The Adam Smith Institute has branded the High-Speed 2 rail project ‘economically irresponsible’ and has called for it to be scrapped.

A public consultation has shown support for proposals to devolve power and funding from Westminster to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

A London MP has said as he urged politicians to support homelessness reforms, labelling the current situation as an ‘absolute disgrace’.

A Welsh council leader has said he does not believe the merging of councils will happen for at least 10 years.

Cllr John Clancy, the leader of Birmingham City Council, has signed a development deal worth up to £2 billion with a Chinese company.
Declaring the region ‘open for business’, Clancy and Chinese property development company Country Garden have agreed a deal that will see the Guangdong-based company explore large scale investment opportunities in Birmingham city region area, with particular focus on regeneration and investment options related to the HS2 project.

A senior Parliamentary Committee is to recommend that all MPs and peers vacate both Houses of Parliament for six years to allow for urgent repairs.
The £4 billion restoration project will tackle asbestos, frail stonework and ageing electrics and wiring. It has been said the Grade I-listed building would be knocked down if it was not protected, with the committee report suggesting this means MPs may need to relocate as early as 2020.

The Resolution Foundation has urged ministers to ignore calls to cut future increases to the National Living Wage (NLW).

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published its final recommendations for a shake-up of boundaries in Birmingham which would lead to more wards by fewer politicians.

Waste management company Amgen Cymru, owned by Rhondda Cynon Taf council, has been criticised by the GMB union over its employment practices.