local government
Keir Starmer's government is bringing power to local communities. We need that in social security
![keir starmer and mayors](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/53845357908_7ce542b511_o.jpg?w=768)
Keir Starmer's government is bringing power to local communities. We need that in social security
How could Labour use devolution to reform the social security system? Ruth Patrick, Hayley Bennett and John Hudson explore what could change
Government must fix council tax benefits, charity says, as millions pushed into debt
![council tax support/ houses](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/peter-mason-h5vwu29o-Z8-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Government must fix council tax benefits, charity says, as millions pushed into debt
Selling off social housing stinks of short-term thinking from local councils
![Boarded-up empty end-of-terrace house in north london.](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/selling-empty-council-housing_AR9H7C.jpg?w=768)
Selling off social housing stinks of short-term thinking from local councils
Councils need millions to prevent bankruptcy due to rising cost of homelessness: 'It's a national crisis'
Councils need millions to prevent bankruptcy due to rising cost of homelessness: 'It's a national crisis'
'We're living in a nightmare': Iraqi refugee family evicted into homelessness has lost 'all sense of safety' in UK
'We're living in a nightmare': Iraqi refugee family evicted into homelessness has lost 'all sense of safety' in UK
Councils are running out of temporary accommodation to help homeless families
![homeless](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/jorge-salvador-vVINLKZtGOI-unsplash-scaled-e1692793749618.jpg?w=768)
Councils are running out of temporary accommodation to help homeless families
Council’s refusal to scrap four-day week inspires others to register interest in new pilots
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/7313836610_806b4c9ebe_c-e1691147043172.jpg?w=768)
Council’s refusal to scrap four-day week inspires others to register interest in new pilots
Council tax debt is spiralling across England as households struggle with cost of living crisis
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1146088291.jpg?w=768)
Council tax debt is spiralling across England as households struggle with cost of living crisis
New voter ID rules are blocking local elections voters from casting their ballot
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/shutterstock_editorial_13898856au.jpg?w=768)
New voter ID rules are blocking local elections voters from casting their ballot
Dogs at polling stations bring a smile to local election day
![Dogs at polling stations](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Dogs-at-polling-stations-1.jpeg?w=761)
Dogs at polling stations bring a smile to local election day
Grenfell System Failure: A rage-inducing inquiry into government buck-passing
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Grenfell-System-Failure-Howard-Crossley-Eric-Pickles-Photographer-Tristram-Kenton-scaled-e1677849219912.jpg?w=768)
Grenfell System Failure: A rage-inducing inquiry into government buck-passing
Meet the man trying to improve Britain's social housing
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/brutal-housing-hero.jpg?w=768)
Meet the man trying to improve Britain's social housing
Let there be Christmas light! How the UK is keeping the magic of the season on the high street
![Switching on King’s Lynn’s Christmas lights in 2021](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1540_LIGHTs_117_LYNN_XMAS_LIGHTS_2021.jpg?w=768)
Let there be Christmas light! How the UK is keeping the magic of the season on the high street
How spending cuts have decimated public services since 2010, from libraries to youth clubs
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/52475299738_7398a1da64_o-e1668677946472.jpg?w=768)
How spending cuts have decimated public services since 2010, from libraries to youth clubs
Students in east London will be paid to go to school as mayor brings back EMA amid cost of living crisis
![Students in a classroom](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sam-balye-w1FwDvIreZU-unsplash-scaled-e1666884595586.jpg?w=768)
Students in east London will be paid to go to school as mayor brings back EMA amid cost of living crisis
'Impenetrable' government website leaves public in the dark about dangerous air pollution levels
![A busy road with traffic](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/traffic-g906f0f118_1920-e1649167249640.jpg?w=768)
'Impenetrable' government website leaves public in the dark about dangerous air pollution levels
'Politics needs to be real': Why more independent candidates are standing in this year's local elections
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WhatsApp-Image-2022-04-25-at-3.09.46-PM-e1651242651980.jpeg?w=768)
'Politics needs to be real': Why more independent candidates are standing in this year's local elections
Kent Tories slammed over universal credit cut 'sweepstake'
![Kent Cllr Paul Bartlett, who revealed Tory councillors had organised a sweepstake as to when the universal credit cut would be mentioned at a town hall meeting.](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Kentmeeting.jpg?w=760)