Andrew Wood: We need clear rules to ensure fairness by councils providing property for faith groups

A stricter separation between church and state at local level would safeguard against political patronage.

Andrew Wood: Are school budgets being cut?

Greater clarity is needed to prevent special interest groups from presenting a misleading picture.

Peter Golds: Suspended councillors, polling station mobs…and demonic Smurfs. Yes, it’s election time again in Tower Hamlets.

In 1872 the secret ballot was introduced to prevent open voting. 137 years later, the United Kingdom cannot guarantee a secret ballot in our capital city.

Andrew Wood: The brave citizens who defeated electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets are faced with a huge legal bill

If the Cabinet Office won’t help defend democracy, why should ordinary citizens do it? The wrong signal is being sent out.

How should our electoral law change to work in the digital age?

From ‘fake news’ to micro-targeting, crowd-funding to data rights, we explore the key areas of focus for an overdue review of the rules of our democracy.

The Electoral Commission is not fit for its crucial purpose

Following a series of concerning errors, it has now emerged the regulator’s ‘investigation’ into the Leave campaign did not involve actually interviewing any of those involved.

The Electoral Commission didn’t stop what was happening in Tower Hamlets – is it really capable of thwarting Putin?

The internal and external threats to the integrity of our elections have intensified, but the regulator responsible does not appear to have upped its game in response.

Multi-member council wards should be abolished

Smaller electoral areas with just one councillor each would make for less confusion, more accountability – and fewer one party states.

Vote Conservative today

For many voters, local elections boil down to which party will provide the best possible services at the lowest possible cost.

Barnaby Lenon: Independent schools have much to offer the state sector, and stand ready to help

The stellar success of the London Academy of Excellence, supported by six independent schools, shows just some of what we can achieve by co-operating.

The local election results in London will provide a mixed picture

Pundits are expecting a drubbing for the Conservatives in the capital. But some boroughs will buck the trend. I predict unpredictability.

Peter Golds: Tower Hamlets Council is still failing the residents of the borough

£750,000 is allocated for “mother tongue teaching”. Yet there is almost no budget for English as a spoken language for non-English-speaking parents.

Peter Golds: More bad news for Rahman as he is struck off as a solicitor

Will it be bad news for democracy in Tower Hamlets in 2018? The old tactics of toxic allegations in anonymous leaflets are being seen again.

Andrew Wood: Yes, Singapore really is an example we can learn from. But not for the reasons some Tories give.

It is not especially low tax, nor is it unregulated – though it is certainly a more business-friendly environment then the UK. Here is why it works.

Council spending on replacement lifts is out of control

The huge variation in costs does suggest that some councils, including mine, are likely to be paying over the odds.