Mike Ditka, the quintessential Chicago Bear, dies at 86 Mike Ditka, who won NFL titles as a player and coach with the Chicago Bears, has died The Independent UK · 8h ago
Minister told limited change to council reorganisation will undermine devolution County authorities insist the process must revert to the previously agreed process after the review announced earlier this month. Evening Standard · Sep 16
Rachel Reeves says she might raise mileage rates for drivers using cars for work The Chancellor said the potential change would be in response to a ‘significant’ rise in driving costs. The Independent UK · Mar 10
Chancellor Rachel Reeves may raise mileage rates for drivers using cars for work The Chancellor said she understood driving costs had risen “significantly” in recent years Evening Standard · Mar 10
Children could be sent to pubs if cafes and soft plays shut down, Labour MP warns Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced every pub in England will get 15 per cent off its business rates bill The Independent UK · Jan 27
Starmer could face rebellion by north-west Labour MPs over local funding Exclusive: Northern towns are unfairly penalised by new three-year council settlements, say members with Liverpool seats The Guardian - UK · Jan 20
Labour’s Andrew Gwynne says he has no plans to give up seat for Andy Burnham Exclusive: MP dismisses as ‘idle speculation’ reports he could resign as part of ‘coup’ against Keir Starmer The Guardian - UK · Dec 14, 2025
Number 10 rejects ‘dictator’ claims amid row over mayoral election delay Critics have accused Labour of ‘cancelling democracy’ after the Government suggested four votes could be pushed back to 2028. Evening Standard · Dec 4, 2025
Starmer warned he will ‘squander trust’ with mayoral elections delay Former local government minister Jim McMahon has hit out at the decision to postpone mayoral elections after Reform compared the PM to a dictator The Independent UK · Dec 4, 2025
Mayoral elections delay confirmed by minister amid ‘affront to democracy’ claims Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said the Government is ‘minded’ to push mayoral elections in four areas planned for next year back to 2028. Evening Standard · Dec 4, 2025
The Super Bowl Shuffle at 40: how a goofy rap classic boosted the Bears’ title run A new documentary charts how a song that featured a 335lb rapper and bad dancing went viral in the pre-internet era The Guardian - US · Nov 27, 2025
Government sends team to 'take control' of London council amid financial crisis Four commissioners will be given sweeping powers over London borough as minister warns financial position ‘deteriorating rapidly’ Evening Standard · Jul 18, 2025
Council tax bills in England could be split into 12 instalments by default The proposals are part of a Government consultation to make council tax collection practices fairer. Evening Standard · Jun 20, 2025
Government set to intervene in Croydon council as report warns of ‘financial crisis’ Commissioners likely to run council, which report says is ‘heading for effective bankruptcy’ for fourth time since 2020 The Guardian - UK · Jun 12, 2025
The Independent UK · Apr 22, 2025 Birmingham bin strike talks to resume as minister calls for union to accept ‘fair deal’ The dispute over pay and job security has seen both sides locked in a bitter standoff
Evening Standard · Apr 22, 2025 Minister: Significant progress made to clear rubbish from Birmingham’s streets The Conservatives pressed communities minister Jim McMahon to ‘rule out the humiliation of service personnel ever having to collect refuse’.
Evening Standard · Apr 10, 2025 Rayner urges striking Birmingham bin workers to accept ‘improved’ deal Members of the Unite union launched an all-out strike last month in a dispute over pay and jobs.
Evening Standard · Apr 5, 2025 Rayner to meet with Birmingham council leaders as bin strikes continue The city council declared a major incident on Monday March 31 because of the impact of the strike by members of the Unite union.
The Independent UK · Apr 3, 2025 Birmingham refuse strike ‘must end’ says minister after visit to city Birmingham City Council declared a major incident on Monday to deal with the weeks-long strike.
Evening Standard · Apr 3, 2025 Minister visits Birmingham amid calls for Government to intervene in bin strike Local government minister Jim McMahon will meet council chiefs in an effort to end the strike, which has seen tonnes of rubbish piling up.
Evening Standard · Mar 31, 2025 Government stands firm in efforts to scrap tax relief for private schools The Government has stood firm in its bid to scrap tax relief for private schools and push ahead with business rates reform.
Evening Standard · Mar 31, 2025 Government accused of ‘washing its hands’ of Birmingham bin strike problem MPs also heard a resident of the Edgbaston area of the city claimed to have been ‘bitten by a rat’.
Evening Standard · Mar 19, 2025 Change council tax system to stop poorer areas being charged more – Labour MP Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash branded council tax as ‘the most unfair and regressive’ taxation in England.
Evening Standard · Mar 3, 2025 Rayner quizzed ahead of changes to stamp duty discounts The Deputy Prime Minister was being pressed by Conservative shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake.
Evening Standard · Feb 20, 2025 Councils in severe financial distress granted support to protect services A total of 30 authorities which are unable to balance their books have been granted financial flexibilities to protect local services.