle
www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
Phil Swann writes in the Local Government Chronicle
www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
Burnham’s ambitions follow 150-year trend
There has long been a perception of local government as a stepping stone or training ground for national office, writes Phil Swann, a PhD student at Inlogov at the University of Birmingham.
www.lgcplus.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:45 PM
It's not just Andy Burnham, there has long been a perception of local government as a stepping stone or training ground for national office...
Phil Swann writes in the Local Government Chronicle
www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
Phil Swann writes in the Local Government Chronicle
www.lgcplus.com/politics/lgc...
The LARIA conference is always a highlight for inspiring examples from the world of local government research and analysis. This year looks the best yet!
www.laria.org.uk/2026/01/23/l...
www.laria.org.uk/2026/01/23/l...
LARIA's One Day Conference and Awards: Book Now! - LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association
LARIA's One Day Conference and Awards: Registration now open
Wednesday 25 March 2026
Local Government Association
18 Smith Square
Westminster
London
SW1P 3HZ
Local Evidence Matters:
Understanding Need...
www.laria.org.uk
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 AM
The LARIA conference is always a highlight for inspiring examples from the world of local government research and analysis. This year looks the best yet!
www.laria.org.uk/2026/01/23/l...
www.laria.org.uk/2026/01/23/l...
Why the establishment of a national school for civil servants matters
theconversation.com/why-the-esta...
theconversation.com/why-the-esta...
Why the establishment of a national school for civil servants matters
Investing in professional support systems for politicians and public servants is long overdue.
theconversation.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Why the establishment of a national school for civil servants matters
theconversation.com/why-the-esta...
theconversation.com/why-the-esta...
An excellent piece from CIPFA and the Health Foundation exploring the extent to which council spending on prevention can be quantified to inform future policy shifting from reactive to preventative services.
www.cipfa.org/services/int...
www.cipfa.org/services/int...
Investing in prevention
www.cipfa.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:35 PM
An excellent piece from CIPFA and the Health Foundation exploring the extent to which council spending on prevention can be quantified to inform future policy shifting from reactive to preventative services.
www.cipfa.org/services/int...
www.cipfa.org/services/int...
Great to see Baroness Casey recognise the unique accountability of local government and its success in modernising and managing budgets through austerity at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference today
www.youtube.com/live/KiA1vmI...
www.youtube.com/live/KiA1vmI...
In conversation with Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB
YouTube video by Institute for Government
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Great to see Baroness Casey recognise the unique accountability of local government and its success in modernising and managing budgets through austerity at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference today
www.youtube.com/live/KiA1vmI...
www.youtube.com/live/KiA1vmI...
Are you an INLOGOV alumni? If so, you should have received our latest e-mag last month which includes updates on some of our latest research. Please let me know if you haven't received your copy and we'll sort it!
January 12, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Are you an INLOGOV alumni? If so, you should have received our latest e-mag last month which includes updates on some of our latest research. Please let me know if you haven't received your copy and we'll sort it!
Restoring councillor pensions is a good step, but we need much more to increase the attractiveness of the role, argues Chris Game
inlogov.com/2025/12/16/f...
inlogov.com/2025/12/16/f...
Forget the temperature, for councillor discretion, look north!
Photo by Michael D Beckwith on Pexels.com Chris Game You may just possibly have seen the recent report: “Oldham councillors must repay overpaid allowances due to payroll error”. And thought: …
inlogov.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Restoring councillor pensions is a good step, but we need much more to increase the attractiveness of the role, argues Chris Game
inlogov.com/2025/12/16/f...
inlogov.com/2025/12/16/f...
How "burdensome" is our tax system?
Chris Game argues time the Chancellor should modify her ‘burden’ references and we need a positive buzzword/phrase to substitute for ‘tax burden’?
inlogov.com/2025/12/05/j...
Chris Game argues time the Chancellor should modify her ‘burden’ references and we need a positive buzzword/phrase to substitute for ‘tax burden’?
inlogov.com/2025/12/05/j...
Just how ‘burdensome’ is our tax system?
Chris Game One of the almost unavoidable consequences of being comprehensively retired and with any kind of interest in politics is that you find yourself watching more of the Government’s annual, …
inlogov.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:59 AM
How "burdensome" is our tax system?
Chris Game argues time the Chancellor should modify her ‘burden’ references and we need a positive buzzword/phrase to substitute for ‘tax burden’?
inlogov.com/2025/12/05/j...
Chris Game argues time the Chancellor should modify her ‘burden’ references and we need a positive buzzword/phrase to substitute for ‘tax burden’?
inlogov.com/2025/12/05/j...
Local Government in the Czech Republic During Two Recent Crises
"alongside reform for efficiency and scale, we need to invest in robust governance - in communication, trust, community capacity, and strong vertical relationships between central and local government"
inlogov.com/2025/11/28/l...
"alongside reform for efficiency and scale, we need to invest in robust governance - in communication, trust, community capacity, and strong vertical relationships between central and local government"
inlogov.com/2025/11/28/l...
