Conservatives re-enter leadership at Rochford District Council
"Given the current uncertainty due to local government reform, we believe that transparent, engaging and member-led leadership is vital for the future of the district, and that is what we intend to deliver," she said.
Local councils in England are due to be dismantled and replaced as part of a major shake-up of local government.RDR councillor John Mason was made the deputy leader and said his party would be "working for residents" in coalition with the other two groups.Arthur Williams, group leader for RFWI, said his party shared "common goals" with his cross-bench colleagues.No single political party has had a majority in Rochford in recent years.The Tories have 10 members, RDR have eight, Lib Dems have eight, RFWI have three and 10 other councillors are from independent groups.
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Jack Straw urges Labour not to panic about threat of Nigel Farage
Keir Starmer and his ministers must not 'panic' about the threat of Nigel Farage, the former home secretary Jack Straw has said, adding that the prime minister had impressed on the world stage and should show more of that side of himself at home. In an interview with the Guardian, he praised Starmer's intention to recognise a Palestinian state after an ultimatum to Israel – but defended the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, saying he would also have proscribed the direct action group Palestine Action. The British political veteran said he believed Starmer and his cabinet were 'head and shoulders' above opposition politicians and would reap the rewards of a gradual improvement in the economy and public services, which would not come immediately. And he said the poll lead of Reform UK should not be taken as a foregone conclusion. 'We have been here before in terms of an insurgent party leading in the polls. So I think it is the famous phrase – don't panic,' he said. The former cabinet minister said Labour faced not only a terrible economic inheritance, but fundamental damage to the fabric of democracy by the previous Conservative governments, primarily Boris Johnson. 'Johnson polluted British politics and although he's left the stage, that pollution carries on, and has been very profound,' he said. 'People look at the first Blair period with kind of rose-tinted spectacles. It didn't always feel that it was easy at the time, but the inheritance was much easier.' Straw said there had at least been an appreciation in 1997 that his predecessors had been competent people. 'These people [in the last Tory government] were not competent. They couldn't do the job. In the space of four years, I think there were five home secretaries,' he said. Straw, who was foreign secretary during the invasion of Iraq, which he later admitted had been a mistake, said he had spent time in the run-up to last year's general election with David Lammy and dismissed the idea Labour that had not been adequately prepared to enter government. 'The issues that they're dealing with have become much more intense,' he said. 'I was talking to someone who worked for years in the Treasury, he was saying how these ministers are head and shoulders above what he described as the Fourth XI of the previous government.' Straw represented his Blackburn constituency for 33 years, and has often talked about how he had been proud that a Labour government had helped to heal racial and social divisions in Britain, which many in Westminster now feel have fractured with tensions exploited by Farage and others. His seat is now held by Adnan Hussain, a pro-Gaza independent. Straw, who until recently still chaired a youth centre in the town and still chairs a chain of academies including Muslim faith schools in Blackburn, said it was hardly surprising given the strength of feeling about Gaza. He said he knew Hussain and thought he was 'throughly decent' and added: 'Politics there has always been complicated.' But he said it was clear that politics was fracturing in a way that would start to produce unpredictable results – particularly under first past the post, which he favoured abolishing. 'The party needs to think about that,' he said of electoral reform. 'And it would get through, I think people understand that in a multi-party situation, first past the post is potentially unfair. It can produce really quirky results. Farage could come through on that.' Could he envisage Farage as PM? 'There is a chance. I think it's a small chance, smaller than he thinks. The Tory party appears to me to just be collapsing,' he said. Although he admitted he did not expect such a plummet in popularity for Starmer and Labour, he urged the party to remain calm. 'In 2000 of course we lost the mayoral election to Ken Livingstone; that was regarded as a great humiliation for Labour. 'So, not being Pollyanna-ish about this, but my instinct is that things will gradually improve.' He said he hoped a sceptical UK public would begin to make the connection between Starmer's successful diplomacy, especially with Donald Trump, and the kind of statesman he could be at home. 'The way Starmer has navigated the challenge from America has been extraordinary,' he said. 'This government has made missteps, which all governments do, and not least about things like [welfare]. 'But at some stage I think that people will start to make the connection between the stalwart international statesman and Starmer the domestic prime minister, and realise that we're talking about the same person and the character.' In one of his first acts as home secretary Straw was the architect of the Human Rights Act 1998, incorporating the European convention on human rights (ECHR) into UK domestic law. His ruthless approach to crime and law and order was often contrasted with his commitment to the act – which survived threats of abolition under the Conservatives. But Straw has become increasingly sceptical of the sweeping reach of the Strasbourg court – and said the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, should consider legislating to stop such an interventionist approach on asylum, which rightwing parties have denounced. 'I'm not remotely in the position of people on the right who say just abolish the Human Rights Act and withdraw from the ECHR,' he said. 