Local Government Finance Wednesday, 5 February, 2025 The Local Government Finance Settlement has finally been published after much delay. This Government is looking to burden local authorities with higher bills, weighing them down with increasing direct costs and statutory duties that are largely out of their control. Local authorities spend around £40 billion of taxpayer’s money, with each council delivering over 800 services. Each one of my... Westminster News
David Simmonds: January 2025 Update 31st January 2025 I am pleased to bring you my January 2025 Update. As ever, if you would like to sign up to my mailing list, you can do so on this page or by emailing david... Newsletters
Water (Special Measures) Bill [Lords] 28th January 2025 The Government has introduced some welcome measures that build on existing legislation to tidy up our waterways. Residents are very aware of the dangers of poor... Westminster News
Challenging the Government on the Heathrow Expansion 28th January 2025 This week, the Chancellor announced her full-throated endorsement of Heathrow’s plans to add a third runway. We have been here before; I was involved in the... Westminster News
Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 28th January 2025 This Holocaust Memorial Day marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which has rightly been commemorated both within our community... Westminster News
Urgent Question: Community Engagement Principles and Extremism Definition 21st January 2025 This morning, I asked Ministers whether they were planning on updating the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's definition of extremism. This... Westminster News
MHCLG Questions: Local Growth Funding and Homelessness 20th January 2025 As a Shadow Minister, I have a routine opportunity to press Ministers on their plans in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. During this... Speeches in Parliament
New Hospital Programme Review: Hillingdon Hospital Update 20th January 2025 Shortly after taking office, the new Government launched an internal review into the New Hospital Programme, directing the blame at the so-called £22bn... Local News
Northwood Headquarters Development Work 15th January 2025 Earlier this month, I was invited to attend a briefing hosted by Maria Eagle MP at the Ministry of Defence to outline plans for significant development work due... Local News
Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill 15th January 2025 It became abundantly clear that the Labour Government had manufactured a £2.4 billion black hole in the local government budget. To fill this, the Government is... Westminster News
