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Jonathan Bunn

Jonathan Bunn is a political reporter at PA Media covering policy developments in Westminster and beyond. Jonathan has conducted in-depth analysis of local government finances, regional inequalities and social care provision. Jonathan's career began as a trainee at the Waltham Forest Guardian in east London.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline Labour’s plans to drive economic growth (Victoria Jones/PA)
Business

Q&A: What do we know about Labour’s economic policies?

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt exits 11 Downing Street ahead of delivering his Budget (Carl Court/PA)
Business

What are the key elements of the Budget and the latest economic forecast?

<p>Switzerland Davos Forum</p>
Home News

Davos unveiled: What world leaders will talk about and why

Former chancellor Sajid Javid gives evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)
UK

Having ‘inexperienced’ Cabinet gave power to Cummings, Covid inquiry told

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch told the Covid inquiry that the Government ‘had not got a handle on’ dealing with misinformation (Henry Nicholls/PA)
UK

Badenoch says she was accused of being part of a Covid-19 ‘culling’ conspiracy

Chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty has been giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (Andrew Matthews/PA)
UK

Whitty admits withholding ‘confidential’ information from ministers

The former chief scientific adviser was giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (Aaron Chown/PA)
UK

Treasury accused of ‘pure dogma’ by Patrick Vallance in pandemic notes

Former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance leaves after giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry at Dorland House in London (James Manning/PA)
UK

Rishi Sunak was ‘not pleased’ at early prospect of London lockdown

The Government’s former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance giving evidence to the inquiry (UK Covid-19 Inquiry)
UK

Patrick Vallance says ministers knew ‘following the science’ mantra was damaging

The Chancellor has been urged to provide emergency funding to protect crucial services after it emerged the share of council budgets spent on protecting vulnerable children has ballooned, with allocations in some of the poorest areas more than doubling over the last decade (Picture posed by a model/PA)
UK

Calls for emergency funds to protect vulnerable children support

Incorporating housing costs in calculations of poverty would provide a more reliable picture on inequality, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Study finds official statistics fail to capture scale of poverty and inequality

<p>The Government has also announced that a decent homes standard, which has previously been applied to social housing</p>
Home News

Boost for millions as landlords banned from refusing these renters

The letter, led by migrant support charity Praxis, has been signed by organisations including Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (PA)
UK

Charities sound alarm over migrant parents being denied vital childcare

UK

Charities sound alarm over migrant parents being denied vital childcare

The letter, led by migrant support charity Praxis, has been signed by organisations including Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (PA)
Government reshuffles can cause disruption across Whitehall (PA)
UK

Reshuffle comes with risk as ministerial churn may disrupt key policies

South Cambridgeshire District Council office (Alamy/PA)
UK

Four-day week council reports improvements amid Government pressure

A think tank said many households are facing the prospect of further cost-of-living struggles as uncertainty over future financial support continues (Yui Mok/PA)
Business

Scrapping cost-of-living support could offset benefits rise – think tank

Families with children are faring less well in the cost-of-living crisis than those without, research by Action for Children suggests (Danny Lawson/PA)
UK

Families with children most likely to suffer cost-of-living hardship

Families with children are faring less well in the cost-of-living crisis than those without, research by Action for Children suggests (Danny Lawson/PA)
UK

Families with children most likely to suffer cost-of-living hardship

Some types of job support are only available to people claiming benefits. (Philip Toscano/PA)
UK

Councils call for rethink over ‘failing’ support for economically inactive

The London skyline (PA)
UK

London councils warn of financial ‘knife edge’ as overspends grow

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh has confirmed Labour will renationalise the railways. (Gareth Fuller Fuller/PA)
UK

Labour commits to bringing railways back into public ownership

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, on a lifeboat (PA)
UK

Three-quarters of small boat arrivals would be granted asylum, study suggests

The IFS has found the impact of the new entitlements for families with a child aged nine months to two years differs dramatically across the income distribution (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Study finds free childcare reform has ‘little benefit’ to poorer families

Leading figures in the children’s social care sector said it was ‘a truly sad day’ (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Children’s charity to close after 81 years citing ‘pernicious economic context’

Birmingham Town Hall is situated in Victoria Square (Alamy/PA)
UK

What is happening to local government finances and why are councils struggling?

The report says that the UK constitution is in desperate need of reform following what has been a ‘tumultuous period in politics’ (David Mirzoeff/PA)
UK

Boris Johnson’s conduct questioned as review calls for constitutional reform

Leading figures in the children’s social care sector said it was ‘a truly sad day’ (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Children’s charity to close after 81 years citing ‘pernicious economic context’

Birmingham Town Hall is situated in Victoria Square (Alamy/PA)
UK

What is happening to local government finances and why are councils struggling?

