Local authorities are failing to shop around for energy suppliers
Town Halls are sticking with the “big six” – spurning the chance to save money or to switch to renewables. This even applies to councils that set up their own firms.
John Bald: Social mobility and education’s Angry Brigade
Rather than allowing the greatest opportunity for each individual to excel, the educational establishment want to hold them back – in the interests of “levelling attainment”.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives held a seat in Perth and Kinross but lost a seat to the Lib Dems in Warrington and another one to the Lib Dems in West Berkshire.
Kevin Davis: To defeat crime, we must strengthen the family
The terrible state of council housing across London undermines community spirit and encourages drug dealing and gang violence. The Mayor is failing to show any leadership.
Sarah McDermott: Councils still have a role to champion excellence in education
Where outstanding primary schools do not have attached nursery classes, in Wandsworth we will be looking to work with them to see if they can expand.
Gary Porter: Better partnership with central Government has given Conservative councils the chance to deliver
Extolling the virtues of the Localism Act might not be a big vote winner of the doorstep – but the many achievements it has made possible are having an impact.
Paul Canal: The Conservatives are fighting hard to win back Redbridge
Labour promised thousands of new social homes when they took over in 2014. They have only built six a year.
Ross Archer: Why I am standing to be Mayor of Lewisham
Under Labour the local football club has been treated appallingly and crime has been allowed to rise. The Conservatives offer a bold and positive alternative.
Council by-election results from yesterday
The Conservatives held a seat in South Northamptonshire but lost one to the Lib Dems in Chichester. Labour held a seat in St Edmundsbury
Matt Hartley: Our fight for democracy in Greenwich
Labour councillors see their chance to extinguish the only opposition voices left in the Council chamber, so they can continue their waste of taxpayers money, blame-shifting and failure to listen to residents unchecked.
It’s in the district council elections that the Conservatives are strongest – and so have the most to lose
The final part of our series this week on May’s elections. Will there be a LibDem revival – which polls have yet to indicate?
In the elections for the “metropolitan boroughs” the Conservatives have little to lose – which is why the focus will be on Trafford
The second part of our series this week on May’s elections, moving on to the metropolitan areas that are electing in thirds.
Birmingham is a key test – perhaps the most important one – for the Tories in the local elections
We open a three-part series this week on May’s elections, beginning today with the cities that are all-out.
Kevin Davis: Don’t let Kingston return to the dark days of Lib Dem rule
Previously the parks were neglected and the roads full of potholes. The Conservatives have started to turn the borough around.
Jonathan Cook: Improving air quality for Londoners must be a top Conservative priority
Wandsworth is probably the best place to own an electric vehicle in the whole of the UK.