Politics
Parties draw battlelines for local elections
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has given a speech in Dudley today following campaign launches by the Conservatives and Lib Dems.
Ready for a bright new dawn?
Rachel Reeves’ Mais lecture represented a clear shift away from New Labour towards an active state, a muscular industrial strategy and ambitious regional policy, say Mike Emmerich and Ben Lucas.
'Grave concerns' over phone switchover
UK mayors have expressed ‘grave concerns’ about the impact on vulnerable people of the planned phase out of the analogue phone system.
Call for reintroduction of housing targets
A cross-party coalition representing 27 mid-sized regional British cities has called for the next Government to reintroduce local housebuilding targets.
Former Cabinet minister laments lack of planning reform
A former housing secretary has said the Conservatives’ lack of action on planning to speed up housebuilding may cost the party in the General Election.
Councillors back Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal
Proposals for a mayoral devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire have been approved by the three upper-tier councils.
Leader bullied two senior officers, report finds
A council leader’s behaviour towards two senior officers amounted to bullying, a report into a code of conduct complaint has found.
Four-day week council decision 'disappointing and arrogant'
South Cambridgeshire DC’s decision to continue with its four-day week is ‘disappointing and arrogant,’ local government minister Simon Hoare has said.
Judgment day
Kent and Home Office face growing pressure over asylum-seeking children.
Limited exemptions for empty homes powers
Councils will face only a limited number of exemptions from new powers allowing them to levy higher taxes on empty homes, ministers have confirmed.
Experts in fresh push for fiscal devolution
An independent group of experts is preparing to pile pressure on ministers to back fiscal devolution, The MJ understands.
Right to Buy lobbying fails as Treasury ends temporary boost
The Treasury has confirmed councils will no longer keep 100% of Right to Buy (RTB) receipts after the current financial year despite lobbying by the sector.
A new era of cross party working and grown-up politics in Broadland
One year into a new political leadership era at Broadland DC the story is one of no egos, no gatekeeping and no partisan point scoring, says Natasha Harpley.
Two-year Sandwell intervention to end
Local government minister Simon Hoare has today confirmed that Whitehall’s two-year intervention at Sandwell Council will end.
Budget: Trailblazer devo deal for North East
The North East has secured a trailblazer devolution deal that could provide a package of new funding potentially worth more than £100m, chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced in his Budget.
Coventry pushes ahead with 'fire and rehire' plan
Coventry City Council has begun a staff consultation over controversial ‘fire and rehire’ proposals.
Lending rates could spike after audit reset, LGA warns
Proposals to reset the local audit system and clear the backlog of accounts could drive up the lending rates offered to the sector, councils have warned.
Rayner to go ‘further and faster’ on devolution
Shadow local government secretary Angela Rayner has promised to go ‘further and faster’ on devolution if elected to Government.
Government 'recognises' increased temporary accommodation demand
The Government has said it recognises the challenges local authorities face in responding to the increased demand for temporary housing.
Corridors of power
The chancellor’s Budget Speech this year has been written using AI which was asked to ‘write a Budget speech as optimistic as you can possibly make it’.