Tory MPs abstain on vote to protect millions of leaseholders impacted by cladding scandal
Yesterday the Labour Party set out Labour’s roadmap to safer homes, as analysis shows many thousands of homes across the country are likely to be affected by the cladding crisis, but Conservative MPs chose to abstain on the issue. The Labour Party forced MPs to vote on this matter in Parliament yesterday, with Leader Keir […]
Government not doing enough to avoid “catastrophic” economic impact of Covid-19
Tower Hamlets Council has called out the Government for failing to provide adequate support to avoid a “potential catastrophic growth in unemployment and poverty” as the economic impact of the pandemic continues to build and as the country faces the biggest economic slump in more than 300 years. At a meeting of the Full Council […]
Government urged to properly fund SEND services in Tower Hamlets
Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs and Cllr Danny Hassell have written to the Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson MP to say that the current increase in SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) funding is insufficient to cover rising demand and the historic deficit caused by years of underfunding by government. Tower Hamlets […]
10,000 extra devices needed in Tower Hamlets for home schooling
A Tower Hamlets Council survey of local headteachers has found that an estimated 10,000 additional devices are required in the borough to ensure that every child has the IT equipment they require to access schooling from home. The Prime Minister made the decision to shut schools in England last week for many children, a day […]
Mayor Biggs publishes budget plans with pledge to keep funding Free School Meals despite austerity
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has published his budget proposals which protects council-funded free school meals. The council has had to save £200m since 2010 due to government austerity and must save a further £30m by 2024 due to rising demand and continuing cuts to its budget. Despite these pressures the budget proposals […]
‘Give school staff early vaccinations’ urges Mayor of Tower Hamlets
School teachers and support staff should be given Covid-19 vaccines early to enable a safer return to schools when lockdown is lifted the Mayor of Tower Hamlets has said. Writing in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mayor John Biggs argued for early vaccines for staff and urged the Government to undertake urgent scientific analysis […]
Government urged to save the early years sector by continuing funding arrangements into 2021
Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Danny Hassell have written to Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson MP urging the government to extend a funding lifeline for early years providers who face a financial cliff edge in January. During the pandemic, early years providers have seen a significant decline in demand for places but remain […]
Mayor Biggs warns that failure to secure a Brexit trade deal would be “catastrophic” for Tower Hamlets
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has criticised the Government over its no-deal brinkmanship as time runs out to secure a trade deal in the Brexit talks. The Mayor said that the Government’s game-playing through the media during negotiations has left businesses and residents in the dark about what will happen at the start […]
Chancellor passes the buck on social care funding crisis again
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has criticised the Chancellor for “shirking his responsibility” to tackle the social care funding crisis, and for “passing the buck” to local councils. Rather than having a national, sustainable funding method for social care services, the Tory Government leaves councils to organise and fund the vast majority of […]
Mayor Biggs urges Chancellor to protect Universal Credit and Keep the Lifeline
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs has hit out at the Chancellor for ploughing on with plans to cut Universal Credit (UC) in April next year, despite the enormous hardship facing many families across the country as the economic impact of Covid-19 bites. The government raised the standard UC allowance for 12 months earlier […]
