Residents of a London borough have been left shocked, angry and fearful after being told they face a council tax bill rise of 94 per cent next year – adding £958 to the average annual bill.
The proposed tax rise, announced this week by Wandsworth Council, is in response to a sharp fall in its cashflow after the Government’s “fair funding” review changed the formula that decides how much money each local authority receives from Whitehall.
London councils stand to lose the most.
“We do not want to do this,” said Peter Graham, deputy leader of Conservative-controlled Wandsworth, upon announcing the new levy on Tuesday. “Council tax will need to rise unless Government thinks again.”
The key claims made by Earl Spencer so far about the Royal Family
Earl Charles Spencer, brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, has revealed all in a new book about his sister’s life.
What you need to know
Charles Spencer makes a number of shocking claims in his controversial new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister.
The memoir features allegations about the King’s state of mind immediately following Diana’s death, as well as some revelations about his sister herself.
Spencer’s key claims
Spencer alleged Charles sounded like a “lottery winner” after receiving news of Diana’s death.
Spencer also claimed Diana considered suicide but love for her sons “stopped her from going further”.
He claimed Diana had ADHD and also suffered from Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
Reactions to the book
- A spokesperson for the King said: “His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”
- The former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II described the claims of Charles sounding “giddily elated” as “hogwash”.
- Royal commentator Jennie Bond told the BBC Spencer’s “vindictive account” was “extraordinary”.
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The universities crowned best in the UK
and have unveiled the top universities in the UK in their .
The top 5 universities listed
- 1 The University of St Andrews
- 2The London School of Economics
- 3
- 4 The University of Cambridge
- 5 The University of Oxford
What has changed?
Oxford fell from fourth to fifth place with Cambridge remaining in fourth.
Oxbridge institutions dropped out of the top three for only the second time in the UK university guide’s 33-year history.
Imperial was named University of the Year after it climbed three places in the rankings from sixth place last year.
The expert view
[St Andrews has a] distinctive undergraduate experience that translates to superb rates of student satisfaction
Zoe Thomas, author of The Times and The Sunday Times Good Guide 2027
All the areas Reform is planning to target next
Reform UK is preparing a huge expansion of its operations around the country in a bid to attract voters in areas where it does not have a foothold, as it bids to put Nigel Farage in Downing Street.
Reform is advertising positions
The party is advertising 51 new campaigning roles across parts of England, Wales and Scotland, including for campaign managers and branch co-ordinators.
Exclusive analysis by The i Paper shows that Reform is focusing much of its hiring blitz in areas where it doesn’t yet have a strong electoral footing.
Which areas is Reform pushing into?
Reform advertised three roles in London where it holds just one seat on the London Assembly.
The South-East
Reform advertised five roles here. The party has just three seats in Surrey and one in Oxfordshire.
The South-West
The South-West has the heaviest hiring out of the three, with seven roles advertised. Reform holds one MP in the region.
How does the rest of the map look?
The East and West Midlands each have a branch network co-ordinator and a senior campaign manager advertised.
The North-West follows the same pattern, with a branch network co-ordinator and senior campaign manager sitting alongside five county-level campaign manager posts.
Reform also took Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils directly from Labour control in May, while in West Yorkshire the party now runs Wakefield and Calderdale councils outright and is the largest party in Kirklees.
4 min read
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
4 min read
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
2 min read
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
5 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
On Thursday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she had “instructed lawyers” to see if the cut in funding for Wandsworth can be challenged. She said the 94 per cent council tax rise was “outrageous” but the council was “not doing it because they want to”.
Wandsworth is one of three Tory-controlled councils in London that have announced plans to raise council tax as a result of the funding gap.
Westminster council said it might have to increase its charges by up to 100 per cent, while Kensington and Chelsea council warned of a “very large” spike ahead. Along with Wandsworth, they are preparing to challenge the Government to push ministers for more money.
The Labour Government has argued that the fair funding review was necessary to get more cash to areas with higher spending needs.
But the authorities standing to lose the most – and its residents – feel this is unfair.
“It’s really terrible because it feels like the central Government is punishing people because they can afford to live in south-west London. There is real shock and anger,” Frances, a 65-year-old Wandsworth resident, told The i Paper after her council announced the tax increase.
