Harry Phibbs reviews The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling (Little, Brown. £20) The moral certainty of a story with characters consisting of goodies… Read more »
More questions for Labour candidate as auditor refuses to sign off Corby Council’s accounts
I am still waiting for a response from Andy Sawford, the Labour candidate in the Corby byelection to the 10… Read more »
Hammersmith and Fulham will not provide new council tenancies to those earning more than £40,200
Frank Manning of Hammersmith Conservatives says rent subsidies for those on high incomes like Bob Crow can not be justified… Read more »
The evidence shows phonics works – so why do the Left still resist it?
John Bald says teaching children to read is crucial for social mobility. But winning the argument for phonics is different… Read more »
Despite Prescott’s bluster his misuse of a Government credit card shows him unfit for office
When he was a Cabinet Minister Lord Prescott showed the most disgraceful self indulgence in using a Government credit card… Read more »
Banning ice cream vans is not the right solution for childhood obesity
In the 1970s, the thrill of excitement when the ice cream van jingled was part of the magic of… Read more »
Richmond Council to hold referendum on Heathrow third runway
Conservative-run Richmond Council is holding a referendum on the expansion of Heathrow Airport. I am not clear whether it will… Read more »
Brandon Lewis MP: I want to make myself obselete
Brandon Lewis MP, the new Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, says the man… Read more »
Council byelection results from yesterday
The Press Association reports: Blaby District – Pastures: C 442, Lab 281. (May 2011 – Two seats C 1103, 905,… Read more »
Institutional racism is keeping black children in care
The Macpherson Report, which investigated the Metropolitan Police over their response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, defined… Read more »
More Conservative councillors defect to UKIP
Cllr Stephen West, of Tadley Central Ward in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, has defected from the Conservatives to UKIP…. Read more »
Increase in number of children in care
The news is not quite as bad as it sounds. The number of "Looked After Children", in other words children… Read more »
Lib Dem councillor attacks Wealth Tax
My favourite Liberal Democrat councillor is Cllr Tom Papworth, the opposition leader on Bromley Council. In a letter published in… Read more »
Shifting from coursework to a final exam will not increase stress
John Bald welcomes the new Ebacc and signs that the "curse" of mixed ability teaching is to be tackled Last… Read more »
Eric Pickles interviewed for ConservativeHome: “The prime test for any Conservative council is: Would somebody queuing for a bus know that it was a Conservative authority?”
Eric Pickles remains in post as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The team he leads has almost… Read more »