Most obviously, this complicates their Net Zero strategy; you would have expected fiscal policy increasingly to have rebalanced towards green taxes.
Croydon has a “Cultural Transformation Engagement Programme” – and there’s more elsewhere.
Hospitals across England are reportedly accommodating patients on the basis of gender rather than sex.
2018-19’s accounts are still unaudited. Who knew about the massive black hole in the council’s finances?
Plus: Local authorities have deficits of over half a billion pounds. Police and Crime Commissioners should not be forced to employ deputies.
With new leadership in many local areas, there is lots of potential for bold and innovative ways to save money.
Plus: Waltham Forest’s proposed “consultancy support for a strategic reset” sounds like something from David Brent.
The Conservatives should think about the implications of what would happen if Labour got serious on this issue.
The forgotten victims tend to be the taxpayer and small businesses – most of which can barely get hold of their local councillors, let alone ministers.
Nottingham City Council paid nine staff over £100,000 a year. What did local taxpayers get for their money? A failed council-owned energy company.
Our fringe event with the TaxPayers’ Alliance, including Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Business.
Plus: The residents of Tunbridge Wells are left with the bill for their council’s Calverley Square vanity project.
How have think-tanks and campaign groups responded to the Chancellor’s fiscal and economic initiatives?
It will probe whether or or not Sunak can prepare the country for that future – and perhaps succeed Johnson himself, “one fine day”.
Plus: Why is Sandwell Council spending £10,000 for a lighting company to project messages onto buildings?