Blog Roll Roundup

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by Tory Stories

Stories from the national newspapers and blogroll this week include Boris Johnson bowing to pressure and undermined over his ‘banking exodus’; Brighton and Hove City Council delivers a damaging budget and Cllr Harry Phibbs and Andy Slaughter MP battle it out over Hammersmith and Fulham’s housing policy.

The Mirror reports that 25,000 council jobs are under threat, Unison General Secretary, Dave Prentis comments that “Councils’ decisions to cut spending, freeze council tax and cut jobs are very much politically motivated.” Below is a video from the protest over cuts outside Birmingham City Council:

On that note, Brighton and Hove City Council have announced their budget that makes cuts across the board (potentially stranding students with special needs) while freezing council tax.

The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson is bowing to pressure to remove Cllr Bertha Joseph from her position as deputy chair of the London Fire Authority, but Adam Bienkov at Tory Troll believes that he’s still reluctant to fire Cllr Joseph.

Following Tory Stories’ report on the Mayor’s international standing the Guardian questions his assertion that the Robin Hood Tax will drive bankers from the city of London.

On his London Blog Dave Hill advises everyone to cough up £4 to listen to Andy Slaughter, MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush take on Cllr Harry Phibbs from the Hammersmith and Fulham Council over the Borough’s housing plans.

From the Tory Stories blogroll…

Posted on January 22nd, 2010 by Tory Stories

Starting this week, Tory Stories will compile a regular round-up of blog posts elsewhere about local issues and local news stories of note. This week’s eye-catching blogs are:

The Other Taxpayers Alliance – guest post by Paul Cotterill outlining plans by Lancashire County Council to put ‘computer-related services’ out to tender to the tune of ‘£1.9bn over 10 years’.

Dave Hill’s London Blog – Dave Hill looks at Mayor Johnson’s recent ‘howl of pain’ on behalf of London bankers.

Unison East Midlands Local Govt Matters – It looks as though Notts County Council are in the process of reversing some of their proposed cuts. UNISON reports that the proposed reversals include reducing cuts made to residential care, welfare rights and reconsidering the sale of residential care homes.

Tory Troll – Adam Bienkov argues that Conservative Home was scraping the barrel with its list of Boris Johnson’s 100 achievements as London Mayor.

Liberal Conspiracy – Don Paskini takes a look at a Ipsos MORI reporting that “a disproportionate share of the best performing areas has a Labour-led local authority”

Though Cowards Flinch – Another post by Paul Cotterill, this time highlighting the harm that Tory proposals to freeze public sector pay would do.

Progressive London – Finally, Progressive London is holding its annual conference on Saturday 30th of January. A couple ‘cabinet big-hitters’ have been announced (Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband).

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