Labour’s ‘Council of the Nations and Regions’ has only met twice since its creation after the 2024 general election. At the time, the government claimed it would be “a central driving forum that brings together governments and authorities… on a structured and sustained basis“. In reality this meant two perfunctory meetings in the first year, and then nothing. They last met in May 2025…
Co-conspirators with long memories might recall that Sue Gray was offered the nonsense title of ‘envoy to the nations and regions‘ after she was dumped as Starmer’s Chief of Staff. She rejected it and sulked off to the Lords instead. Labour never bothered to appoint a replacement.
UPDATE: A Tory source said: “We all knew Sue Gray’s job was a sham, and now we know the council she was meant to sit on is a sham too. Another waste of time and money courtesy of Labour.”
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”