London Labour councils are punishing the poor
The high Council Tax taper in Lambeth, Brent, Harrow, and Waltham Forest means less incentive to come off benefits and into work.
Council by-election result from yesterday
The Conservatives held a seat in the Isle of Wight. This was the only contest taking place this week.
The decision not to challenge the release of Worboys further erodes Tory credentials on law and order
Gauke should have fought and lost rather than not have fought at all. But the wider concern is that the “system” is on the side of the criminal rather than the victim.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives gained a seat from Labour in Bolton and held a seat in Milton Keynes. The Lib Dems held a seat in Rochford and an independent won in Bournemouth.
Effective scrutiny in local government means breaking the power of patronage
It is not merely money that is wasted. It is spending which diminishes the amount of scrutiny that might otherwise occur.
Welsh Council Taxpayers face even higher bills
In Pembrokeshire there may be an increase of 12.5 per cent – breaking the Welsh Government’s “informal” five per cent cap.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives held county council seats in Kent and Lancashire and district council seats in Thanet and Wyre,
Councils should challenge the NHS to sell more surplus land for homes
There is enough land for over half a million homes on derelict sites – while the health service regularly complains of a shortage of funds.
Council by-election result from yesterday
The Conservatives lost a seat to Labour in Hertsmere.
Greater use of the private and charitable sectors can improve the standard of foster care
There is plenty of innovation taking place. There should not be an ideological veto preventing it from flourishing.
Beauty is not enough to secure the new homes we need
Urban form also matters if the housing supply is to be increased in a way that is popular. A good community relies on the way buildings connect to each other.
Another attempt to give vulnerable children the chance to go to boarding schools
The difficulty is that social workers will be given a veto. Therefore very few children will be given this opportunity.
2018 should see a reduction in rough sleeping
The Homelessness Reduction Act comes into force in April. But councils should use their public health budgets to provide specialist help to those who need it.
Honours for Tory MPs but not Tory donors
Sir Graham Brady, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Dame Cheryl Gillan, and Sir Chris Chope gain well deserved recognition.
The triggering of Article 50 came top as the Political Event of the Year in our survey
The lacklustre General Election campaign was consigned to second place. Donald Trump’s inauguration was a distant third.