Explore every episode of the podcast The Northern Agenda

The Northern Agenda podcast is back, bringing you more weekly insights into the big issues affecting the North of England. This time, Rob Parsons is joined by new co-host Liam Thorp, political editor of the Liverpool Echo, to talk about the biggest politics stories in the North from a Northern perspective. Rob and Liam look at how Nigel Farage's Reform UK have been getting on now they have their first Northern MP and run several councils and local authorities in our region. Plus Liam explains why the Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News have been putting their old rivalries aside for a joint front page and they ask why on earth people have to keep parking on the pavement on Merseyside. The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Northern Agenda is back and this time, Rob Parsons is joined by Liverpool Echo political editor Liam Thorp for your weekly fix of the political stories that really matter to the North! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons previews our brand new series, Our Kids in the North. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello and welcome to The Northern Agenda podcast - back for 2023 fully refreshed after a Christmas break and ready to take in invigorating new year dive into some of the big politics stories affecting the North.Whilst we want to wish you a Happy New Year, it is not looking terribly happy for Northern town hall leaders. Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons speaks to Barnsley council's Sir Stephen Houghton, one of the longest-serving local authority leaders in the country, about the bleak forecasts ahead for local government in our region.With 12 years of austerity cuts knocking the stuffing out of many of our local councils, and inflation biting, things could be about to get worse.Sir Stephen discusses the unfair funding system that means people in the North don't get the same public services as their southern counterparts.But a bit of good news, though! It's set to be a massive year for anyone interested in the arts and creativity with the launch of Leeds 2023, a year of culture modelled on the European Capital of Culture.The people behind it say in the next 12 months Leeds will burst into life, fuelled by creativity and the aim of opening more opportunities for more people. Abigail Scott Paul, Director of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Leeds 2023, tells the podcast what you can expect from the huge programme of events in the Yorkshire city.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, The Northern Agenda podcast takes a look at the North's second big by-election in December to elect a new MP. After Labour romped to victory in the City of Chester, can they do the same in the Greater Manchester seat of Stretford and Urmston?Rob Parsons speaks to Local Democracy Reporter Nick Jackson about what's happening ahead of the by-election on Thursday.And when you hear the Government talking about their much-trumpeted concept of levelling up and its benefits to Northern communities, it's a pretty safe bet they'll be looking at Teesside, that's places like Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton-on-Tees.One of the few areas with anything tangible to show from the Government's flagship domestic agenda, this former industrial area now has a gaggle of Tory MPs where Labour politicians used to be and a Conservative metro mayor hoping to replace the old steel-making jobs with those powered by clean energy.But are the prospects for Teesside getting any better with all the attention it's had lavished on it by government?Rob asks Karl Pemberton, the managing director of Active Chartered Financial Planners, based in Stockton-On-Tees) and the Chair of the Institute of Directors in the North East (South). He looks after business interests in the Tees Valley so is a great person to give us a balanced view on what's going on there.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're heading out to the countryside for our political guest this week, as the world is going through its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu. In the UK it's been reported that around 600,000 of Britain's 1.2 million free-range turkeys produced annually have died in recent weeks from the current avian influenza outbreak.Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons speaks to Dr Neil Hudson, a Tory MP from rural Cumbria and the only vet in the House of Commons, about the toll the epidemic has taken on the poultry industry and what we can do to help.***And we hear about a campaign dedicated to accelerating gender equality and social mobility from the North of England, backed by more than 70,000 people. Northern Power Women's CEO and founder Simone Roche joins Rob on the podcast to discuss the campaign.***The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/(Image: Getty Images) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's podcast is coming to you from The People's Powerhouse Annual Convention. The Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons is joined by a series of speakers and guests at the 'This is the North' conference, held in Manchester.To discuss the events of the day, as well as what the North needs to progress and thrive, Rob chatted to:⬆️ Finn Oldfield, media and comms co-ordinator at The People's Powerhouse⬆️ Edna Robinson, chair of The People's Powerhouse⬆️ Jonathon Prasad, research associate at the Global Race Centre for Equality, based at the University of Central Lancashire⬆️ Nicola Lynch, a social impact and social value consultant⬆️ Beth Abbit, journalist and editor of the Mancunian Way newsletter from the Manchester Evening News⬆️ Nathan Parker, spoken word artist, who wrote and performed the 'This is the North' poem for the conferenceThe Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we were recording this week's podcast, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove was up in Rochdale for talks with