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STORY

Croydon Council has told the Government that the scale of the challenge facing the authority remains significant despite progress on stabilisation and transformation work. The council submitted an update on its improvement programme after years of serious financial and governance difficulties.

The authority said foundations for change had been put in place, but that further work was needed to deliver results. It said it was continuing to review its financial strategy, embed financial stewardship across directorates and identify additional medium-term savings.

Croydon has been one of the highest-profile examples of financial failure in English local Government. The latest update suggests the council is continuing to work through major legacy issues while attempting to restore confidence in its finances and governance arrangements.

STORY

Local Government finance specialists have warned that public services should be placed at the centre of the next Prime Minister’s plans as councils face continuing pressure on budgets. A reported £7 billion funding gap has added to calls for a longer-term settlement for local public services.

The warning reflects continuing concern about adult social care, children’s services, homelessness, special educational needs and wider neighbourhood services. Councils have argued that short-term funding packages have not resolved structural pressures caused by rising demand and higher costs.

Local Government bodies are expected to keep pressing ministers for greater financial certainty ahead of future spending decisions. The debate also sits alongside wider discussions about fiscal devolution, local audit, council reorganisation and the balance of responsibilities between Whitehall and local authorities.

STORY

The European Commission has proposed five major cross-border defence projects intended to strengthen co-operation between member states and partner countries. The proposals are part of efforts to build European defence capacity in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and wider security concerns.

The projects include work on drones and counter-drone systems, eastern flank surveillance, maritime and seabed defence, air and missile defence and space-based defence capabilities. The plans are intended to support long-term industrial collaboration and reduce fragmentation in European defence procurement.

The proposals will require approval from the Council of the EU. The Commission has argued that joint projects can help improve Europe’s ability to develop complex defence systems while complementing NATO priorities and strengthening the competitiveness of European industry.

STORY

Members of the European Parliament are preparing to vote on updated air passenger rights during the July plenary session in Strasbourg. The proposed rules include compensation after a three-hour delay and fee-free seating for children travelling with accompanying adults.

The vote forms part of the Parliament’s 6 to 9 July agenda, which also includes debates on the June European Council summit, Ukraine and Moldova’s EU paths, social security co-ordination and support for farmers affected by fertiliser costs.

Supporters of the air passenger proposals say they would provide clearer protections for travellers affected by disruption. Airlines and member states have previously raised concerns about the cost and operational impact of passenger compensation rules, meaning further negotiation may still be required.

STORY

Affordable housing providers have warned that changes to planning obligations could reduce the number of affordable homes built in rural areas. The concern centres on possible reforms to Section 106 agreements, which currently require affordable housing contributions from many private developments.

The National Housing Federation has said that removing on-site affordable housing requirements from smaller developments could have a particularly damaging impact in rural England. It argues that many rural affordable homes are delivered on sites that would be affected by such a change.

The Government has said it wants to simplify the planning system and increase housebuilding, but no final decision has been confirmed on the specific reform. Housing organisations say any changes need to protect rural communities where local families can already struggle to find affordable homes.

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The Government’s plans for AI growth zones are facing questions over whether proposed sites can deliver the power and infrastructure needed for large-scale data centres. The zones are intended to support major AI investment and help position the UK as a leading location for advanced computing.

Reports have raised concerns about the feasibility of some proposals, including whether enough land, grid capacity and renewable energy could be secured. Large data centres can require very substantial electricity supplies, making planning, connections and local infrastructure central to whether the projects can proceed.

The Government has presented AI growth zones as part of a wider industrial strategy for technology and economic renewal. Critics argue that ministers will need to provide more detail on delivery, energy supply and local impacts if the policy is to move beyond ambition into practical implementation.

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Nigel Farage and Reform UK are facing renewed scrutiny over donor declarations after reports about support allegedly provided by wealthy backers. The row has increased pressure on the party at a time when political finance rules are already under national attention.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is considering complaints connected to Farage’s declarations, including issues relating to gifts, donations and possible interests. Farage has denied wrongdoing and Reform UK has argued that the relevant support was either declared or did not require registration under the rules at the time.

The dispute has drawn criticism from political opponents and former standards figures, who have warned against dismissing the watchdog process. Reform UK has described the scrutiny as politically motivated, while critics say the case raises broader questions about transparency and influence in party politics.

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Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that artificial intelligence could pose a major security threat without stronger global rules and safeguards. Her comments came as she argued that AI would become one of the central foreign policy issues facing Governments over the next two years.

Cooper said the risks included the use of AI by hostile states, criminal networks and terrorist groups. She called for international co-operation, including engagement between major powers, to prevent advanced technologies being misused and to build more effective global guardrails.

The intervention places AI regulation alongside other international security concerns including climate change, irregular migration and foreign interference in democracies. It also reflects the UK’s continuing attempt to position itself as a leading voice on AI safety and governance.