Northern Ireland
Councils and union clash over zero-hour contracts
Councils have insisted on keeping the option of zero-hour contracts as Unison prepares to push the sector’s associations to back a campaign to abolish them.
Voter ID confidence drops
The proportion of people who think voter ID helps to prevent electoral fraud has dropped from 52% in 2016 to 35% in 2019, new research has found.
Redistribution call after imbalance findings
A think-tank has called for a redistribution of public investment from London to England’s poorer regions after latest figures showed a huge imbalance between levels of tax and public spending.
Call for councils to fill Northern Ireland 'democratic deficit'
The Government has rebuffed a call by councils in Northern Ireland for more devolved powers.
NILGA: Give councils the power to change Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called for the role of councils to be formally reviewed and strengthened after the elections in May, giving greater decision making powers to local people and places.
Northern Irish councils in fresh calls amid Stormont deadlock
Northern Ireland’s councils today said they need to be equipped to deliver more as the country marks two years since devolved government met at Stormont.
Voter ID pilots face legal challenge
A formal legal challenge to the Government’s voter ID trials has been lodged at the High Court by lawyers representing campaigner Neil Coughlan.
Three NI councils agree to work towards a Growth Deal
Three councils in Northern Ireland have confirmed their intent to work towards a deal to boost economic growth.
Bradley praises council efforts in 'challenging landscape'
Northern Ireland’s secretary of state today emphasised her commitment to restoring devolution and praised the effort made by local government in drawing up City Deals.
Burns leaves Scotland for Northern Ireland
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has appointed a new chief executive.
Southern England propping up rest of UK - ONS
Southern England continues to subsidise the rest of the UK by raising more in taxes than it spends on public services, according to latest analysis from the Office for National Statistics.
Northern Irish councils' devolution call
The time is now right to extend the responsibilities of local government in Northern Ireland through greater devolution from Stormont, a new report said today.
Manzie made a Dame
The former interim chief executive of Birmingham City Council, Stella Manzie, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to local government.
Councils in attempt to end impasse
Northern Irish councillors have met members of stalled Stormont assembly for the first time in well over a year.
Chiefs reject 'disappointing' pay deal
The trade union for council chief executives has rejected the ‘very disappointing’ pay offer to their members.
Government urges councils to share asylum burden
The Government has urged councils to share the burden of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) despite offering no clarity of funding in return.
Northern Ireland devo claims
Further devolution to Northern Irish councils is dependent on the restoration of a devolved government, a Cabinet minister has suggested.
NILGA chief seeking ‘real’ powers amid UK’s EU exit
The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) has called on the Government to give councils ‘real’ powers and resources post-Brexit.
A chance for us to rebuild
The region’s cities look to be at the forefront of Northern Ireland’s future following the recent DUP/Tory agreement, as Mark Morrin explains.
DUP cash would transform Greater Manchester’s transport
Infrastructure funding of the scale afforded to Northern Ireland would revitalise the English regions, the chair of a major local government pension fund has argued.