Staying Safe in Local Elections: Challenges and support for candidates
With local elections nearing, rising abuse fears are deterring candidates - this analysis explores risks, definitions, and new guidance to support safer campaigning.
Council receives first record-keeping watchdog warning
13/04/2026 A watchdog has intervened after Perth and Kinross Council was found to have abolished a director-level post ‘without a single record being kept’. |
Sector mourns loss of 'giant of English devolution'
07/04/2026 Tributes have been paid to the former chief executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Eamonn Boylan in the wake of his death. |
MPs call for safeguarding to ease pressure on Prevent
01/04/2026 MPs have called for the wider safeguarding system to ease pressure on the Prevent programme. |
Regions facing grant cut as fiscal overhaul takes shape
30/03/2026 The Treasury’s Northern growth strategy shed light on the overhaul of funding, which will initially target places with the ‘potential to benefit’. |
Chief executive defends by-election integrity
30/03/2026 Manchester City Council chief executive Tom Stannard has defended the ‘integrity' of last month's by-election after police found no evidence of illegality. |
Essex threatens legal action over reorganisation
26/03/2026 Essex CC is looking to mount a legal challenge to the Government's decision to reorganise the county into five unitary authorities. |
Final reorganisation decisions for four priority areas announced
25/03/2026 The shape of local government reorganisation in four devolution priority areas has been unveiled by the Government today. |
Government to introduce local scrutiny committees for mayors
19/03/2026 The Government is proposing to establish ‘local scrutiny committees' to oversee strategic authorities. |
Former local government minister Phil Woolas dies
16/03/2026 Former local government minister Phil Woolas has died, his family has announced. |
Wirral management overhaul to create executive director roles
16/03/2026 Wirral MBC is proposing to create two executive director roles as part of a restructure of its senior leadership. |
Future Forum: Reorganisation threat to transformation
12/03/2026 Fears that ambitions to include transformation alongside local government reorganisation may not be realised have been voiced at The MJ's Future Forum. |
Council backlash over asylum reforms
11/03/2026 The Government was this week accused of shifting the burden of supporting asylum seekers to councils. |
Councils urged to tackle family voting
10/03/2026 Councils have been challenged to focus on tackling family voting in May's local elections. |
Epping Forest DC challenges High Court on Bell Hotel ruling
09/03/2026 Epping Forest DC has returned to court in an attempt to secure an injunction against the use of the Bell Hotel for asylum seeker accommodation. |
Minister orders review at Slough after 'slow progress'
06/03/2026 Ministers have ordered an external review into Slough BC due to the ‘slow pace of progress' in turning the authority around. |
Councils prepare for political turmoil
05/03/2026 Local government is braced for political turmoil after the Greens and Reform UK took first and second place in the Gorton and Denton by-election. |
Spring Statement: OBR paints gloomy picture of council finances
03/03/2026 The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has painted a gloomy picture for the future of local government finances. |
Scottish councils reject world cup bank holiday
02/03/2026 An overwhelming majority of Scottish councils have so far rejected giving staff time off for June's bank holiday. |
Experts' 'concern' over LGR decision-making
02/03/2026 Experts have raised concerns as ministers are set to make final decisions on proposals for local government reorganisation. |
Calls for local elections indemnity grow
27/02/2026 Further calls have been made to provide legal protection for returning officers after the Government backtracked on postponing May's elections. |
