Charlie Alford

Burnham pressed to keep privatisers out of National Care Service

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:29 July 2026
Post last modified:29 July 2026

Andy Burnham is planning to finally implement the much-needed National Care Service (NCS). While it’s undeniable that we need this service, the question is what the NCS will be: a privatised mess like the NHS of today or a nationalised treasure like the NHS of the past? With the finer details yet to be decided, now is the time for people to make their opinions known. Andy Burnham has promised to bring in a new system of social care. But the government needs to address the desperately important issue of who owns and runs it. Privatisation has been a failed —…

Croydon homelessness service closure faces High Court challenge

Post author:The Canary
Post published:3 July 2026
Post last modified:4 July 2026

On 7 July 2026, the High Court will hear an application for permission to bring a judicial review of Croydon council’s decision to close its walk-in homelessness service, Access Croydon, in March 2025. The claim is brought by a vulnerable individual who wishes to remain anonymous, represented by the Public Interest Law Centre. Since the closure of Access Croydon, local residents can only access homelessness information, advice or assistance via a system based on pre-booked appointments and an online self-service tool. The Claimant is an individual who faced eviction. However, because of a learning disability, they were unable to access LB…