Can Starmer surprise us?

He will have to be more than a kind of North London John Smith if he wants to do more than just profit from the Government’s misfortunes. 

We are due to have fewer MPs. The number of councillors should also be cut.

In several London boroughs, the number is due to rise. That will be costly and damaging to local democracy.

Scandal of the council-owned empty garages continues

Our survey identified 15,875 of them. Many of these could be redeveloped to provide new homes.

Stephanos Ioannou: Councils have the financial incentive to rubber stamp bad development proposals

Jeopardising local beauty and conservation for the sake of housebuilding is a real problem for councillors. We have to defend our communities.

James Hockney: The battle for Bush Hill Park

We won a Council by-election last month, achieving an 11 per cent swing. This is how we did it.

Edward Smith: If you want to automate the public sector, don’t follow the lead of Enfield Council

£21.6 million has been spent on new equipment, software and consultants. Yet residents have had to spend hours trying to navigate the council’s website or waiting to be connected to the call-centre

Councils are losing the battle against the sale of illicit cigarettes

Criminal gangs are supplying counterfeit tobacco on a huge scale with a resulting impact on smokers’ health.

Khan attacked by Labour councillors for cuts to Taxicard funding

The proposal is criticised for hitting the vulnerable and breaking an election pledge. Local transport schemes are also being hit.

The hypocrisy of Labour councils over refugees continues

The Shadow Cabinet remains silent on this inconvenient truth.

Matthew Barrett: Fifty years on, it’s time to tear up Greater London.

It is a relic of an out-of-date fashion for the big and artificial rather than the small, local and rooted.