'But we need to look at two things. One, if you can persuade the court in Strasbourg that they have to be less interventionist, and that if they're not, they will write themselves out of the script. 'The second thing is considering ways in which you progressively decouple the Human Rights Act from Strasbourg. The Human Rights Act says British courts should 'take account' of the decisions of the ECHR. But that's basically been interpreted as 'to follow'. And that was never, never our intention.' He said the court should be 'concentrating on the original purposes, which was to stop really serious breaches of rights, not everyday asylum issues.' As home secretary, it was also Straw's Terrorism Act that introduced the proscription of terror groups – used against al-Qaida and others. At the time, addressing concerns that it would affect civil disobedience by organisations such as Greenpeace, Straw said there was 'no evidence whatever' they would be affected. But he said now he was fully behind the decision to proscribe Palestine Action, because of the attack on military planes at RAF Brize Norton. 'This was a very, very serious breach of the security of the base. And if I'd have been in Yvette's position, which I have been, I would have done exactly what she's done,' he said. 'You can't proscribe on a whim. And you need clear evidence. Much of that evidence is based on intelligence, but also just the fact that they are attacking our military assets and military bases. I think we certainly would have taken the action that she has taken.' But Straw said he had been delighted to see Starmer take the decision to recognise a Palestinian state – saying it was 'barefaced cheek' of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to say it was playing into the hands of Hamas. 'I applaud the decision which Keir Starmer has taken. I'm really glad that he's done that. I think that the conditions imposed were quite skilful,' he said. Straw said he did not know yet whether the Israeli offensive in Gaza would ultimately be deemed a genocide. 'Whatever label you put on it, it's absolutely amoral and unacceptable and just terrible.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Rugby league told £16m government funding will be stopped unless questions answered
The Rugby Football League has been told it will not receive the next instalment of government funding due next month unless it addresses concerns in Westminster about the sport's governance. Officials from Sport England are due to meet the RFL leadership team of the interim chair, Nigel Wood, and chief executive, Tony Sutton, this week to address the issue, with the next payment of a £16m government funding package at risk. The Guardian has learned that during preliminary discussions to arrange the meeting, the RFL was informed it will not receive next month's payment without providing satisfactory answers regarding recent changes to its board to Sport England, which will be represented by its chair, Chris Boardman, and interim chief executive, Phil Smith. Sport England is understood to believe that the RFL's decision to install Wood as interim chair may have breached the Code for Sports Governance, as it does not appear to have followed an 'open and transparent' recruitment process. Complying with the code, which sets out minimum standards regarding transparency, diversity and inclusion, accountability and integrity, is a prerequisite for governing bodies seeking government and National Lottery funding. An RFL spokesperson told the Guardian: 'The RFL is working with Sport England on a Governance Action Plan, following resignations from the Board earlier in 2025, which required transitional arrangements. 'We appreciate the need for Sport England to reassure themselves that our response will remain fully compliant with the Code for Sports Governance – the new RFL Board are totally committed to this. 'The outstanding work that is delivered by the sport in hard-to-reach communities, made possible partly by Sport England funding, continues unaffected.' Government money is critical to rugby league, the finances of which have been stretched in recent years by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse in the value of its main broadcast deal with Sky Sports, which is paying the Super League clubs around half what it was five years ago to televise their matches. Without Sport England funding many other clubs would find themselves in a similar position to Salford Red Devils, who are fighting for their future after a disastrous takeover that has left them with only two senior players due to the repeated late payment of wages and several Super League fixtures being cancelled. The RFL receives £16m over five years from government in a deal managed by Sport England, with the money used to fund the elite end of the sport as represented by England's international teams and the development of the grassroots and recreational game. Sport England's concerns revolve around the processes involved in the return of Wood following the resignation of the former RFL chair Simon Johnson and three other directors this year. Wood was previously chief executive of the RFL for 11 years and received a £300,000 severance package following his departure in 2018, which accounted for almost one-sixth of the governing body's losses at the time. The Code for Sports Governance states the chairs of governing bodies must be independent, but Wood was chair of the Championship club Bradford Bulls before being appointed. While he has relinquished that role at Bradford he remains on the club's board. Wood initially returned to the RFL in March as senior independent director before taking the title of interim chair, which was made permanent last month. He has also been appointed chair of Rugby League Commercial, the body that manages the sport's broadcasting and sponsorship sales. In addition to Wood's links to Bradford, Sport England is expected to ask questions about the processes involved in his appointment, and whether any other potential candidates were interviewed. In March RFL sources insisted it would not be a long-term arrangement. Since returning to the RFL Wood has been instrumental in driving through an expansion of Super League from 12 to 14 clubs for next season, although Hull FC, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors