Sarah Longlands

'Dr @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, chief executive of Manchester-based think tank CLES, describes the fund as 'fiscally creative'. She says the Labour mayor is 'making the right noises' when it comes to building community wealth and procurement that supports the local supply chain' ⤵️

Really proud that we are publishing this new work today as part of Reclaiming Our Regional Economies.

Making extraction visible - it matters because this is about using public resources effectively in the public interest

Idea for BBC R4: quality BBC journos, serious investigative reports, interviewers on top of subjects, balanced coverage of parties. No breathless reporting of Reform, journos as ‘experts’, book pluggers, pop song lyrics, football banter. Could be broadcast 06:00-09:00.

A new era? While for many working in policy, the forthcoming Budget is a key milestone in the political cycle, for most people it happens to them and then they are told how...

"Can the Budget be a line in the sand where the Gov unleashes a new era of political empathy with difficulties such as paying the bills, having secure, well-paid work, somewhere to live, accessing services & getting care for loved ones?"

✒️ @sarahlonglands.bsky.social writes: www.themj.co.uk/new-era

Great to be at the #decarbonisingdublin summit organised by @codemadublin.bsky.social and listening to the fabulous @donnagartland.bsky.social introducing the day

Promotional graphic for Carnegie UK's webinar. How is life in the UK in 2025? Join us on Tuesday 28th October, 10-11am, as we explore the latest findings from our Life in the UK index. Hear from Susan Pinkney as she shares key findings from this year’s report, with reflections from Grace Blakeley.

How is life in the UK in 2025?

Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am, for our Life in the UK 2025 webinar.

Hear our key findings from Susan Pinkney with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com.

Find out more and book your place: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...

We are proud to announce that our Chief Executive, Dr @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 👏

www.gov.uk/government/n...

FIVE BOLD TAX MOVES THE CHANCELLOR COULD MAKE IN TO PLUG THE GAP IN THE AUTUMN BUDGET ⬇️

Fixing Britain’s Failed State - Insights North East Details Date: October 15 Time: 05:00 pm - 07:00 pm Click to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fixing-britains-failed-state-tickets-1674869984209 Organizer Insights North East Website: https://www...

Second, we are discussing @samfr.bsky.social’s hugely popular book with Sam and a great panel: Martin Brookes (VONNE), Adrian Dougherty (NECA), @sarahlonglands.bsky.social (CLES), Sajda NawazBhatti (Newcastle City Council), Jo Fox ( @newcastleuni.bsky.social)

insightsnortheast.co.uk/event/fixing...

For #IEDConf2025, we welcome back @sarahlonglands.bsky.social, Chief Executive @clesthinkdo.bsky.social.

Sarah will be joining our Question Time panel, sponsored by The Growth Company.

Ticket sales are strong, so grab yours whilst they are still available sasevents.eventsair.com/ied-conferen...!

Looking beyond growth I was reminded this week of Michael Heseltine's 2012 report, No stone unturned: in pursuit of growth, which featured a cartoon of the man himself hunting for growth...

"While the official measurement of growth is GDP or GVA, speak to councillors...& they will talk about jobs, security, housing & special educational needs support"

@sarahlonglands.bsky.social writes about why we must look beyond growth in her latest column ⤵️

www.themj.co.uk/looking-grow...

From Whitehall to Townhall: What the English Devolution Bill Needs - Compass The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill provides a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver the radical change to local government needed […]

🗣️ Today, MPs will debate the English Devo Bill. There's a notable omission: fiscal devo.

💬 In a new essay for @compassoffice.bsky.social, @sarahlonglands.bsky.social explains the fiscal devo debate, & argues for Prescott’s vision for a federalist nation.

🔗 www.compassonline.org.uk/publications...

