Keen to keep up the momentum on his big (or not so big) ideas, Andy Burnham will apparently announce on Friday that in future some revenue from income tax will be distributed directly to local government so that they, rather than Whitehall, can choose how to spend the money.

Will he really want to give up power and money to Reform-led councils who might be minded to do all they can to thwart Labour party policies? Or spend their money hanging the St George Cross from every lamp post?

Will he really want to give up power and money to Reform-led councils who might be minded to do all they can to thwart Labour party policies? Or spend their money hanging the St George Cross from every lamp post?

In Britain, only around 5 per cent of total government revenue is collected by local government, which is markedly lower than many other countries. Councils will reportedly not be allowed to vary the rate of income tax, as the SNP has done disastrously in Scotland (its 3 per cent supplementary rate on income tax has cost it £20 million this year according to Dan........

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