(1043) There are times, chaps and chapesses, when NOWP is vastly more important for news and times when it’s jus a bit more important than HQ. This is the former right at this moment. 1438 and 1437. (1116)

 

10. Moo corner

9. The TPA and council debt

New analysis from the TPA wonks has revealed that debt across local government has more than doubled since 2009-10, hitting an eye-watering £154.6 billion in 2025-26! In England, local authority debt totalled £127 billion in 2025-26, accounting for more than four-fifths of all UK local authority debt and the equivalent of 53 million average band D council tax bills.

Greater London Authority bodies held £20.1 billion of debt, the highest of any category of local authority, while outside of London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Woking owed £3.5 billion, £2.6 billion, and £2.1 billion, respectively. Averaged out across the country, local authority debt per resident stands at £2,232.

Having spent years playing monopoly with their residents’ money, councils have now left an enormous burden on local taxpayers. 

8. Rupert on Monday

7. Was this from IYE

Not altogether sure but there’s a Grifty over at 1438 in the next few mins … DAD is also deeply into this subject … is it something to do with France?

6. Nothing works and we all feel poorer