🪴 We’re pleased to welcome @sarahlonglands.bsky.social
from the @clesthinkdo.bsky.social as one of our #DecarbonisingDublin Summit 2025 speakers!
Innovation for achieving a low-carbon Dublin is one of our main discussions. Get your early-bird ticket: bit.ly/4mBUoKY

'If we want to keep the spirit of Oasis alive in Manchester and help an Oasis of the future thrive, we've got to make sure people can come through the system'

@sarahlonglands.bsky.social of @clesthinkdo.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast

Listen here: podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda: Don't Look Back In Anger: Reform UK cancels Durham's climate emergency With Oasis' Manchester gigs the talk of the town, even senior politicians like Commons Leader Lucy Powell can't resist making groan-inducing puns about the Gallagher brothers' classic songs.But wit...

This week on the Northern Agenda podcast, @liamthorp.bsky.social and I are joined by the brilliant @sarahlonglands.bsky.social to talk

- How do we spread the benefits of the Oasis gigs?

- What's really going on with Reform UK revoking the climate emergency in Durham?

podfollow.com/the-northern...

Great news and something we’ve been calling for at @clesthinkdo.bsky.social for many years

To all who think capitalism can drive progressive change, it won’t – and here’s the shocking proof | Polly Toynbee Asset manager Aberdeen’s surprise cut to funding research into inequality has left those that used its grants for good work reeling, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee

Really shocking behaviour on so many levels - poor leadership snd management. @financialfairness.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

How Reform’s anti-asylum message won over Durham’s former mining communities [FREE TO READ] Populist party is already taking credit for a Home Office contractor’s pause in asylum placements

A second free push for this. I’m slightly surprised that the doge thing is the only element of the Reform local govt agenda that seems to have captured the national chat in any way. From where I’m sitting, this is the bit of their agenda, and their politics, to watch before that

on.ft.com/44qrdlT

My view for the afternoon - what a wonderful place to work @hawkwoodcft.bsky.social

🏴 This week at #RoyalHighlandShow: @sarahlonglands.bsky.social joins @scottishlandcom.bsky.social's panel on Scotland’s rural land market (Fri 20 June, from 3pm).

She’ll share CLES insights on public value + natural capital ⬇️
cles.org.uk/publications...

#LandReform #CLES

"This investment won't change lives if it just helps the biggest firms hoover up the proceeds." @sarahlonglands.bsky.social on the CSR.

💷 Invest in local economies
🧓 Fund social care properly
🏙️ Stop backing agglomeration over inclusion

🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-...

The Comprehensive Spending Review. | Sarah Longlands The Comprehensive Spending Review. So how comprehensive was it? Is it a basis to grow community wealth A few thoughts from me:   📌 Great to have a spending review which shows that this Government is...

How comprehensive? How to spend the money? Some thoughts from me on the #CSR

www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-...

Britain’s food security is at risk – it’s time to back local producers with public money The UK’s food system is under pressure.

🌾 “Britain’s food security is at risk – and local farming holds the key.” Public sector food procurement is a powerful lever for change. It supports local farmers, builds resilience & boosts fairer economies.

A must-read from Julian Boys 👇
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...

A great blog here from @naomimason.bsky.social for @reformscotland.bsky.social covering the nuts and bolts of community wealth building and the size of the prize for the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill.

"With every crisis comes a moment of reflection – a “how did we get here?” Overton window that must be seized before it is too late."

@sarahlonglands.bsky.social's latest MJ article argues that local gov reorganisation offers an opportunity to let the people in.

🔗 cles.org.uk/blog/let-the...

Key question for @itvnews.bsky.social when examining the failure of care companies like Lifeways is its ownership structure.

#itvnews Lifeways are owned by OMERS private equity. So are they interested in delivering care or growing returns for pensions?

In whose interest?

Wondering what impact the US Tariffs might have in UK regions? 👇

Process gets in the way of doing the right thing.

Great closing plenary at #thisisthenorth @peoplespowerhouse.bsky.social

Great to be in Liverpool for #thisisthenorth and we are dancing! @peoplespowerhouse.bsky.social

📢 Scotland’s Community Wealth Building Bill is here!

A world-first piece of legislation set to reshape how wealth is generated & retained in communities. What does it mean & what’s next?

🔗 Read more in @naomimason.bsky.social's latest blog: cles.org.uk/blog/scottis...