the local housing association that owned the flat where two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould.Awaab died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in a one-bedroom housing association flat. His parents, Faisal Abdullah and Aisha Amin, who came to the UK from Sudan, repeatedly complained about the mould and they say they weren't listened to because of who they were.Since the full horrendous details of little Awaab's death, Mr Gove has taken personal involvement in making sure housing associations like Rochdale Boroughwide Housing do more to prevent future tragedies.He has blocked the £1 million in funding RBH was due to receive to build new homes and won't give it any more until it proves it is a responsible landlord. The social landlord's chief executive - who earned £170,000 last year - has been kicked out and its directors have promised to do more to up their game.But is that enough? Before he stepped into the Commons for a debate about Awaab's death, local Labour MP, Tony Lloyd, spoke to The Northern Agenda producer Dan McLaughlin. ***And, as we head into Christmas, there's a present coming down the chimney with Santa for anyone who enjoys swingometers, late night results and canvassing for votes in the cold and wet. The next few weeks will see not one, not two but three by-elections for Parliamentary seats in the North of England, putting Westminster watchers on high alert as they try to assess what it all means for the fortunes of the party leaders.On December 15, we'll find out who will be replacing Kate Green in the Greater Manchester seat of Stretford and Urmston, as she leaves to become Andy Burnham's deputy mayor. And sometime in early 2023, there'll be a by-election in West Lancashire, where the incumbent MP Rosie Cooper is resigning to take up the job as Chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.But the first by-election grabbing our attention is in Chester, triggered by the resignation of Christian Matheson after complaints of “serious sexual misconduct” against him - which he denies - were upheld by a parliamentary watchdog.What have these three seats all got in common? They're all held by Labour with pretty big majorities, so it'd be a big surprise if they changed hands. But there's still plenty of local angles to be interested in, so to find out what the big issues at play in Chester, Rob Parsons speak to Mark Smith, a Local Democracy Reporter who covers Cheshire West & Chester.***The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reactions are coming in following the Autumn Statement from Jeremy Hunt on Thursday - and one of those voicing their concern - and indeed, anger - is West of Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin.The Labour metro mayor tells The Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons why she is "furious" with the Chancellor, believing that her region has been left out by the Treasury.***It was nearly a year ago that a major report emerged which painted a stark picture of inequality for children growing up in the North of England post-pandemic compared to those in the rest of the country.The massive costs to society and the UK’s economy of rising inequality were outlined in The Child of the North: Building a fairer future after COVID-19 report, written by over 40 leading academics from across the North with the Northern Health Science Alliance.It looked at a wide range of factors, from child poverty to children in care, to build up a picture of the challenges faced by the young people trying to make their way across the region. The report sets out 18 clear recommendations to tackle the widening gap - but did anyone listen?Emma Lewell-Buck, the Labour MP for South Shields in the North East, tells the podcast about a new All-Party Parliamentary Group she is chairing, dedicated to the Child of the North.***And a big story in London cultural circles in the last few days is the future of the English National Opera. It's currently based in London but Arts Council England, who provide much of its funding, say it will only carry on getting public sector support if it moves out of the capital, possibly to Manchester.The likes of opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel are up in arms but the move is part of a wider move by the Arts Council to prioritise cultural schemes outside London - we've seen projects across the North be names as so-called National Portfolio Organisations for the first time meaning they'll get vital public subsidy to offer arts and culture in our towns and cities.But even before this announcement, 2022 was shaping up to be a really positive year for Northern arts and culture, with a host of new venues either opening or re-opening.The Factory – Manchester International Festival’s new permanent home – is set to reshape the city’s cultural output and standing, and promises “one of Europe’s most ambitious and adventurous year-round creative programmes”.Randel Bryan, Executive Director and Deputy Chief Executive at Factory International, tells Rob about the exciting future for the arts in Manchester and the North***The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons is joined by Liam Thorp, political editor of the Liverpool Echo, to take a look back on some of the big stories in Northern politics.One of which involves Michael Gove, now back in post as Levelling Up Secretary, who is stepping up the government's intervention into Liverpool City Council. Liam gives his verdict on the expanded intervention in Merseyside.And whilst 93% of people went to state schools in the UK, they make up a much smaller proportion of our top professions.Just a third are FTSE 350 CEOs, 35% are senior judges, 43% make up the House of Lords, and just over half are journalists.But there's a pretty new organisation that's joining the fight to level up those numbers. It's called the 93% Club, and it describes itself as a members’ club to rival some of the most exclusive and expensive clubs in the UK. According to their website, they're taking a centuries-old system and repurposing it to change society and tackle social immobility head on. And on Friday this week, it's hosting a big Northern conference in central Manchester. Over a hundred students are travelling to the city for a day of upskilling, networking and community building to show the wealth of opportunities available outside of London and the South East. Imogen Carr, mentoring lead for the 93% club, explains how they want to create an alternative to the 'old boys network' and make it easier for talented young people in the North to break into these top professions.