The Localis Team

James Morris, CEO

James was educated at the University of Birmingham where he studied English Literature and then undertook postgraduate research at Oxford University. He also has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management where he won the Venture Capital Report prize for entrepreneurs. James has been a successful small businessman having established a number of software companies. He also has a strong track record as a policy maker and campaigner as the Director of the innovative campaign group Mind the Gap in 2003. He was appointed CEO of Localis in March 2008.

Roger Gough, Senior Advisor

After reading PPE at Magdalen College, Oxford, Roger worked as an international investment analyst for fifteen years. He lived in Japan from 1988 to 1991 and later specialised in the European banking industry. At the 1997 General Election he stood as Conservative candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood. He is currently an elected member of Kent County Council, and serves as Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Supporting Independence. His book, A Good Comrade: János Kádár, Communism and Hungary, was published by IB Tauris in September 2006. He has worked on a number of reports for both Localis and Policy Exchange.

Tom Shakespeare, Research Fellow

Tom joined Localis in June 2008, having graduated in both Mechanical Engineering (MEng) and Politics (Research track) (MA) at the University of Nottingham.

Headlines

08 Jul 2008

Localis at LGA Conference

Merrick Cockell, Chairman of London Councils delivers speech on 'The spread of innovation between local authorities' at a Localis fringe reception at the LGA Conference 2008. To read the speech in full, click here

James Morris gives evidence at Local Government Select Committee

James Morris gives evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee on the 'Relationship between Central and Local Government'. See here to watch the meeting in full.

The Million Vote Mandate: The Challenges facing Boris Johnson

The new Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was elected a month ago with the votes of over 1 million Londoners. This has given him a considerable popular mandate.

Now, a new report from leading think tanks Policy Exchange and Localis, the local government and localist think tank, looks at the big issues the new Mayor will face in his first term as set out by some of the foremost experts and commentators on London politics.

The opening chapter of the report, written by award winning Evening Standard journalist Andrew Gilligan, analyses the positives ...

Localis proposes a radical overhaul of the current system of regional governance

A new Localis Research Note entitled 'The Future of Regional Governance' suggests that the Government's case for Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) is based on little or no evidence, and that the current Sub-National Review (SNR) does not go far enough to devolve power to local authorities (LAs). The report proposes a dramatic overhaul of the current responsibilities of RDAs.

From rhetoric to reality

James Morris writes about the policy challenges ahead and the future work programme of Localis

Who is on the board of Localis?

James Morris is Chief Executive and the members of the board are Lord Hanningfield, Leader of Essex County Council; Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell Forest Borough Council; Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council ; Merrick Cockell, Leader of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; and, Anthony Browne, the Director of Policy Exchange.

See here for further details of the current members of the Localis board

Localis appoints a new Chief Executive

Localis, the leading independent think tank dedicated to the issues of localism and local government has appointed James Morris as its Chief Executive.

James Morris has a strong track record as a policy maker as the Director of the innovative campaign group Mind the Gap in 2003.James Morris said: ‘I am delighted to be joining Localis at such an exciting and crucial time for the debate around localism and the future of local government. Localis will continue to lead the debate by focusing on producing high quality research and policy ideas a...