The Latest Breaking News from Thurrock

Party could make historic inroads in places such as Southend but many of the races look very tight

A growing number of councils in England have declared bankruptcy since 2018, most recently Nottingham, Woking, Thurrock and Birmingham. With the situation in the devolved nations of the UK looking similarly precarious, the question of quite what has happened to local government finances in the UK is an urgent one.

Letters: Readers respond to an article by John Harris on the devastating impact of the austerity years on councils and communities

Come to Thurrock and things get clearer. People feel victims of a terrible injustice, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Financial Reporting Council looking into compliance of ex-official at council that ran up £500m deficit

Research from body representing 47 authorities says many could follow Slough, Croydon, Thurrock and Woking into collapse

Michael Ugwa, 29, was killed at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex, on April 28 last year.

Official report criticises Tory-run authority’s dysfunctional leadership and says it tried to silence critics

A risky investment strategy and ‘unconscious incompetence’ at Thurrock council in Essex led to a financial meltdown.