Tony Benn’s heirs storm the City

It is now just six weeks until the first post-partygate test for Boris Johnson’s Tories, with campaigning for the local elections already well underway. Labour under Keir Starmer are feeling confident: ahead in the polls, they know that the cost-of-living crisis will begin to eat away at the respite afforded to Johnson by Ukraine. Indeed there are even fears that the Prime Minister’s own backyard, Hillingdon council, will go red for the first time in nearly 25 years.

An early portent of what could be to come was provided on Thursday when England’s most exclusive electorate went to the polls. Elections were held for the Court of Common Council, the main decision-making body of the City of London Corporation which governs the City of London. This uber-wealthy body is arguably the wealthiest local authority in Britain, with a tidy £2.6 billion in net assets. Traditionally, candidates for the 100 seats have stood under ‘independent’ labels’ but in recent years Labour has begun to field representatives under their own colours.