Blogs
Here you’ll find a range contributors seeking to widen the debate on local government issues, while others will be taking a sideways look at things and hopefully make you laugh.
If you write a blog and would like to contribute to the site, please e-mail the LocalGov publisher.
Latest Post
Other Bloggers
Localgov.co.uk Editor's Blog
Matt Hobley has been the content manager and publisher of localgov.co.uk since October 2006. He initially worked on local newspapers and later focussed on local government issues, working on a number of professional magazines. His blog aims to keep users up to date with developments on the site while commenting more widely on local government issues.
Barbara's Blog
Barbara Stocklington is the Chief Executive of Bradley MBC. A former CX of Garchester County Council, she left to work in a number of interim roles. Her specialist area was in turning around failing authorities. Barbara began her local government career as a policy officer before going on to be head of policy. Her publications include “Sniffling helps no-one: solutions-based thinking in public service transformation” (2005) and “Tell the messenger we’re not ready for him yet (but load the gun anyway) – managing blame in a changing world” (2008). Barbara has a reputation for telling it like it is.
Michael Burton's MJ Blog
Michael Burton has been commenting on UK local government for more than 20 years and is editor of the leading news magazine for local government, The MJ (Municipal Journal). He is a regular speaker and chairman at conferences and public events as well as on radio and TV and has interviewed every single Cabinet minister responsible for local government since 1989. He has also been an external examiner in public administration for Cardiff University’s renowned journalism school. He trained as a journalist on local papers before specialising in local government.
The Local Democracy Blog
News and comment on policy and politics from a local government and local democracy viewpoint from Andy Sawford and the team at LGiU, the local democracy think-tank
Paul O'Brien
Paul O’Brien has been the Chief Executive of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) for the past eight years. Based in Manchester the organisation has 250 local authorities in membership from throughout the U.K. He has more than 24 years experience in local government and prior to his appointment with APSE, Paul worked with South Lanarkshire Council in the areas of CCT and Best Value.
Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary
Lynne Featherstone was born and brought up in North London and has lived in the Hornsey & Wood Green constituency for over 30 years. She served on the London Assembly 2000-5, before stepping down after being elected as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green. During her time on the GLA, she chaired the transport committee and served on the Metropolitan Police Authority. She also served as number two in the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs team in Parliament and as the party's London spokesperson. She is a keen blogger and regularly updates her on-line diary covering a range of Parliamentary and local issues.
The World According To Horace
Council officer Horace Jones is bored. He’s got reports to write for committee and has the strategic corporate group director of administrative administrations (universal services) on his back. His council does allow him access to the Internet, though, and he’ll try to bring you the best of Web through his blog… sometimes with a local government angle.
On the Road with White Van Man
When he’s not cutting up cyclists, shouting at pedestrians and jumping red lights while jabbering into the mobile phone headset clamped to his ear, White Van Man has plenty of views on all things local government. Gracing the back page of esteemed local government weekly The MJ for a number of years, he couldn’t wait to vent his ire on the World Wide Web. Be warned, though, we can’t promise you’ll enjoy the ride.
The Great Emancipator
The Great Emancipator is written by is Mick Phythian, a research student at De Montfort University in Leicester on Electronic Government and IT Manager at Ryedale District Council in North Yorkshire.The blog is intended as a discussion point around various topics in the realm of electronic or transformational government, particularly the use of metrics.
