The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that mandatory housebuilding targets for councils centralise policy and weaken local decision making. In its response to the Government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the LGA also warned that the new method of calculating targets could lead to speculative unplanned development without the sufficient […]

It comes as the average household energy bill is set to rise by £149 from October 1 after industry watchdog Ofgem increased its price cap Households across Britain are facing increasing energy costs this winter By Lawrence Matheson The chief of Ovo Energy has urged for a major overhaul to the UK’s energy bills system, suggesting they […]

Taken from an article by James Harrison 2 October 2024 at 1:55 pm While Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives might have been consigned to their worst election defeat in parliamentary history – sinking to just 121 seats – four in 10 Britons feel the party still has too much influence. According to pollsters YouGov, 69% of the […]

Sir Keir Starmer’s “weak” political antennae are making him more unpopular, Britain’s leading polling guru has said. Prof Sir John Curtice compared the Prime Minister with Rishi Sunak on the strength of his first three months in Downing Street. In an interview with Times Radio, Sir John noted that Sir Keir was “never a popular politician” and […]

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has unveiled his new 33-member frontbench team, as he promised to focus on issues including the NHS, social care and the cost-of-living crisis. It comes after the number of Lib Dem MPs grew to a record 72 at July’s general election, making them the third largest party in the […]

Here are the final motions of this Conference which were passed this morning: F38: Emergency Motion – Implementing the Recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 ReportIn the seven years since the Grenfell Tower Fire, the Grenfell community have repeatedly called for justice, while the conclusion of the investigations into the tragedy have been […]

The problem with the winter fuel payment is that everyone born before 23 September 1958 is entitled to it. It is a universal benefit. You can be super rich and still have it paid to you. I don’t think that is fair, do you? Having said that, the way that the new Labour Government has […]

Mattie Brignal State pension payments will leave retirees over £5,000 short of meeting their basic needs – even after an expected pay rise in April, analysis shows. A single pensioner living alone would need an income of £17,200 a year to achieve a “minimum” standard of living, according to a study by the Joseph Rowntree […]

I attended part of the Planning Committee at Walsall Council on Thursday night to see it in action debating the proposal for a giant battery site in the field adjacent the Duckery in Chapel Lane. Thankfully, everyone who spoke supported the officers’ recommendations to oppose this application. I often ride my bike near this pleasant […]

Sir Keir Starmer has warned that his government needs to make some “tough” choices” in the weeks and months ahead, as he asked the public to “accept short-term pain for long-term good”. In a major speech delivered from the Rose Garden of No 10, the prime minister sought to blame what he presented as an economic […]