The Presiding Officers’ sundries have been packed away. New MPs have been photographed; new councillors have declared that they will fulfil their duties duly and faithfully. The Conservatives hold a narrow but workable Parliamentary majority.
What does this mean for local government?
The short answer is 'more of the same'. Eric Pickles has moved on, to become an anti-corruption tsar, so there should be less hobbyhorsing. But Greg Clark has a solid CV, majoring in city deals and community rights, most of his team have been councillors and there are few surprises in the Conservative manifesto.
