London Local Elections 2026: Who will win in Ealing? May 6, 2026 Voters are heading to the polls in the Labour stronghold of Ealing, against a backdrop of controversial developments, an increasingly split electoral map, and a hike in council tax. In the West London borough of Ealing, Labour is defending one of its strongest majorities in London at this latest set of local elections. Back [...]
London local elections 2026: Who will win in Barnet? May 6, 2026 Labour faces a battle in defending Barnet in the local elections after recent surges in council tax and a flurry of defections since 2022. Barnet stands as a real test for both the Conservative and Labour party. What was traditionally a safe seat for the Tories flipped red in 2022 as Labour won the borough [...]
‘Vicious and damaging’: Council tax overhaul set to end decades of financial ruin fears April 16, 2026 Brits will be granted more time to settle outstanding council tax bills under fresh reforms, ending decades of “vicious” collections which have left many on the brink of financial ruin. The shake up to the administration of bills sparks the first changes since 1993, after the lack of updating to fit modern needs and shifting [...]
From Jaffa Cakes to National Insurance: How to fix Britain’s mad tax system – according to the experts April 14, 2026 In its latest report, the OECD scolded the UK for its illogical and growth-impeding tax system. Ali Lyon speaks to five tax experts to work out how to fix it. Potato crisps and their corn chip cousins are – as indulgent savoury snacks go – undeniably similar. They taste alike and are a similar size. [...]
Mansion tax to hit 165,000 homeowners April 3, 2026 The mansion tax is expected to hit 165,000 homeowners in its first year, more than the 120,000 that was previously thought. The levy will hit 45,000 more properties than had been initially forecast, according to the fiscal watchdog, and thousands could successfully appeal the tax. The mansion tax, introduced at last year’s Budget, will not [...]
Mansion tax is an ‘assault’ on London’s property market November 27, 2025 The UK’s new ‘mansion tax’ is set to hit homeowners in London hard, particularly for middle-class Londoners who have seen the price of their property balloon in the last two decades. Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced a new high-value council tax surcharge for owners of properties valued at over £2m in her second Budget on Wednesday. [...]
Autumn Budget: Reeves pushes ahead with ‘mansion’ tax November 26, 2025 A mansion tax will be introduced on homes worth more than £2m, Rachel Reeves confirmed, despite warnings from the property industry that the move was fraught with practical difficulties and would lead to a fire sale of high-end homes. The Chancellor ploughed ahead with widely rumoured plans to apply a “high-value council tax surcharge” on [...]
Council tax revaluation on high-value homes to disproportionately hit London and South East November 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves is set to introduce a council tax surcharge on expensive homes in a move that will disproportionately impact London and the South East, according to reports. The Chancellor is currently finalizing plans to plug a £25bn black hole in the public finances, and last week ruled out a major rise to income taxes. [...]
Council tax spike to pay for Reeves spending plans June 12, 2025 Council tax will rise at the fastest pace in over two decades, fresh analysis has suggested, after a government document said it expected bills to rise to pay for local services. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has pointed to government documents published shortly after the Spending Review ended suggesting Brits will have to pay [...]
Council pay: Westminster tops ‘town hall rich list’ with 73 staff on over £100k March 31, 2025 Westminster City Council has topped a national ‘town hall rich list’ with 73 staff rewarded with over £100,000 last year. The central London borough council also had the most employees nationwide – at eight – receiving more than £200,000 in total remuneration, in 2023-24, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA). While 13 more Westminster staff [...]