Politics
£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.
Exit cap signed into law
The £95,000 cap on public sector exit payments was signed into law last night and will come into force on November 4.
Tax increases more likely than austerity, says Flanders
A top economist has predicted that tax increases are more likely than another bout of austerity.
Labour would adopt 'local by default' approach
A Labour government would strike a ‘new settlement between citizens and the state’ and adopt a ‘local by default’ approach, shadow communities secretary Steve Reed has pledged.
The enemy of my enemy...
Politics makes for strange bedfellows.
Jenrick dashes county reorganisation hopes
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has torpedoed plans for widespread reorganisation beyond the three areas he has invited to submit unitary proposals.
Planning reforms face wrath of Tory MPs
Former Prime Minister Theresa May was among the Conservative backbenchers queuing to criticise the Government’s proposed planning reforms.
EXCLUSIVE: Minister moves to head off political rows
The Government has moved to increase the influence of local political opinions in advance of it changing coronavirus restrictions after heavy criticism from councils.
Operation Sheridan four released under investigation
Four sector figures arrested three years ago have been released under investigation following a review.
Report calls for government to help stretched local decision-makers
Ministers must act to ease the worries of stretched local decision-makers amid rising concerns about their role, a cross-government report has urged.
Rough sleeping advisory panel sidelined
A government-backed advisory panel formed to help eradicate rough sleeping has met just once in the last year, it has emerged.
Javid calls for 'fresh look at local government'
Former communities secretary Sajid Javid has called for a ‘fresh look at local government’.
Casey hits out at COVID 'incompetence'
Former government housing adviser Dame Louise Casey has hit out at the ‘incompetence’ of how the COVID crisis has been managed.
EXCLUSIVE: Nine regional chiefs deliver Whitehall ultimatum
An ultimatum has been delivered by the nine regional chief executives working closely with the Government on the sector’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, The MJ has learnt.
