Shifting the balance of power

We’re all aware that there’s a general election on 8 June. A great deal depends on it, not least the future of public services, the NHS, the wage packets and livelihood of UNISON members, and life in the UK after Brexit. But there are many other elections before June, all of which will have some impact on people’s lives. On 4 May voters will have their say in local government elections in England and Wales and council elections in Scotland. As well as those, the people of six English “city-regions” will have the chance to vote for a new figure on the political landscape – the metro mayors. So after Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, devolution is finally reaching the English regions. Introduced as part of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, the metro mayors will be at the head of new combined authorities – made up of representatives of the key local councils – which will exercise significant power over such areas as housing, transport and even health. The first tranche of metro mayors will be elected in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Tees Valley, West Midlands and West of England. And UNISON is working to ensure that public services are at the forefront of people’s minds during those elections. The union caught up with three Labour candidates on the campaign trail: MP Andy Burnham, local council leader Sue Jeffrey and MEP Siôn Simon. One theme in particular was common between th...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Magazine general election 2017 health and social care homecare homecare workers housing housing crisis living wage Living Wage Foundation local government NHS North West Northern West Midlands Source Type: news