Jemima Jefferies, a 30-year-old life coach, said: “I’m nervous about it to be honest, because I’m thinking, ‘How am I going to be able to afford my council tax next year?’”
“I’m in quite a fortunate position because the tax rise won’t be a matter of whether or not I can put food on the table – it’s just a really annoying cost. But for others I know it will be much worse.”
“What the Government is doing does feel really unfair. I understand it will be good for those other areas outside of London, but the sheer volume of people that will be affected by this is unforgiveable,” she added.
A Government spokesperson said it was “fixing an outdated funding system, so funding goes where need is greatest”. They said councils “should put taxpayers first” when deciding on the increases.
Historically low taxation
Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea’s council taxes are currently among the lowest in England.
These three councils – alongside Hammersmith and Fulham, City of London and Windsor and Maidenhead – have already been given special permission to increase council tax beyond the usual 5 per cent cap.
All six of these areas currently levy “very low council tax bills”, said Kate Ogden, economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. As a result, the Government’s own figures already “assume that these councils might significantly increase their council tax bills”, Ogden added.
Wandsworth would need a council tax revenue increase of 75.5 per cent over a three-year period to deal with funding issues – the highest “assumed” increase, according to analysis of Government figures by the House of Commons Library.
The plan to ‘fight’ funding changes
Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea all plan to submit separate petitions to the Government in the coming weeks to challenge the “fair funding” changes.
The Sustainable Communities Act, the legislation they are using in the challenge, allows councils to appeal against a government policy if they fear it could damage residents’ well-being.
Although ministers have the power to refuse the appeal, they are legally obliged to respond. The period of this consultation is not clear, and residents do not need to be consulted by the government, The i Paper understands.
“We’ll use every weapon in our armoury to make them think again,” Kensington and Chelsea council leader Elizabeth Campbell told this paper of her council’s challenge. “We’re not going to roll over on this until we’ve exhausted every avenue.”
It is not clear if the Government will take it seriously. But Wandsworth’s three Labour MPs have already refused to back the Tory-run council’s challenge. In a letter refusing support, Rosena Allin-Khan, Fleur Anderson and Marsha de Cordova said Wandsworth Council had been in “a strong financial position” when Labour had been in charge before losing at the May 2026 local elections.
Liberal Democrat-run Richmond Council, which says it will lose £102m from fair funding changes over the next four years, told The i Paper it also plans to join the Tory councils’ challenge after consulting residents. The council will “fight to get the Government to change track”, said leader Gareth Roberts.
Richmond has one of London’s highest council tax rates, charging £2,486 for Band D residents, and does not currently have permission to increase rates above 5 per cent.
Scepticism remains over whether or not any councils really need to raise bills by 100 per cent.
Local government experts believe Wandsworth and Westminster will opt for smaller rises when they finalise their council tax rises for 2027-28 early next year.
“I think there is quite a bit of politics to it,” said Andy Pike, professor of regional development studies at Newcastle University, calling the threats of 100 per cent council tax rises “sabre-rattling”.
“I think these councils are trying to blame the Government for the funding settlement, as they make an attempt to push for more money,” he added.
“There’s politics and negotiation tactics,” said one local government source on the threats of 100 per cent increases ahead of final decisions.
Paul Fisher, Westminster’s cabinet member for finance, denied the possible 75 to 100 per cent increase in council tax was a political move, describing the councils’ challenge as a “very genuine attempt to push the Government to rethink the funding.”
John O’Connell, chief executive at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said the kind of council tax rises being talked about by Wandsworth and Westminster are “simply unacceptable” and will do “real damage” to residents’ lives.
But he had some sympathy with these London councils, calling on Labour ministers to rethink the funding reforms so “punishing rises” can be prevented.
O’Connell’s remarks were echoed by Beth, another Wandsworth resident, who said the tax rise could push people away.
“From a budgeting perspective, it’s something I will have to think about, especially with how crazy rent prices are. It will definitely make other areas look a lot more attractive,” said the 25-year-old, who works in sales and did not share her last name.
Susan Read, a 75-year-old retired nurse who has lived in the area for most of her life, believes the additional tax will particularly affect younger and older people.
“It is going to be hard for us pensioners, never mind the young people that are just starting out,” she said.