The report says that the UK constitution is in desperate need of reform following what has been a ‘tumultuous period in politics’ (David Mirzoeff/PA)
UK

Boris Johnson’s conduct questioned as review calls for constitutional reform

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a Q&A session at The Platform in Morecambe, Lancashire, following a community visit to the Eden Project North. Mr Sunak has reiterated his commitment to levelling up as the Government announced �2 billion for more than 100 projects across the UK. Among the projects earmarked for funding is the Eden Project North in Morecambe, which received �50 million for the regeneration project designed to transform the Lancashire town’s seafront. Picture date: Thursday January 19, 2023.
UK

Rishi Sunak’s leadership questioned as studies sow levelling up doubt

UK

Rishi Sunak’s leadership questioned as studies sow levelling up doubt

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a Q&A session at The Platform in Morecambe, Lancashire, following a community visit to the Eden Project North. Mr Sunak has reiterated his commitment to levelling up as the Government announced �2 billion for more than 100 projects across the UK. Among the projects earmarked for funding is the Eden Project North in Morecambe, which received �50 million for the regeneration project designed to transform the Lancashire town’s seafront. Picture date: Thursday January 19, 2023.
A group of MPs has denied wanting to ban many young people from going to university after pushing for restricted access to student loans (PA)
UK

Tory faction denies push to ban some students from going to university

The health of the economy is likely to be a major factor in the next general election (PA)
Business

What are the UK’s economic challenges and how can they be addressed?

The Government in Westminster’s dominance over national decision-making and politicians’ use of ‘muscular unionism’ rhetoric risks undermining public support for maintaining the UK as a single state, research by a think tank suggests (PA)
UK

Analysis finds rise of ‘muscular unionism’ is out of step with public attitudes

A survey of Universal Credit claimants says they are less likely to form a supportive relationship with Jobcentre staff due to their focus on enforcement (Nick Ansell/PA)
UK

Poll suggests jobcentre staff focus on sanctions over support

A survey of Universal Credit claimants says they are less likely to form a supportive relationship with Jobcentre staff due to their focus on enforcement (Nick Ansell/PA)
UK

Poll suggests jobcentre staff focus on sanctions over support

Ambulances at Whitechapel hospital in London last winter (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
UK

Lib Dems demand ambulance staff boost before winter pressures

Poorer areas are receiving less funding than they require, according to a study (Alamy/PA)
UK

Poorer areas missing out because public funding system has broken down – study

The ECHR is ruled on by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (Alamy/PA)
UK

The ECHR, why it is back in the spotlight and the implications of the UK leaving

About 90% of cars driven in outer London comply with Ulez standards (PA)
UK

What is London’s ultra low emission zone and its wider political impact?

The Government’s plans were understood to be aimed at reducing civil service numbers in Whitehall (PA)
UK

MPs question ‘haphazard’ approach to moving civil servants from London

The County Councils Network said there were problems with the delivery of the Government’s national bus strategy (PA)
UK

Bus ‘revolution’ questioned as rural services hit new low

A report by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee highlights the impact of widespread delays to external scrutiny of councils’ financial health (PA)
UK

MPs warn audit backlog threatens transparency over £100 billion spend

Rupert McNeil was government people officer during the pandemic (House of Commons/PA)
UK

Ex-civil service staff chief says No 10 leaders ‘set tone’ for lockdown parties

Some 60% of councils said they will be forced to take cost-cutting measures to reduce capital budgets set aside for key regeneration and infrastructure projects (PA)
UK

Majority of councils in poorer areas are ‘uncertain of meeting budgets’

(PA)
UK

Rapid reduction in services warning caused by council’s ‘culture of complacency’

Less than a third of councils published their draft accounts by this year’s deadline (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Data shows a majority of councils missed accounts deadline as reserves fall

UK

Data shows a majority of councils missed accounts deadline as reserves fall

Less than a third of councils published their draft accounts by this year’s deadline (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Liberal Democrat-run Woking Borough Council on Wednesday issued a section 114 notice formally declaring it is unable to deliver a balanced budget (PA)
UK

