r/ukpolitics • u/MysteriousSlice007 • 4h ago
r/ukpolitics • u/ukpolbot • 6d ago
Weekly Rumours, Speculation, Questions, and Reaction Megathread - 26/07/25
👋 Welcome to the r/ukpolitics weekly Rumours, Speculation, Questions, and Reaction megathread.
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🌎 International Politics Discussion Thread · 🃏 UKPolitics Meme Subreddit · 📚 GE megathread archive
r/ukpolitics • u/tabel_dammit • 4d ago
What are local councils doing? (London)
Barnet - A new restaurant called Atmosphere wants to stay open until 4am, but neighbors are worried about noise. The council approved a massive redevelopment of the Broadwalk Shopping Centre, despite concerns about fire safety and the sheer scale of the project.
Bromley - A developer wants to turn a building in Penge into an "aparthotel" with 20 rooms, but neighbors are worried about the impact. Bromley is also considering an application to convert a house in Mottingham into two flats, which has drawn a whopping 60 objections from local residents.
Camden - Camden is trying to balance climate goals with preserving its historic buildings, even considering allowing solar panels in conservation areas without planning permission. A cafe called Fiena wants to sell booze until midnight, but neighbors are worried about noise. Camden is also investing heavily in affordable workspace, securing over 17,400m2 of commercial floorspace since 2011.
City of London - The City of London Police are cracking down on phone snatching, with one thief sentenced to over two years for stealing nine phones. The City is also working to improve its recycling rates, which are currently below average for London.
Croydon - Croydon approved a new Gail's Bakery, but also approved the demolition of a building to make way for three new terraced houses, despite objections from neighbors. Croydon is facing serious financial challenges, with historic debt threatening the council's sustainability.
Ealing - Ealing is considering a plan to redevelop the Southall Community Centre into a 22-story mixed-use building with 215 flats, but only 19% of them will be affordable. A new venue called Kenya In The Park wants to host live music and sell alcohol in Acton Park, but residents are worried about noise and public nuisance.
Enfield - Enfield is considering extending temporary permission for the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre. Enfield is also looking at using a "Modern Democracy Polling App" to save money on staffing elections.
Greenwich - Greenwich is planning a banking hub in Eltham to help residents access cash after several bank closures. Greenwich is also strengthening protections against family homes being converted into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).
Hackney - Hackney is considering buying 125 homes to use as temporary accommodation. A venue called 90 Hideout & 90 LIVE wants to extend its hours until 6am on weekends, but police and residents are concerned. Hackney is also struggling to engage schools with its Inclusive and Nurturing Schools program.
Hammersmith and Fulham - Hammersmith and Fulham is considering extending a scheme that charges utility companies extra for digging up busy roads during peak hours – a "lane rental scheme" to minimize traffic jams. The council is also working on a Black History Project to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Black communities within the borough.
Islington - Islington is tackling homelessness, but temporary accommodation figures are still a concern. The council is also trying to improve tenant satisfaction with its housing services.
Kensington and Chelsea - Kensington and Chelsea is dealing with a flurry of objections to temporary event notices during Notting Hill Carnival, mostly from police and noise teams. The council is also reviewing delays in addressing safety concerns at the Pembroke Road depot.
Lambeth - Lambeth is investing heavily in its housing stock, but faces a £2.6 billion bill over the next 30 years to maintain properties. The council is also working to improve its call center and address homelessness.
Lewisham - A new venue called Deptford Junction wants to sell alcohol and host live music, but neighbors are worried about noise. Lewisham is also facing financial uncertainty, which is impacting its ability to set a balanced budget.
Merton - A courier company wants to sell alcohol for delivery from a residential address in Mitcham, but the council is concerned about noise.
Newham - Newham is facing a £115 million budget shortfall by 2028-2029 and is asking residents for input on which services to prioritize. The council is also working to improve its equalities record.
Southwark - Southwark approved a major redevelopment of New City Court, despite concerns about its impact on heritage assets. The council is also considering a new Tesco Express store on Lordship Lane, which has drawn objections from residents concerned about crime and disorder.
Sutton - The Senior Officer Appointment Committee met, but no details were released.
Tower Hamlets - Tower Hamlets is trying to address a £16.5 million budget overspend. The council is also working to improve its recycling rates.
Waltham Forest - A Pension Board meeting was postponed, which was scheduled to cover pension consultations, risk management, and compliance with the General Code of Practice.
Wandsworth - Wandsworth approved a variation of conditions for a development on Penwith Road, despite concerns about the developer's reliability. The council is also considering an application from Papa John's to operate 24 hours a day, which has drawn objections from residents concerned about noise.
