The Star Chamber Podcast

In this special episode, Michael and Marcus are joined by Iain Murray, CIPFA’s Director of Public Financial Management, recorded just post a busy few days at Public Finance Live 2026.
Together, they reflect on the key themes emerging from this year’s conference, from the challenges facing local government finance to the opportunities presented by a rapidly changing profession. They discuss Matthew Syed’s thought-provoking keynote on growth mindset, the increasing importance of leadership and adaptability, and how the role of the Section 151 Officer is evolving beyond financial stewardship into a broader strategic leadership position.

In this episode, Marcus and Michael continue their focus on issues and trends impacting the local government sector, including rising local government debt levels, the Government’s plans for Mayoral Development Zones, and what the Makerfield by-election may signal for the UK’s changing political landscape.
They then turn their attention to one of the defining reforms of modern local government: devolution. The discussion explores how powers are shifting away from Whitehall, what successful devolution looks like in practice, and the opportunities, and challenges, it presents for places across England.
In true Star Chamber fashion, the episode concludes with an historical detour into the origins of the modern welfare state. Marcus and Michael revisit the Beveridge Report, the famous Five Giants, and the ideas that continue to shape public services more than eighty years later.

In this episode, Marcus and Michael are joined by Stuart Rimmer and Alison Young from Thames Freeport for a wide-ranging discussion on one of the UK’s most significant economic growth initiatives.
The conversation explores the role of Freeports in driving investment, trade, innovation and regeneration, and examines how Thames Freeport is seeking to create long-term economic value across one of the country’s most important industrial and logistics corridors.
Alongside a deep dive into the Freeports agenda, the episode also reflects on the aftermath of the recent local elections, considering what the results may mean for local government leadership, devolution, economic growth and place-based investment.
The episode concludes with an idiosyncratic journey into the history of the Cinque Ports, exploring what a medieval network of coastal towns can still teach us about trade, governance and economic power today.

In this special episode, Michael and I are joined by Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF, for a discussion recorded live at the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum in Leeds.
Together, we explore how UKREiiF has evolved into one of the key gathering points for conversations around investment, regeneration, infrastructure and place leadership, and what this says about the changing priorities of local government and the wider market.
The discussion covers:
The dominant themes emerging from UKREiiF 2026
Investor appetite versus delivery reality
The growing importance of infrastructure, energy and digital capacity
The emerging focus on AI, data centres and digitally-enabled places
The increasing prominence of social infrastructure, including housing, health and stadium-led regeneration
A look ahead at what themes may shape UKREiiF 2027

The episode also explores what makes places genuinely investible in today’s market, from political leadership and governance, to certainty, delivery capability and long-term vision.
We’re grateful to Nathan for taking the time to join us during what is undoubtedly one of the busiest weeks in the sector calendar. We’re already looking forward to next year’s gathering.

This week, Marcus and Michael are joined by special guest Paul Harrison, former adviser to the Prime Minister and now of Lexington Communications, for a deep dive into the 2026 local election results and what they really mean for local government.
Drawing on his experience operating at the heart of Government in Number 10, Paul explores:
• The changing political landscape across English councils
• What the results may signal for devolution, LGR and local leadership
• The relationship between central and local government, and the potential implications of looming by-elections
Alongside the elections discussion, the episode also covers:
• The NAO’s new productivity-focused work
• The House of Lords review into devolution
• And, in true Star Chamber fashion, an idiosyncratic journey into the surprising links between council tax… and the bubonic plague
A wide-ranging conversation on politics, policy and the future direction of local government.