Local elections could be delayed again as councils reorganise

Jo Stevens, the Welsh Secretary, has not issued an apology regarding the controversy over funding for town centers, following remarks from a Labour Senedd member who claimed that ministers in Cardiff were being 'humiliated'. This situation highlights tensions within the Labour party and its governance in Wales.

Labour has lifted the council tax cap in six southern areas, a decision that comes amid a broader strategy to redistribute funding towards more deprived regions. This move is expected to impact local councils financially, as they may lose out on essential funding due to the shift in resources.

The former North of Tyne Mayor has announced his decision to join the Green Party, criticizing the current political landscape as a 'mess.' This move has drawn a negative response from the Labour Party, which has labeled him a 'liability.'

The UK government has announced an agreement to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange program, allowing UK students to participate for the first time since Brexit in 2027, at a cost of £570 million. This decision fulfills a pledge made in the Labour party's election manifesto and marks a significant shift in post-Brexit relations between the UK and the EU.

Andrea Egan has been elected as the new leader of Unison, the UK's largest union, succeeding Christina McAnea. Egan, who was expelled from the Labour Party three years ago, represents a left-wing perspective within the union's leadership.