failed to endorse the plan when it was voted through by the other nine clubs last month. In another twist Bradford are one of the clubs pushing to be promoted from the Championship to the expanded Super League, which has raised eyebrows given Wood's previous role. As the Guardian revealed last month, Sky Sports has also yet to endorse the expansion and has made it clear it will not provide additional funding for the extra clubs to cover the final season of its three-year TV deal, which expires at the end of next season. In addition, it is unclear who will cover the approximate £500,000 cost of televising an extra game across 27 rounds next season. Some Championship clubs vying for promotion as part of expansion plans have indicated they are willing to enter Super League without central funding next season, which has raised further concerns about its competitiveness in the light of the Salford debacle. Salford were thrashed 80-6 by Hull FC last week before Sunday's fixture against Wakefield was cancelled due to concerns over the safety of the younger players and triallists they were planning to field. Salford's owner, Dario Berta, has said the club will not go bust. They are due in court next month over an unpaid tax bill of almost £700,000.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Five ways to save hundreds on your tax bill this year as millions face paying more
MILLIONS of workers are set to pay more tax on their earnings in the coming years because of frozen tax thresholds. It's estimated an extra 4.1million more workers will be dragged into higher tax bands by 2027-28. 1 Income tax thresholds have been frozen since 2022, meaning that as wages have increased more people are being forced to pay extra. The previous Conservative Government had frozen income tax thresholds until April 2028, and it's now rumoured this could be extended. The higher rate tax band is frozen at £50,270, which means any earnings over this amount are taxed at 40%. Meanwhile, the additional tax band is currently fixed at £125,140, beyond which any earnings are taxed at 45%. There are some things you can do to cut your tax bill, though. The Sun explains… Apply for tax relief You can cut your tax bill by claiming relief on your job expenses. This means you'll take home more of your income and pay less in tax. To be eligible, you must use your own money for things you need to buy for your job and that you only use for work. This could include things like uniforms, work clothes, tools, vehicles you use for work, travel and overnight costs. It can also include the costs of working from home. HMRC using AI to scan social media for tax evasion investigations You can't claim tax relief if your employer pays for any of these things or offers you alternative equipment. But if you are eligible, you'll get the relief based on what you've spent and the rate at which you pay tax. So if you claim £60 of tax relief and usually pay tax at 20%, you'll get £12 back. For more information and to make a claim visit Use salary sacrifice You can top up your income without paying any tax by using salary sacrifice. This lets you exchange some of your wages for a different benefit from your employer, such as a company car, childcare vouchers or pension contributions. Of course, your salary will then be reduced by the cost of any benefits you choose. But as your salary is lower you will pay less tax and National Insurance. So if you were on the UK average salary of £37,430 and you sacrificed £200 a month into your pension, you would save around £480 a year in income tax. You would also save nearly £200 in National Insurance, taking your total saving to £672. Not all employers will offer salary sacrifice so you should check with them. This method won't boost your take-home pay but it will cut your tax bill and make your money go further. Claim marriage allowance You can claim this if you're married or in a civil partnership. Every worker has a personal allowance of £12,570, which is the amount of money they can earn each year before they start to pay income tax. Marriage Allowance is a special tax rule that lets you transfer £1,260 of your personal allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner. Your income must be below £12,570 and your partner must pay Income Tax at the basic rate, which usually means their income must be between £12,571 and £50,270. Many couples haven't claimed because they don't realise it exists, but it can be backdated for up to four years. The fastest way to apply for the allowance is online and you should get an email confirming your application within 24 hours. You can also claim Marriage Allowance by post using the MATCF form. For more information visit Pay more into your pension Simply upping your pension contributions is another way to cut your tax bill. At the moment you're entitled to income tax relief on your pension contributions, so a standard-rate taxpayer will get 20% relief and so on. Some schemes will let you get all your tax relief automatically but with others you will need to claim higher or additional-rate tax relief from HMRC. If you have a defined contribution pension, which is most likely if you're in the private sector, you can choose to increase your pension contributions and you won't pay income tax on the extra amount you pay in. If you have a defined benefit pension, which you likely do if you're in the public sector, you won't be able to change your contributions in the same way. However you can still look at buying added pension within your scheme or make use of additional voluntary contributions. Open an ISA account People with savings could end up paying income tax on the interest they earn. Most people have a personal savings allowance of £12,570 that you won't need to pay tax on. But if your total income - including savings interest - is between £12,570 and £50,270 then you will need to pay income tax if you earn over £1,000 in savings interest. If you earn between £50,270 and £125,140, you owe tax on the amount earned over £500. For people earning over £125,140, you can't earn any interest without paying tax. However, everyone can cut their tax bill by putting their money into an ISA. These are like normal savings accounts but you don't have to pay tax on interest earned if you put in up to £20,000 a year.
