Prof Martin Hewitt in BBC Radio 4 'Power to the People' programme
Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:58:00 GMT
In a programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 broadcast today and introduced by Michael Robinson on the current proposals to bring devolution to England’s cities and regions, Prof Martin Hewitt provides a background of Victorian Manchester and the economic prosperity it enjoyed in an era in which self-reliance was paramount.
“Manchester in the 19th Century raised the money it needed and spent the money it raised. And did so without any government support.”
The programme continues with a history of the development of post-1945 of local government, including a brief outline of the 1980s battles between the Conservative government and the opposing councils then running the major cities. Michael Robinson interviews modern day civic leaders who give their views on the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s new system which comes into full force in 2020.
You can listen to the full programme on the BBC web pages or read Michael Robinson’s article.
