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Council & Politics
City Hall, borough councils, the Mayor and London democracy.
319 stories · page 2 of 17
Council & Politics · LondonLondon urged to pilot legal cannabis market
Calls are growing for London to explore a regulated cannabis market through pilot schemes, drawing inspiration from Switzerland's ongoing legalisation trials. The move aims to address the harms of the illegal market and improve public health outcomes.
London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · LondonMayor Sadiq Khan asks for extra funding for police, transport and housing
Mayor Sadiq Khan has outlined three budget demands, more money for the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and housing to curb rough sleeping, and will discuss them with Chancellor John Healey before the fiscal statement on 28 October.
London3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 80 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · WestminsterOxford Street shoppers will be scanned by live facial‑recognition cameras from December
Permanent live facial‑recognition cameras are set to be fitted on Oxford Street in December. The system will compare faces of the half‑million daily visitors against a watchlist of suspects. Police point to a Croydon trial that lowered crime, but Liberty calls for a legal pause.
Westminster3 min readTrust 68 · Craft 95 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council proposes roadworks charges
Wandsworth Council is consulting on a proposed Lane Rental Scheme that would introduce daily charges for roadworks. Companies would pay fees based on a road's traffic sensitivity, with fines for overruns, aiming to reduce congestion and disruption.
Wandsworth2 min readTrust 66 · Craft 80 · Hype 12- Council & Politics · London
Four London boroughs submit revised funding bids as Fair Funding Review 2.0 threatens up to 58% cuts
Leaders of Wandsworth, Richmond, Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea councils handed revised funding proposals to the Treasury on Thursday. The Fair Funding Review 2.0 could cut their central grants by 40‑58% by 2029, prompting Wandsworth to propose a 94% tax rise and the closure of its cost‑of‑living reserve.
London3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 30 - Council & Politics · London
Wandsworth, Richmond, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster face up to £108m funding cuts
Four London boroughs will lose between 40 and 58 percent of central funding by 2030. Leaders of Wandsworth, Richmond, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster handed alternative proposals to the Treasury on 22 October 2026, outlining tax rises and service cuts to meet the shortfall.
London3 min readTrust 76 · Craft 95 · Hype 32 - Council & Politics · London
Enfield Green councillors split over anti-Zionism motion
Enfield Green councillors have expressed differing views on a national party motion condemning Zionism. Councillor Aziz Yildiz stated he would have voted against the motion, while group leader Sarah Jons confirmed she and two others opposed it.
London3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 87 · Hype 35 
Council & Politics · CroydonCroydon residents face AI‑run Council Tax Support survey
Croydon Council has handed its Council Tax Support survey to Commonplace Digital Ltd, part of Zencity. The firm is led by former Israeli Defence Force Unit 8200 officer Eyal Feder. Residents must submit responses by 10 November 2026 and can raise data‑privacy concerns with the council.
Croydon3 min readTrust 64 · Craft 59 · Hype 70
Council & Politics · LondonNirpaul Riat stripped of OBE after £300,000 fine
King Charles removed landlord Nirpaul Riat’s OBE after the Cabinet Office said his actions brought the honours system into disrepute. The decision follows a £300,000 fine imposed in 2023 for renting properties in terrible condition for more than 15 years.
London4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · CroydonCroydon Council consults on £650m budget with £83.7m savings planned
Croydon Council is seeking public input on its budget for 2027/28 and the subsequent three years. The proposals aim to deliver essential services using a £650m budget while implementing £83.7m in savings and improving financial stability.
Croydon2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · CamdenCamden Council will appoint James Slater as leader on 16 November
James Slater is set to become Camden Council leader after a full‑council vote on 16 November 2026. The decision follows Sagal Abdi‑Wali’s election as MP for Holborn and St Pancras on 12 October, where she beat Green leader Zack Polanski by 12 points. Labour’s majority on the 30‑seat council makes Slater’s appointment virtually certain.
Camden3 min readTrust 56 · Craft 95 · Hype 12
Council & Politics · LambethLambeth Council to reply to Loughborough Estate residents within 10 days
On a Wednesday full‑council meeting, Loughborough Voices representatives asked Lambeth Council for a written response to their concerns about damp, leaks and pest infestations. The council, which announced legal action against the estate's management board in April, pledged a reply within ten days.
Lambeth4 min readTrust 64 · Craft 95 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · Tower HamletsTower Hamlets expands clothing grants and free meals during Challenge Poverty Week
During Challenge Poverty Week, Tower Hamlets Council announced expanded clothing vouchers for up to 7,000 pupils and continued its universal free school meals programme, which saves families about £550 per child each year. The council also highlighted over £5.7 million in education grants since 2022.
Tower Hamlets3 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · CroydonCroydon opens Cavendish House for housing services
Croydon Council has officially opened Cavendish House in South Croydon as a new hub for key services. The housing needs service will be the first to move in, offering residents improved facilities and a more supportive environment for appointments.
Croydon2 min readTrust 58 · Craft 64 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · CroydonCroydon Council to close discretionary Freedom Pass scheme
Croydon Council is proposing to close its discretionary Disabled Persons Freedom Pass scheme to new applicants. The move is part of a wider financial strategy expected to save £140,000 over two years, though critics warn of increased isolation for vulnerable residents.
Croydon4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · All LondonHospitalised offenders to lose benefits
Criminals detained in hospital, including those convicted of serious offences, will no longer receive benefits under new government proposals. The change, driven by campaigning victims' families, is expected to save tens of millions of pounds annually.
All London3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 70 · Hype 40
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet schools face childcare challenges with extended half term
An increasing number of state schools are extending the October half term to two weeks, creating childcare challenges for parents and a potential postcode lottery. Academies, independent of local authorities, are leading this shift, with some councils shortening summer holidays to accommodate the change.
Barnet3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · LondonReport Urges UK to Rejoin EU Amid Global Threats
A new report by the IPPR think tank recommends that the UK should aim to rejoin the European Union. The report argues that global political shifts necessitate greater scale for Britain to effectively address challenges from Russia, China, and the US.
London3 min readTrust 68 · Craft 80 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council adds £3.5 million to fund drug and alcohol services
Barnet Council approved an extra £3.5 million for substance‑misuse services at its October 12 cabinet meeting. The funding, sourced from the Department of Health and Social Care via OHID, will run from 2026/27 to 2028/29 and will be delivered through an enhanced contract with charity Change Grow Live, extending support for rough sleepers, women, young people and others.
Barnet4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · LondonTory hopeful Alex Challoner proposes scrapping housing quotas
Conservative mayoral candidate Alex Challoner has proposed scrapping affordable housing quotas, arguing it would unlock land for 300,000 new homes in London. His plans focus on Park Royal and industrial sites with good transport links.
London3 min readTrust 58 · Craft 87 · Hype 35