West Midlands local authority navigating reforms and public services
Ryan Bridge, founder of Raise the Colours, has been charged with 14 offences linked to a two‑month period in Oxfordshire. The charges include threatening behaviour, harassment and common assault. He will appear in Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 3 November as injunctions against flag displays remain in force in Oxfordshire and Birmingham.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has allowed Next to justify paying warehouse workers higher basic pay than shop staff, citing recruitment and retention costs. The decision affects thousands of claimants and follows years of litigation, with Leigh Day planning an appeal on several points including night-time pay and rest breaks.
A wave of illegal e-bikes and dockless bikes is prompting authorities to intensify enforcement and licensing rules across London and other cities. Seizures have risen, and officials say safety and pavement access are at the heart of the crackdown. Meanwhile, operators face tighter regulation and potential penalties.
ITV's undercover investigation has exposed Reform UK councillors and candidates making racist, misogynistic and violent language ahead of local elections. Several members have resigned or been suspended as Nigel Farage defends vetting. Police are examining party finances amid the fallout.