December 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Local Government in the Czech Republic During Two Recent Crises
"alongside reform for efficiency and scale, we need to invest in robust governance - in communication, trust, community capacity, and strong vertical relationships between central and local government"
inlogov.com/2025/11/28/l...
"alongside reform for efficiency and scale, we need to invest in robust governance - in communication, trust, community capacity, and strong vertical relationships between central and local government"
inlogov.com/2025/11/28/l...
Reposted by INLOGOV
📢 🆕 blog post from Dr. Nicolai De Wulf and Prof. Dr. Joris Voets 'Crisis management in cities: how politicians and public servants worked together during the Ukrainian refugee reception', published by @inlogov.bsky.social (The Institute of Local Government Studies)
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
Crisis management in cities: how politicians and public servants worked together during the Ukrainian refugee reception
Dr. Nicolai De Wulf, Prof. Dr. Joris Voets When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people fled their homes seeking safety across Europe. In Belgium, cities such as Antwerp, Ghent,…
inlogov.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM
📢 🆕 blog post from Dr. Nicolai De Wulf and Prof. Dr. Joris Voets 'Crisis management in cities: how politicians and public servants worked together during the Ukrainian refugee reception', published by @inlogov.bsky.social (The Institute of Local Government Studies)
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
Developing authority starts with self-leadership, the inner work of noticing what is being projected into us, what emotions we are carrying on behalf of
the wider system. It asks for a disciplined curiosity about anxiety
inlogov.com/2025/11/21/a...
the wider system. It asks for a disciplined curiosity about anxiety
inlogov.com/2025/11/21/a...
A Very Local Authority
Garath Symonds When I was asked by the Chief Executive to take over a failing project to create acontact centre for vulnerable residents, I said yes without hesitation. It felt like anopportunity t…
inlogov.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Developing authority starts with self-leadership, the inner work of noticing what is being projected into us, what emotions we are carrying on behalf of
the wider system. It asks for a disciplined curiosity about anxiety
inlogov.com/2025/11/21/a...
the wider system. It asks for a disciplined curiosity about anxiety
inlogov.com/2025/11/21/a...
How do politics and administration work together when everything is urgent?
For practitioners, the message is clear: invest in relationships between political and administrative leaders before the next crisis hits.
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
For practitioners, the message is clear: invest in relationships between political and administrative leaders before the next crisis hits.
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
Crisis management in cities: how politicians and public servants worked together during the Ukrainian refugee reception
Dr. Nicolai De Wulf, Prof. Dr. Joris Voets When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, millions of people fled their homes seeking safety across Europe. In Belgium, cities such as Antwerp, Ghent,…
inlogov.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
How do politics and administration work together when everything is urgent?
For practitioners, the message is clear: invest in relationships between political and administrative leaders before the next crisis hits.
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
For practitioners, the message is clear: invest in relationships between political and administrative leaders before the next crisis hits.
inlogov.com/2025/11/18/c...
Central government interventions should minimise the suspension of local democracy, do as little damage as possible to the public’s trust in their local council, and foster good local democratic political leadership.
inlogov.com/2025/11/04/i...
inlogov.com/2025/11/04/i...
Intervention 3.0: Designing a Responsive Model for Local Government Support in England
Jason Lowther / Paul Joyce / Philip Whiteman The arrival of the new UK government looks set to result in a new policy on central government’s intervention powers in local authorities, the third gen…
inlogov.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Central government interventions should minimise the suspension of local democracy, do as little damage as possible to the public’s trust in their local council, and foster good local democratic political leadership.
inlogov.com/2025/11/04/i...
inlogov.com/2025/11/04/i...
Hugely excited by the trailer and upcoming launch of "This is What Local Government looks like" by SOLACE. A timely reminder of the great work councils do and the contribution of everyone who works in the sector.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf79...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf79...
This is What Local Government Looks Like - Trailer
YouTube video by Tim Neal
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Hugely excited by the trailer and upcoming launch of "This is What Local Government looks like" by SOLACE. A timely reminder of the great work councils do and the contribution of everyone who works in the sector.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf79...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf79...
Public sector investment on prevention can for the first time be mapped and measured using an approach developed by CIPFA and supported by The Health Foundation. Inlogov's director was part of the Preventative Investment Reference Group for this work.
www.cipfa.org/-/media/File...
www.cipfa.org/-/media/File...
www.cipfa.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Public sector investment on prevention can for the first time be mapped and measured using an approach developed by CIPFA and supported by The Health Foundation. Inlogov's director was part of the Preventative Investment Reference Group for this work.
www.cipfa.org/-/media/File...
www.cipfa.org/-/media/File...
Inlogov's Director, Jason Lowther, joined Mo Baines (Chief Executive of APSE) and Rebecca Davis (Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers), to discuss Data, Devolution and the Future of Local Government on the new "The Pulse" podcast.
wmemployers.org.uk/the-pulse/po...
wmemployers.org.uk/the-pulse/po...
