No apology from Welsh secretary over town centre cash row

Local elections in the UK may face further delays as the government cites capacity issues among merging councils, with 63 council areas potentially postponing elections until 2027. This follows previous delays that pushed elections to May 2026, raising concerns about the democratic process.

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.

Jo Stevens, the Welsh Secretary, has been criticized by a Plaid Cymru politician for her exclusive use of the English language, which has been described as an 'incredible lack of respect' for the Welsh language. This criticism highlights ongoing tensions regarding language use in Wales.

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.