The Latest Breaking News from Stephen Houghton

‘They deserve to lose’: Labour at risk of ‘red wall’ collapsing in May elections

Voters in Barnsley, Sunderland and Wakefield express frustration with party amid strong Reform UK challenge

The Guardian - UK · Apr 25

Barnsley rebranded UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants join AI push

Minister announces Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe to help apply AI to local schools, hospitals, GPs and businesses

The Guardian - UK · Feb 3

Labour local government leader backs Starmer ‘without emerging alternative’

Sir Stephen Houghton said the Prime Minister is facing a dangerous public ‘mindset’ after weeks of Government turmoil.

Evening Standard · Sep 16, 2025

Why are so many local councils on the brink of bankruptcy?

As many as 30 councils are at risk of bankruptcy and the UK’s local government funding system is “completely broken”, according to a new survey of the sector.

The Week · Aug 31, 2023

Nearly a third of councils in poorest areas on verge of bankruptcy

A survey has found 14 of 47 councils in the North, the Midlands and on the south coast may go bust this year or next

The Independent UK · Aug 28, 2023

At least 26 English councils ‘at risk of bankruptcy in next two years’

Research from body representing 47 authorities says many could follow Slough, Croydon, Thurrock and Woking into collapse

The Guardian - UK · Aug 27, 2023

Nearly a third of councils in poor areas considering bankruptcy

A survey has found 14 of 47 councils in the North, the Midlands and on the south coast may go bust this year or next.

The Independent UK · Aug 27, 2023

Majority of councils in poorer areas are ‘uncertain of meeting budgets’

Local authorities in some of the least well-off areas have raised the alarm over spending plans set four months ago due to inflation pressures.

The Independent UK · Jun 18, 2023

Greater Manchester council budgets cut by a quarter on average, research reveals

The figures show the poorest councils in England have faced real-term cuts worth almost three times as much as the richest one

Manchester Evening News · May 3, 2023

Figures show staggering rate of cuts to Merseyside councils under Tory government

Liverpool and Knowsley have suffered huge cuts while much richer councils have been treated very differently

Liverpool Echo · Apr 27, 2023