Wandsworth council confirms record breaking council tax rise proposals as revealed by PoliticsHome last month I understand that since we revealed the 160% figure, council leaders had decided that the rise would not be enough to make up the shortfall identified and settled on 188%

Wandsworth Council Planning Country's Largest Ever Council Tax Rise

Exclusive: Wandsworth Council in south London is preparing England's biggest ever council tax rise, which could be as much as 160 per cent, Politic...

politicshome.com

Exclusive: The Tories are developing a policy to distribute pamphlets to every UK household advising how to respond to a civilian emergency The plans are inspired by countries like Denmark, where the government uses literature to instruct the public on what steps to take within the first 72 hours

Tories Draw Up Plans To Give Every Household Civilian Emergency Pamphlet

Exclusive: The Conservatives are developing a policy to distribute pamphlets to every UK household advising how to respond to a civilian emergency.

politicshome.com

Andy Burnham has committed to cross-party working to tackle social care reform But how exactly will this work? New details of plans and more in this piece for The House👇

How Burnham Plans To Win Cross-Party Agreement On Social Care

Andy Burnham says he’s prepared to spend political capital on social care reform. Matilda Martin reveals details of how he plans to go about it

politicshome.com

Richard Tice has responded to this story by tweeting: "Another journo making stuff up" Harriet Symonds, @matildamartin.bsky.social and I all spoke to business people for this story. Needless to say, we obviously stand by our reporting and did not "make stuff up"

Obviously politics blah blah but much more fun to learn about the rival Boney Ms on tour, I love a classic band where there's about 16 different rival versions playing regional theatres each claiming authenticity thanks to the blessing of the original drummer.

Alan White@aljwhite.bsky.social · last wk.

Boney M Reform drama! www.politicshome.com/news/article...

The Boney M saga continues🪩 After one version of Boney M performed at Reform UK's conference on Friday evening, the band's original lead singer has hit out at "fake reckless" band members, saying Farage's party "has not embraced people who are in need" www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Boney M Singer Says UK Must Welcome Immigrants After Former Bandmate Performs At Reform Conference

Exclusive: Boney M's original lead singer has criticised 'fake reckless' band members for performing at Reform UK's conference last week, saying th...

politicshome.com

As Reform UK prepares for the next general election, the party will have to face a key obstacle on its path to No 10: the right-wing vote is splitting And (unsurprisingly!) the party is divided over how to deal with the challenge

Reform UK Divided Over How To Tackle Challenge Of Increasingly Split Right-Wing Vote

As Reform UK prepares for the next general election, the right-wing vote is splitting – and the party is divided over how to deal with the challeng...

politicshome.com

🗳️ Tactical voting and electoral pacts – yay or nay? As Reform UK prepares for the next general election, the right-wing vote is splitting – and the party is divided over how to deal with the challenge ✍️ @matildamartin.bsky.social reports from Reform conference

Reform UK Divided Over How To Tackle Challenge Of Increasingly Split Right-Wing Vote

As Reform UK prepares for the next general election, the right-wing vote is splitting – and the party is divided over how to deal with the challeng...

politicshome.com

How is Reform UK preparing for a snap election in 2027? ➡️ Insiders say plans are to get as many parliamentary candidates ready by Xmas ➡️ Recently commissioned MRP to identify target areas ➡️ Reforming campaigning infrastructure with more targeted roles covering smaller areas

How Reform Is Preparing For A Snap Election

Reform UK is expanding its campaign infrastructure and expediting candidate vetting in anticipation of an early general election.

politicshome.com

An update on Wandsworth council tax fallout🚨 Wandsworth Council & the Tory Party are preparing to formally appeal cuts to local government funding after we revealed that the South London borough was preparing to raise council tax by 160% Exclusive story with @zoecrowther.bsky.social 👇

Tories To Formally Challenge Government Over London Council Tax Rises

Exclusive: Wandsworth Council and the Conservative Party are preparing to formally appeal cuts to local government funding after PoliticsHome revea...

politicshome.com

Exclusive🚨Disco band Boney M is in talks with Reform UK to perform at the party's conference next month @politicshome.bsky.social understands The band, which rose to fame in the 70s with songs like Rasputin & Daddy Cool, is being lined up to appear at the afterparty

