Politics
Taking the tea
Diary appreciates it’s not been easy for councillors to get to grips with the new technology involved in holding meetings virtually.
LGA chairman steps down as leader of Central Beds
Local Government Association (LGA) chairman Cllr James Jamieson has announced he will step down as leader of Central Bedfordshire Council.
Spending Review: £2.9bn 'restart programme' to help unemployed
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a three-year £2.9bn ‘restart programme’ to help more than one million people unemployed for more than a year find work.
Early days for motion
It was a heartfelt message of thanks to local authorities that went out from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.
Devo is a 'stepping stone to localism', PM tells Scots Tories
Devolution should be a stepping stone to passing power down to local communities and businesses, Boris Johnson has told Scottish Conservatives.
Crisis-hit Croydon approves action plan
Croydon LBC has approved an action plan to put ‘strong financial management and governance right at the heart of the organisation’.
Council leader steps down amid bullying probe
A council leader at the centre of bullying allegations has resigned from the role, quit the Labour party and stepped down from the authority.
Government stop-gap on SEND deficits
Treasurers have welcomed a second government attempt to deal with spiralling special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits but have stressed it is ‘not sustainable’.
Sector braced for more Whitehall interventions
Local government is braced for further Whitehall interventions in the wake of ministers launching reviews of two councils within days of each other.
Croydon issues Section 114 notice
Crisis-hit Croydon LBC has issued a Section 114 notice after extra spending controls proved not to be enough.
Sunak's cash pledge to head off revolt
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged extra cash in a bid to head off a revolt by a new northern group of Conservative MPs.
'Wide-ranging' government care review 'very imminent'
Children’s minister Vicky Ford has promised that the long-awaited review into the care system is ‘very imminent’ and will be ‘wide ranging’.
Frustration and anger over national lockdown announcement
West Yorkshire council leaders have said they are ‘frustrated and angry’ about the Government’s timing, handling and communications around its plans for a national lockdown.
£63m hardship fund was not meant to pay for free school meals
The £63m ‘hardship fund’ ministers claim should be enough for councils to help hungry schoolkids was not designed to pay for free school meals.
Blue wall rebels call for economic kickstart
Northern Tory MPs led by the former Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry have urged their government to kickstart its promised ‘levelling up’ agenda with a Northern Economic Recovery Plan.
Councils step in after government rejects Rashford campaign
Councils around the country have quickly stepped in after the Government voted against providing free school meals to families who need them over half-term.
Burnham calls for national-local reset
Greater Manchester’s Labour mayor Andy Burnham has called for a ‘reset’ between national and local government after going to war with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
LGA board chair hits out at culture secretary
The chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) culture, tourism and sport board has claimed culture secretary Oliver Dowden ‘won’t engage with us at all’.
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked report warns sector less ready for Brexit transition
Local government is less ready for the end of the transition period than it was for a no-deal Brexit last October, a Whitehall document leaked to The MJ has warned.
Hillingdon leader to quit after 20 years
London’s longest serving council leader, Sir Ray Puddifoot, has announced his resignation date.