Council declares effective bankruptcy over £1.2 billion hole in budget

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove. (PA)
UK

MPs warn of levelling-up failure in call for long-term funding

Former cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell (PA)
UK

Ex-civil service boss laments ‘gotcha’ response to ministerial code breaches

Parliament Street and Whitehall (Yui Mok/PA)
UK

Ministerial churn and priority shifts hit staff morale – senior civil servant

Parliament Street and Whitehall (Yui Mok/PA)
UK

Ministerial churn and priority shifts hit staff morale – senior civil servant

Potential delays to proposed reforms of gambling industry regulation could undermine efforts to support the rising number of addicts, MPs have been told (PA)
UK

Charities highlight risks of gambling white paper consultation delays

(Victoria Jones/PA)
UK

Damage to UK image caused by Covid support fraud ‘a blip’ – civil servant

There are concerns the White Paper will fall short of the action required to prevent widespread harm (Alamy/PA)
Business

Why gambling White Paper will lead to questions over sector’s influence on MPs

Flowers by the national Covid memorial wall in London (Yui Mok/PA)
UK

Treasury secrecy hindered aspects of Covid-19 response, think tank says

Members of the public walking past signs surrounding the construction site for the London Euston HS2 terminal (Aaron Chown/PA)
UK

Civil servant pressed on ‘massive scale delivery failure over Euston HS2 pause’

NHS England’s mental health director Claire Murdoch (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust/PA)
UK

MPs told of long wait before response to child eating disorders improves

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard (Tom Nicholson/PA)
UK

Funding and mental health staff retention go ‘hand-in-hand’ – NHS chief

Funding allocations for controversial adult social care reforms have caused confusion (Joe Giddens/PA)
UK

Government lacks ‘focus and direction’ on social care reform, says expert

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rob Behrens has held the post since 2017 (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman/PA)
UK

MPs criticise NHS ombudsman for not investigating ‘less serious’ complaints

Public investment projects constitute a fifth of all investment in the UK (Lynne Cameron/PA)
News analysis

Weak public investment an ‘institutional failure of the British state’

(Joe Giddens/PA)
UK news

Warning of service cuts despite 5% increase in council tax bills

UK news

Warning of service cuts despite 5% increase in council tax bills

Jonathan Bunn
(Joe Giddens/PA)
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the 2023-24 local government finance settlement shows the Government ‘continues to stand behind councils’ (James Manning/PA)
UK

Analysis shows absence of levelling up in council funding

New regulations have been proposed to crackdown on misleading sustainability claims made about investment products. (PA/Alamy)
Business

Regulator moves to crackdown on ‘greenwashing’ of investment products

The Houses of Parliament (Alamy)
UK

Who are the whips and how do they operate?

Half the public now believe it is likely Sir Keir Starmer will become prime minister – as expectations grow of a Labour general election victory amid troubles for the Government (PA)
UK

Poll finds there is a growing anticipation of Sir Keir Starmer becoming PM

Half the public now believe it is likely Sir Keir Starmer will become prime minister – as expectations grow of a Labour general election victory amid troubles for the Government (PA)
UK

Poll finds there is a growing anticipation of Sir Keir Starmer becoming PM

Sir Keir Starmer with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (Peter Byrne/PA)
UK

Labour more trusted than Conservatives on the economy – poll

Dozens of charities have called for urgent financial support as the cost-of-living crisis escalates (Peter Byrne/PA)
Business

Charities warn of declining support capacity in face of ‘tsunami of need’

An independent review identified flaws in four of five commitments made by the Government in its latest transparency plan. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

UK at risk of joining global anti-corruption partnership ‘list of shame’

(PA)
UK

Retailers told to ‘double down’ on diversity due to slow progress

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms his resignation in Downing Street (Gareth Fuller/PA)
UK

The key Government Bills set to remain unpassed after PM’s exit

Many councils have been forced to abandon their financial plans set just three months ago owing to the “unprecedented crisis” (Many councils have been forced to abandon their financial plans set just three months ago owing to the “unprecedented crisis” (Many councils have been forced to abandon their financial plans set just three months ago owing to the “unprecedented crisis” (Many councils have been forced to abandon their financial plans set just three months ago owing to the “unprecedented crisis” (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
UK

Councils warn of ‘disastrous’ cuts and viability threat as inflation costs rise

Mr Johnson only scored higher than Sir Keir when respondents were asked who had “more personality” (24 percentage points) and was good in a crisis (4) (PA)
UK

Poll finds public view Starmer and Sunak as better leaders than Prime Minister

Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street (PA)
UK

Government transparency plan fails to meet anti-corruption body criteria

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss (Leon Neal/PA)
Business

Liz Truss bemoans ‘defensive’ trade attitude caused by EU membership

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