Boney M In Talks To Play At Reform Conference

Exclusive: Disco band Boney M is in talks with Reform UK to perform at the party's conference next month, PoliticsHome understands.

politicshome.com

Wandsworth Council in south London is preparing England's biggest ever council tax rise, PolHome understands A 160% increase is under discussion as the Tory-run local authority tries to grapple with rising costs and a fall in central government funding PolHome's @matildamartin.bsky.social reports

Wandsworth Council Planning Country's Largest Ever Council Tax Rise

Exclusive: Wandsworth Council in south London is preparing England's biggest ever council tax rise, which could be as much as 160 per cent, Politic...

politicshome.com

Given cost pressures & historically low council tax in the borough, it won't come as a surprise that Wandsworth is planning the country's largest-ever council tax rise next year of ~160% Worth mentioning hit to residents will be less given half of total bill is made up of GLA precept

Wandsworth Council Planning Country's Largest Ever Council Tax Rise

Exclusive: Wandsworth Council in south London is preparing England's biggest ever council tax rise, which could be as much as 160 per cent, Politic...

politicshome.com

💥The government spent around £15m on developing digital ID before the scheme was scrapped by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. A government source told PolHome the money had been spent on staff, consultants, design, research and legal advice

Government Spent £15m On Digital ID Before Policy Was Scrapped

The government spent around £15m on developing digital ID before the scheme was scrapped by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

politicshome.com

Fascinating @matildamartin.bsky.social read: Could Andy Burnham Be About To Reform The Student Loan System? www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Could Andy Burnham Be About To Reform The Student Loan System?

A Labour government under Andy Burnham could scrap the student loan system and replace it with a graduate tax or stepped repayment system.

politicshome.com

Could Andy Burnham Be About To Reform The Student Loan System? Former govt adviser Nick Hillman who has known Burnham's chief of staff James Purnell for years, says Purnell was “the most active vice chancellor on the issue of student finance and graduate repayments” while heading up UAL

Could Andy Burnham Be About To Reform The Student Loan System?

A Labour government under Andy Burnham could scrap the student loan system and replace it with a graduate tax or stepped repayment system.

politicshome.com

SCOOP ➡️The Cabinet Secretary is planning to overhaul civil service recruitment, scrapping the use of success profiles ➡️New model to be introduced that "emphasises skills + expertise" ➡️Expectation that move will more closely align civil service recruitment with private sector + bring in more talent

Government To Overhaul Civil Service Recruitment

Exclusive: The Cabinet Secretary is planning to overhaul civil service recruitment, scrapping the use of success profiles.

politicshome.com

I speak to Lord Nash about: ➡️Why the Tories should not rule out an arrangement with Reform before the next general election ➡️How he persuaded govt to ban social media for children ➡️Why schools should not have maximum temperatures: "A bit of hardship...toughens people up a bit”

Lord Nash: Tories Should Not Rule Out Reform Deal Before Next Election

Conservative peer Lord Nash speaks to Matilda Martin about his successful bid to persuade the government to ban social media for children, plus why...

politicshome.com

Rupert Lowe this week became the first British politician to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience The Restore Britain-supporting Lotus Eaters podcast is another example of Lowe's digital strategy with @zoecrowther.bsky.social

The 'MAGA-esque' YouTube Channel Boosting Rupert Lowe Online

Rupert Lowe this week became the first British politician to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience. The podcast has more British listeners than the BB...

politicshome.com

Could an Andy Burnham government change the way policy is made? Will we see more citizens' assemblies, citizens’ juries and citizens’ panels? Some in the Burnham team are open to the idea, and the approach has already been embraced in some areas of Greater Manchester

From 'Andy For Us' To 'Andy By Us': Deliberative Democracy Supporters Raise Their Hopes

The use of deliberative democracy in policymaking has been gaining traction of late. Matilda Martin finds its advocates hoping Andy Burnham embrace...

politicshome.com

A curious tale from yours truly & @bengartside.bsky.social Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain FB groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan & Bangladesh Some of these groups are later turned into vessels for selling firesticks, download codes & tech support