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of young people in England are being groomed, harmed, and even killed because the systems that are supposed to keep them safe are not fit for purpose.That's the damning verdict of a new report by the Commission on Young Lives final report, ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’.The report warns that social care, education, family support, and children’s mental health systems are failing thousands of vulnerable teenagers, costing taxpayers billions, diminishing life chances, and putting some teenagers at risk of grooming, exploitation, and serious violence. The ‘Commission on Young Lives’ launched last year to fight back with coordinated national action to transform the outcomes of the most marginalised teenagers. It's a major year-long independent commission chaired by Anne Longfield, the former Children’s Commissioner for England who grew up in West Yorkshire, who joins Rob Parsons on the podcast this week.And Graeme Whitfield, editor of the Journal newspaper in Newcastle and North East editor of BusinessLive, discusses some of the big politics stories that matter to us in the North, including the uncertain future facing the plans for a massive 'gigafactory' for electric vehicle batteries in Northumberland.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all the attention on drama at the top of government and what it could mean for our economy, the parlous state of the NHS looks like it's barely registering on the news agenda.Speaking in Parliament this week, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised, among other things, a stronger NHS. But Covid backlogs, record waiting periods in A&E, and unprecedented pressures on ambulance services are just some of the challenges facing the Government, amid fears health service leaders will be asked to make further savings to plug the gaping holes in the public finances.Nowhere are the pressures on the NHS more acute than in Greater Manchester. Rob Parsons speaks to Helena Vesty, the Manchester Evening News' health correspondent, to bring us up to date on how things are in the North's hospitals at the moment.And when most people think of the borough of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, they probably conjure up images like: the famous beach, fishing, penny arcades and maybe Whitby Abbey - the inspiration for Bram Stoker' Dracula.But there's some very exciting work going on turn the area into one of the country's leading areas for cyber-security - which if successful could bring the high-skilled job and opportunity it need to thrive. And it might do something to turn the tide in a borough where educational outcomes are among the worst in the country. Liz Colling, who is Cabinet Member Inclusive Growth at Scarborough borough council, tells the podcast how she wants to turn the area into a "cyber cluster".The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a truth universally acknowledged that Leeds is the biggest urban area in Western Europe without a rapid mass transit system - a metro to you and me - despite numerous attempts over the years to get one.Political leaders in West Yorkshire hope this could finally be about to change and have submitted plans to government for a 21st century mass transit system connecting Leeds to Bradford, Halifax, Dewsbury and the rest of the county.But there's a great blog post published in the last few days Tom Forth, head of data at Leeds-based Open Innovations, which spells out just how much Leeds is missing out by not having a metro system. He joins Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons to discuss how Leeds lags behind Dublin and Lille with its lack of trams.And there's been no shortage of column inches devoted to the subject of levelling up - remember that? - in the last three years: the policy implications, the political implications, the economic implications.But how much time has been spent finding out how people who might be affected by Boris Johnson's flagship policy feel about their areas, what could and should be done to improve them, and who they trust to actually do it?Probably not enough, and in an effort to fill that gap a new survey has been carried out described as the biggest of its kind covering the public’s levelling up priorities and how they would like them to be delivered.It's been conducted by the UK in a Changing Europe research initiative and YouGov and the results are out today. Sophie Stowers, Research Assistant at UK in a Changing Europe, who helped write the report, and its director Professor Anand Menon explain what they found out in the report.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Northern Agenda podcast is changing - and our editor Rob Parsons shares the details! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The phrase a 'life sentence' is a familiar one for anyone who follows reports of our most high-profile criminal cases, but how often does a life sentence actually mean life? And in the case of offenders who carry out the most unimaginable act of violence, the murder of a child, should a life sentence actually mean life in prison with no prospect of release?That's the argument being made by Dr Kieran Mullan, Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich in Cheshire and a member of the Commons Justice Committee, said the Government “can and must do better” on sentencing for child murderers.During a Westminster Hall debate this week he highlighted the fact that people given a life sentence for murder generally serve an average of just 16-and-a-half years. He joins Rob Parsons on the Northern Agenda podcast to discuss his contribution to the debate.And how well-prepared is the North East for the coming economic storm? Rob asks one of its best-known business owners John Elliott, the Chairman of County-Durham based Ebac Limited, described as the only manufacturer in the UK of dehumidifiers and washing machines. The business leader shares his often strongly-held views on the Government, Westminster, Brexit, and devolution in the UK.