Labour Conference
Giving power away: Labour needs to turn rhetoric into reality
Labour needs to articulate a more concrete vision for how they would go further and faster on devolution – particularly on how local government will feed into the wider mission framework for government, says Ross Mudie.
Labour to 'put communities in control’
A raft of new mayors, combined authorities and devolved powers will be on offer should Labour win the General Election, the party’s conference heard this week.
Labour to tackle 'antiquated planning system'
Labour has pledged to overhaul the planning system in a bid to ease the progress of infrastructure projects.
Nandy pledges to boost council housing
Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy this week vowed to end the political ‘vandalism’ of UK social housing stock.
Mayors key to rebuilding red wall
Labour will look to local government to spearhead its attempts to return to power at Westminster.
Labour under pressure to commit to voting reform
The party is set to debate adopting Proportional Representation (PR) for General Elections at its annual conference.
Starmer vows to tackle the 'decade of drift' on sorting social care
Government failure to protect care homes during the pandemic is a ‘national scandal’, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told his party’s virtual conference today.
White Van Man on... the 1970s
I’m all in favour of Labour’s policies. Personally, I don’t see what’s wrong with the 1970s.
Labour vows to make adult's social care free
Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has announced he will fund ‘personal care free at the point of use’ across England if the party wins the next general election.
Party conferences – big on ideas, small on detail
Party conferences can be odd affairs for local government, says Heather Jameson
Questions over cost of Labour's local government promises
Senior Labour figures delivered a raft of local government-related policy announcements at their annual conference this week – but questions remain over how to fund fresh promises.
Labour would rewrite the Treasury rules
A Labour government would end ‘Treasury bias against investing in the regions’ by ripping-up the Green Book which determines how public money is spent, the shadow chancellor has said.
Leaders accuse Government of destroying 'social contract'
Senior Labour local government figures will launch a Councils Against Austerity campaign next week’s party conference.
Councils must show how local change can offer solutions that Whitehall cannot
As party conferences conclude for another year, Ben Page surveys the political opinions of the nation and explains what it all means for local government.
McDonnell: Labour to end PFI
Labour has promised to end the use of public finance initiative (PFI) contracts and bring existing contracts back in-house.
A house built on rock
Housing took centre stage at the Labour Party Conference, forming a key part of major speeches. Thomas Bridge examines a new report on innovative solutions being delivered by councils and where both Labour and the Conservatives are directing policy
Labour's missed opportunity
Labour has missed a huge chance to reclaim the devolution agenda from the Government, says Alexandra Jones
Corbyn: Scrap borrowing cap to build social housing
Jeremy Corbyn has placed social housing at the heart of his plans to establish a brand of ‘municipal socialism for the 21st century’.
The difficult task for Philip Hammond
It's unlikely austerity will rear its head again at next week's Conservative Party Conference but Philip Hammond will need something else up his sleeve, says Michael Burton
Whitehall's 'frustrating silence' raises devolution concerns
Senior local government figures have blasted Whitehall’s ‘frustrating silence’ over devolution as pressure mounts on prime minister Theresa May to deliver ‘grown up’ deals.