Thousands Join Pro-Restore Britain Facebook Groups Run From Pakistan And Bangladesh

Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain Facebook groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan and Bangladesh, an investi...

politicshome.com

A curious tale from yours truly & @bengartside.bsky.social Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain FB groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan & Bangladesh Some of these groups are later turned into vessels for selling firesticks, download codes & tech support

Thousands Join Pro-Restore Britain Facebook Groups Run From Pakistan And Bangladesh

Tens of thousands have joined pro-Restore Britain Facebook groups being run by people who appear to be based in Pakistan and Bangladesh, an investi...

politicshome.com

I sat down with Caroline Lucas earlier this month. We discussed: 🟢The party’s new direction under Zack Polanski 🟢Why the Zionism is racism debate is "not helpful" 🟢How the party needs to find better ways of handling its differences internally 🟢Why she is wary of a progressive alliance

Caroline Lucas: The Greens Have Been 'Really Burnt' By Progressive Alliances With Labour

Former Green leader Caroline Lucas talks to Matilda Martin about her party’s new direction under Zack Polanski, how it needs to find better ways of...

politicshome.com

Exc: A senior Lib Dem has told @matildamartin.bsky.social that they and colleagues are "astonished" & "pissed off" after it emerged that Lord Rennard had the whip restored by the party amid an investigation into claims he sexually harassed female members "I'm incandescent that we have done this"

Lib Dems 'Appalled' After Party Lifts Suspension From Peer Under Investigation For Sexual Harassment Claims

Exclusive: A senior Liberal Democrat has told PoliticsHome that they and their colleagues are 'astonished' and 'pissed off' after news emerged that...

politicshome.com

*Exclusive* A senior Liberal Democrat has told PoliticsHome that they and their colleagues are "astonished" and "pissed off" after news emerged that Lord Chris Rennard has had the whip restored while an investigation into claims he sexually harassed female members is still ongoing

Lib Dems 'Appalled' After Party Lifts Suspension From Peer Under Investigation For Sexual Harassment Claims

Exclusive: A senior Liberal Democrat has told PoliticsHome that they and their colleagues are 'astonished' and 'pissed off' after news emerged that...

politicshome.com

Now seems like a good time to reshare this exclusive interview I did with Andy Burnham on SEND reform: -“Start from a principle about nothing being taken away” -Backs "move away from" EHCPs, but in way that doesn't "destabilise/frighten" -“Whole school, not individual child funding model”

SEND Reforms Must Not Be About 'Taking Away', Warns Andy Burnham

Exclusive: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said that reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system must “start ...

politicshome.com

A decade+ since I was inadvertently invited to a Downing Street room with Facebook/Google/etc and Cameron walked in and asked everyone what they'd do to boost youth referendum turnout and a grand woman shouted "WE NEED GRIME ARTISTES, DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY GRIME ARTISTES" and I began to doubt Remain.

With all eyes on the PM, what is Burnham planning to do on arrival in Westminster? We report Burnham is expected to meet with Labour MPs today as he prepares a bid to enter No 10 He is understood to be prioritising MPs with whom he does not have strong relationships, like those elected in 2024

Andy Burnham Plans Meetings With Labour MPs As He Pushes For No 10

Exclusive: Andy Burnham is expected to meet with Labour MPs on Monday as he prepares a bid to replace Keir Starmer in Downing Street.

politicshome.com

Reform council leader Sean Matthews is being investigated **by his own council** after telling the Reform Party podcast he asked Zia Yusuf for advice regarding a local authority contract and sent him the documents in 2025

Reform Council Leader Under Investigation For Sharing Contract With Reform HQ

The leader of Reform-run Lincolnshire is being investigated by his own council after claiming to have shared a local authority contract with senior...

politicshome.com

I spent some time today speaking to former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas She told me the Greens "will be throwing everything" at the contest to replace Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor and she will be up there "to do what I can to help" Full interview in The House mag later this month

Greens Will 'Throw Everything' At Manchester Mayoral Election, Says Caroline Lucas

Exclusive: The Greens 'will be throwing everything' at the contest to replace Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester mayor, their former leader Carolin...

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