John Denham

John Denham

John Denham is a founder and director of the Southern Policy Centre. John’s projects have included work on regional strategy, devolution, widening participation, poverty in southern England and youth issues. John Denham was the MP for Southampton Itchen from 1992 until he stood down at the 2015 election. He held a variety of ministerial and Cabinet posts in the last Labour Government and also chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee. In addition to his SPC role, he is a Professorial Fellow at Southampton University where he is Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics. Prior to entering parliament, John worked in the voluntary sector and was a Hampshire and Southampton councillor.

Mayors are not for everywhere

July 20, 2022
John Denham
All, Blog, Devolution, Devolution: strategy for the central South, News, Publications

Mayors are not for everywhere Andy Burnham’s outrage when he appeared to learn by text that Greater Manchester wouldn’t receive the same Covid-19 support as London gave England’s directly elected mayors a new profile. Burnham is better known for being mayor of Greater Manchester than he ever was as a Labour Cabinet minister. Steve Rotherham in Liverpool, Andy Street in the West Midlands, Ben Houchen in Tees Valley, Tracey Brabin in West Yorkshire and others have carved out distinct profiles.…

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Levelling Up White Paper: a response from the central South

May 9, 2022
John Denham
All, Blog, Devolution, Devolution: strategy for the central South, News, Publications

Levelling Up White Paper: a response from the central South In mid-March, the Southern Policy Centre held a webinar to discuss the Government’s Levelling Up and Devolution White Paper [1]with speakers from local councils, business and national think tanks. Here SPC Director John Denham reflects on some of the challenges facing our local authorities as they respond to the White Paper. Public debate about local devolution and levelling up has inevitably been a bit muted for the past few weeks…

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Hancock’s health reforms - lessons from history

February 15, 2021
John Denham
Blog, Health and Social Care, News

Hancock’s Health Reforms - lessons from history When Matt Hancock announced that Integrated Care Systems would see ‘the NHS and local councils take decisions about local health together’ it rang a bell. A quick internet search and there it was, in the NHS Plan 2000: ‘For the first time, social services and the NHS will come together with new agreements to pool resources.’ According to the current Health Secretary’s White Paper ‘integrating care has meant more people are seeing the benefits of…

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Making the most of devolution

August 7, 2020
John Denham
Blog

Making the most of devolution The Southern Policy Centre’s seminar ‘What does the central South want from devolution?’ drew in regional leaders from local government, business, and further and higher education. The presentation is available here. With a number of related media stories and government announcements since the seminar, it’s worth looking at how any government plans might help us tackle the wider challenges facing the region and its leaders. As the seminar made clear, formal devolution – usually badged…

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Realising the Economic Potential of the Wider South East

November 18, 2019
John Denham
All, Blog

Southern Policy Centre’s director, John Denham spoke in a seminar on October 25th 2019 about exploring the economic potential of the the wider South East. The event was organised and run by the London & Wider South East strategic planning network and Arup. It as supported by the Southern Policy Centre, Centre for London, and Design South East. Read the key messages below:

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