The Pulse - WMEmployers
tbc
wmemployers.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Inlogov's Director, Jason Lowther, joined Mo Baines (Chief Executive of APSE) and Rebecca Davis (Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers), to discuss Data, Devolution and the Future of Local Government on the new "The Pulse" podcast.
wmemployers.org.uk/the-pulse/po...
wmemployers.org.uk/the-pulse/po...
‘Place Funding: The Local Authority Challenge’ is a fast-paced simulation game that puts players in the role of councils to explore how decisions around place-based funding get made, and the trade-offs involved.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/place...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/place...
October 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
‘Place Funding: The Local Authority Challenge’ is a fast-paced simulation game that puts players in the role of councils to explore how decisions around place-based funding get made, and the trade-offs involved.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/place...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/place...
From Consultation to Co-Creation: How Birmingham Can Lead the Way in Participatory Governance
We are delighted to publish this new blog and report by Sonia Bussu and Susana Higueras.
inlogov.com/2025/10/17/f...
We are delighted to publish this new blog and report by Sonia Bussu and Susana Higueras.
inlogov.com/2025/10/17/f...
From Consultation to Co-Creation: How Birmingham Can Lead the Way in Participatory Governance
Susana Higueras and Sonia Bussu In a time of growing inequality, political disillusionment, and institutional strain, Birmingham is at a crossroads. The city’s bold initiative, Shaping Birmingham’s…
inlogov.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
From Consultation to Co-Creation: How Birmingham Can Lead the Way in Participatory Governance
We are delighted to publish this new blog and report by Sonia Bussu and Susana Higueras.
inlogov.com/2025/10/17/f...
We are delighted to publish this new blog and report by Sonia Bussu and Susana Higueras.
inlogov.com/2025/10/17/f...
If you’re a councillor – or you work in a role supporting councillors – come and join us in Andover on 4 November to hear more about our latest research. You’ll also hear from the LGC about their new campaign to support councillors.
Click here to register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/21st-centu...
Click here to register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/21st-centu...
21st Century Councillors
Join us at the Andover Community Church to dive into what it means to be a modern councillor in the 21st century.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 11:16 AM
If you’re a councillor – or you work in a role supporting councillors – come and join us in Andover on 4 November to hear more about our latest research. You’ll also hear from the LGC about their new campaign to support councillors.
Click here to register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/21st-centu...
Click here to register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/21st-centu...
Future central government intervention should minimise the suspension of local democracy, do as little damage as possible to the public’s trust in their local council, and foster good local democratic political leadership.
www.themj.co.uk/damage-democ...
www.themj.co.uk/damage-democ...
How not to damage democracy
The arrival of the new Government looks set to result in a new policy on central government's intervention powers in local authorities, the third generation of such...
www.themj.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Future central government intervention should minimise the suspension of local democracy, do as little damage as possible to the public’s trust in their local council, and foster good local democratic political leadership.
www.themj.co.uk/damage-democ...
www.themj.co.uk/damage-democ...
Our new article in The Conversation asks: Can Labour’s plan to fund deprived communities see off Reform? Abigail Taylor and Alice Pugh (City-REDI) with Jason Lowther (Inlogov).
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
Can Labour’s plan to fund deprived communities see off Reform? What the evidence shows
Many of the planned improvements are largely cosmetic.
theconversation.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Our new article in The Conversation asks: Can Labour’s plan to fund deprived communities see off Reform? Abigail Taylor and Alice Pugh (City-REDI) with Jason Lowther (Inlogov).
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
Thanks to the Municipal Journal for publishing my piece with Sonia Bussu examining how councillors can foster democratic innovations to bridge the gap between citizens and institutions.
www.themj.co.uk/renewing-dem...
www.themj.co.uk/renewing-dem...
Renewing democratic leadership
As local government in England undergoes significant restructuring, with fewer councils serving larger and more diverse populations, the role of councillors is under...
www.themj.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Thanks to the Municipal Journal for publishing my piece with Sonia Bussu examining how councillors can foster democratic innovations to bridge the gap between citizens and institutions.
www.themj.co.uk/renewing-dem...
www.themj.co.uk/renewing-dem...
We're excited to offer this new short course on leadership in place-based growth.
inlogov.com/2025/10/13/n...
inlogov.com/2025/10/13/n...
New course for public sector leaders on growing your place
Ian Bancroft Place Growth and Leadership is growing in importance for public bodies and public sector leaders, yet as a discipline with a set of core skills it is not well defined or supported thro…
inlogov.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
We're excited to offer this new short course on leadership in place-based growth.
inlogov.com/2025/10/13/n...
inlogov.com/2025/10/13/n...
Our piece in The Conversation today examines the government's new Pride in Place strategy. Youth engagement and citizen participation are positive aspects but the plan falls short in addressing economic disadvantages such as skills, employment and housing.
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
Can Labour’s plan to fund deprived communities see off Reform? What the evidence shows
Many of the planned improvements are largely cosmetic.
theconversation.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Our piece in The Conversation today examines the government's new Pride in Place strategy. Youth engagement and citizen participation are positive aspects but the plan falls short in addressing economic disadvantages such as skills, employment and housing.
theconversation.com/can-labours-...
theconversation.com/can-labours-...