摘要: |
A DEPT president Mark Kemp (see Big Interview pages 14-15) launched the conference by observing that since starting his year in the top role he was already on his third prime minister, his fourth chancellor, his third transport secretary and his fourth secretary of state for levelling up - 'and that department was only created in September last year.' Referring to the event's strapline - Place Leadership in a Perfect Storm - he told delegates: 'When we were throwing ideas around back in the early spring, we thought what a perfect title that would be, with the post-Covid recovery, climate change, and what was then an emerging financial and political challenge. War in Ukraine had just begun; reports from the IPCC on climate change made for gloomy reading. But it was starting to feel like there could be a return to a more normal way of life. |