Labour Budget Strains Wokingham Charities Tuesday, 5 November, 2024 by Cllr George Evans The recent Labour budget has introduced significant financial pressures for Wokingham’s charity sector, which plays a crucial role in supporting our community’s most vulnerable residents. Local charities, which already operate on lean budgets, are now grappling with the increased costs from national insurance contributions and the minimum wage hike. These changes place an... Local News
Climate realism 5th August 2021 Allegra Stratton, the official Climate change spokeswoman, has been struggling to find things we could all do to advance their chosen cause of heading to net... Westminster News
Reviewing quangos 4th August 2021 Today I refresh my suggestion that the government during its spending review improves its financial and policy controls over quangos. The long trend to hive off... Westminster News
Buying more at home 3rd August 2021 If a bus company buys a bus made abroad the impact of the transaction on the UK economy and state finances is very different to a bus company buying a UK made... Westminster News
Government and private sector investment 2nd August 2021 I’m all for better schools and health facilities. These services paid for out of taxation need a suitable level of capital spend each year to update older... Westminster News
Funny figures 31st July 2021 I rely a lot on official statistics to read trends and make policy suggestions to government. The problem is the figures themselves are very unreliable and need... Westminster News
More police officers than ever before 30th July 2021 Thames Valley PCC, Matthew Barber, has welcomed the announcement that 269 police officers have been recruited in Thames Valley since September 2019, bringing... Local News
Public spending review 30th July 2021 This autumn will see a major public spending review. There will be the usual pressure for higher sums for the NHS, for education and other crucial services... Westminster News
The Benefits of the Local Plan 29th July 2021 The Benefits of the Local Plan - Part 5 in a series on the Local Plan by Cllr John Halsall Leader of WBC Last week, John Halsall explained what the Council is... Local News
Secondary schools to benefit from Conservative Government’s £200 million summer school programme 29th July 2021 6 schools in Wokingham are among the 2,820 secondary schools across England that will receive funding through the £200 million Summer School programme. 542,710... Local News
Non-essential shops will reopen from 15th June 27th May 2020 To further ease the lockdown, all non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen from 15th of June in England. National News
The Conservatives will not tolerate prejudice or discrimination 13th May 2020 We have commissioned an independent investigation any concerns about prejudice and discrimination head-on. Because no matter your background, you should be able... National News
We're Extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 12th May 2020 The Government is providing extra support for businesses who need it by extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Here's how. National News
Stay alert, control the virus, save lives: the Prime Minister's update 10th May 2020 The Prime Minister's address to the nation tells the nation: stay alert, control the virus, save lives. National News
The Prime Minister's Update: Tackling the Coronavirus 30th April 2020 The Prime Minister's latest update on April 30 on tackling Coronavirus. National News
We’re extending coronavirus testing to meet our 100,000 tests a day target 30th April 2020 From today, Coronavirus testing has been extended further to protect our most vulnerable and keep people safe. National News