Simon Jeffrey
Centre for Cities
Contact Simon
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Simon:
Getting moving
There is a strong case for new transport infrastructure investment in some cities and large towns. But this only applies to a handful of places where the current transport system is struggling to... → Read More
What Lord Heseltine’s latest report tells us about his vision for city devolution
Metro mayors are now established in many English cities, but Lord Heseltine argues they’re still waiting for many of the tools needed to do their job. → Read More
Has the Northern Powerhouse been a success?
Despite its limitations, five years on the Northern Powerhouse still resonates with policymakers – long may it continue → Read More
Where next for the North of Tyne? Assessing the new Mayor’s manifesto
North of Tyne's new Mayor should focus on boosting the city-region's economy. → Read More
Three policy priorities for the North of Tyne metro mayor
This briefing sets out what the incoming North of Tyne metro mayor needs to prioritise in order to bring about tangible improvements to the region → Read More
What lies beneath?
A small real terms increase in ‘core spending power’ for local government won’t end the squeeze on council budgets for things such as libraries, parks and economic development. → Read More
To improve digital connections, cities should invest in people – not full fibre
Cities need to address the skills gaps which prevent many people making the most of existing connections → Read More
London’s Burnham: 3 reflections on the Mayor of Greater Manchester speech
Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham urged a government occupied by Brexit to give more power over to cities - but cities must be responsive too. → Read More
Big questions remain unanswered in Government’s LEPs review
The review does not fully address issues around LEP public accountability and spending in non-mayoral areas → Read More
Why we should talk more about buses and less about trains
This blog explores how the national obsession with complaining about train fares means that the importance of buses to cities is overlooked. → Read More
Three policy priorities for Sheffield City Region
This briefing highlights what the new Sheffield city region metro mayor should prioritise → Read More
3 reforms needed to tackle the crisis in local government finance
Without fundamental reform of local government finance, more cities will face a funding crisis in the coming years → Read More
Funding and financing inclusive growth in cities
How cities can unlock more investment for inclusive growth policies → Read More
Metro mayors can play a big role in expanding the evidence base of UK policy making
Robust evaluation will be critical in assessing which mayoral policies work, and ensuring other cities can benefit → Read More
5 reflections from our international metro mayors’ summit
The key themes and issues from our summit with UK and US metro mayors → Read More
Improving the Local Growth Fund to tackle the UK’s productivity problem
How the Government can reform the Local Growth Fund to better support places to grow their economies → Read More
Six months of Andy Burnham: the outlook in Greater Manchester
Andy Burnham has been prominent in representing Greater Manchester on the national stage, and has already driven change on a wide range of issues in the city region → Read More
Six months of Ben Houchen: the outlook in Tees Valley
The mayor has already raised the political profile of Tees Valley, but should take steps to improve public transport and develop Middlesbrough’s city centre → Read More
Six months of James Palmer: the outlook in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
The mayor oversees a difficult political geography, but is making headway in tackling the city region’s housing and transport needs → Read More
Why the impact of Brexit on UK cities could be a re – run of the 2008 recession
Cities in the South East will be hit hardest by Brexit – but are better placed to adapt → Read More