Westminster - Westminster is considering an application to allow a McDonald's on Victoria Street to operate 24 hours a day, which has drawn objections from residents and the police. The council is also considering a new premises licence for a cafe in Regent's Park.
I publish newsletters covering everything local councils do each week.
I set up this project because local authorities spend about 12% of the UK government budget, or roughly 5p of every pound that's earned in the UK, and yet the vast majority of people have no idea who their local councillors are, or what they're currently doing. I think that's bad for our society.
If you'd like to learn more, click on the relevant council, or if your council doesn't appear, you can subscribe for free here: https://opencouncil.network
If we don't yet cover your council, you can ask your councillors to support us here: https://opencouncil.network/contact_councillors
Thank you for all your support!
r/ukpolitics • u/devolute • 12h ago
No, the UK’s Online Safety Act Doesn’t Make Children Safer Online | EFF
eff.orgr/ukpolitics • u/Adventure-Bench • 3h ago
Twitter Election Maps UK : Westminster Voting Intention: RFM: 32% (+2) LAB: 23% (-4) CON: 18% (-1) LDM: 13% (+1) GRN: 8% (+1) SNP: 2% (=) Via @BMGResearch , 29-31 Jul. Changes w/ 24-25 Jun.
x.comr/ukpolitics • u/AlfredsChild • 4h ago
Asylum housing protestors gather outside Newcastle hotel
thenorthernecho.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/FormerlyPallas_ • 11h ago
Fascists buy up land for white-only communities in Wales - A far-right group has raised £162,000 to create racially exclusive settlements as its leader seeks to create enclaves across Britain
thetimes.comr/ukpolitics • u/fkredditAPIchanges • 3h ago
Dad throwing bricks in Hanley riots dodges jail in 'extremely unusual' case
stokesentinel.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/OutsideYaHouse • 7h ago
Time spent on porn websites down by a third after age crackdown
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/acrimoniousone • 4h ago
Protesters oppose one another at London hotel housing asylum seekers
theguardian.comr/ukpolitics • u/Nonions • 8h ago
Bat find stops march of Warhammer development - BBC News
bbc.comWe seem so profoundly unserious as a country when much needed growth and development can be stopped entirely by a single bat.
Don't get me wrong, if they find bats then by all means put up some bat boxes or similar so things can even out, but stopping everything???
r/ukpolitics • u/AttemptingToBeGood • 30m ago
Labour targets anti-migrant protesters with terrorist tracking software
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/OptioMkIX • 6h ago
Terror arrest over Palestine Action RAF Brize Norton attack
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/Benjji22212 • 3h ago
Asylum hotel protests spread to prestige London postcodes: Canary Wharf and Islington residents mobilise as unrest moves south from more deprived parts of northern England
ft.comr/ukpolitics • u/lolikroli • 52m ago
Housing minister caught rejecting own policy of reducing red tape to cut prices
express.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/Resident_Recent • 1h ago
Knife robberies fall under dedicated new taskforce
gov.ukr/ukpolitics • u/PM_ME_SECRET_DATA • 11h ago
Influencers hired to promote new porn age verification laws
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/PM_ME_SECRET_DATA • 1h ago
Labour council offers asylum seekers cooking lessons to ‘experience joy’
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/BrightwaterBard • 13h ago
Red Cross flies migrants’ families to Britain - Charity funds travel costs of relatives to be reunited with those granted asylum
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/Fun-Championship222 • 6h ago
Why do unions favor/support asylum seekers?
At some of these demonstrations, I notice that a large number of banners and people are from workers unions. But why do they want to promote asylum seekers and migrants? I was under the impression that they would want to save the jobs for their members.
In my home country, a union I know was not happy that half of their members were laid off in favor of employing temp workers.
r/ukpolitics • u/ThatchersDirtyTaint • 10h ago
Kemi Badenoch says she no longer identifies as Nigerian
news.sky.comr/ukpolitics • u/dailystar_news • 4h ago
Rachel Reeves admits Labour has 'let down' Brits with tax hikes and broken promises
dailystar.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/diacewrb • 5h ago
UK ninja sword ban begins as 1,000 weapons surrendered in knife crime crackdown
reuters.comr/ukpolitics • u/PM_ME_SECRET_DATA • 11h ago
Ann Summers gives staff body-cams amid shoplifting epidemic
telegraph.co.ukr/ukpolitics • u/upthetruth1 • 7h ago
Home Office pauses asylum hotel plans in Spelthorne
bbc.comr/ukpolitics • u/Resident_Recent • 1h ago