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A supply of graduates in the so-called STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is vital for our economy - but how we can get young people, particularly girls, to engage with the subjects and fill the high-skilled jobs in emerging areas in the economy?This question was on the agenda at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this week. Joining Rob Parsons on The Northern Agenda podcast are two experts from different fields and with strong links to the North, who attempt to answer that question. Carl Ennis, Chief Executive of Siemens plc, and Riffat Wall, the principal at Urmston Grammar in Manchester, discuss how we can get more young people in the North into science and technology jobs.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Labour well ahead in the polls and the party's policies being blamed for the UK's current economic turmoil, it promises to be a challenging party conference for the Conservatives in Birmingham this weekend. And this week on The Northern Agenda podcast, Rob Parsons speaks to John Stevenson, the new chair of the Northern Research Group which represents the region's Conservative MPs. The Carlisle MP tells us how he hopes the levelling up agenda can be reconciled with Liz Truss's enthusiasm for tax cuts, and what he needs to hear if his fellow 'red wall' Conservatives have any chance of getting re-elected in the next election. Rob also speaks to Steve Rotheram, the Labour metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, after a conference where Sir Keir Starmer promised a clean energy revolution. What will his plans mean for existing schemes on Merseyside? And we get the thoughts of Jon Walker, deputy political editor at the Sunday Express, on how the two main parties are faring during conference season. The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Labour Party Conference takes place in Liverpool from Sunday, but what can we expect from the "festival of politics"?Kevin Maguire, political journalist and associate editor at the Daily Mirror, who estimates that he has "topped 100 political party and trade union conferences in his life", joins Rob Parsons on The Northern Agenda podcast.He argues that Labour "needs to seize the moment" and Keir Starmer needs to "set out his stall" in Liverpool at the weekend and beyond. Maguire also responds to the use of 'God Save the King' at the party conference, and the Tories U-turn on fracking.And Catherine McKinnell, the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, speaks to Rob about the East Coast Mainline - one of the country's most important strategic rail routes that connects the North East and Scotland with Yorkshire and London. Critics say that it suffers from unreliability and delays that blights its performance and holds back economic growth in the areas that it serves. And one of those critics is McKinnell, who explains what is going wrong with the East Coast Mainline.Clare Hayward - who chairs the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, and is on the board of the NP11 - also joins Rob on the podcast. She discusses how the North can help new prime minister Liz Truss, as well as what the region is asking from the government.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After taking a short break following the Queen's death, The Northern Agenda is back to look at the issues impacting the North, discussing the stories that are outside of the Westminster bubble.Liverpool Echo political editor Liam Thorp joins Rob Parsons on the podcast to discuss the "perilous" situation facing the city during the cost of living crisis - and how Liverpool has responded to the Queen's death.Rob also speaks to Jonathan Brook, who is currently the leader of South Lakeland Council, about the radical restructure of local democracy in Cumbria. The Lib Dem councillor will, from next year, lead the new Westmorland and Furness authority.And ahead of a one-day conference by the RSA think tank in Newcastle, exploring the future of the workplace, Rob is joined by Rachel Redshaw, People and Culture Director at Nexus - the operator of the Tyne and Wear metro and the region's passenger transport executive.She argues that the way many organisations recruit their staff is fundamentally flawed - and needs to change for both the sake of the employers and employees. The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last week of Boris Johnson's premiership, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen joins Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons to discuss the outgoing prime minister's legacy.The Tory metro mayor tells Rob about what voters in the North East think about Johnson, his impact on Tees Valley, and whether the levelling up agenda will survive under either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak's leadership.And The Northern Agenda has unveiled its new star signing this week: award-winning cartoonist Graeme Bandeira. The Middlesbrough-born artist, who spent 23 years at the Yorkshire Post, discusses his career, and what it is like to satirise today's crop of politicians in cartoon form.You can see Graeme's take on the news every Friday in the Northern Agenda newsletter, and his cartoons will feature in Reach's Sunday print titles in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Northern Agenda travels to Greater Manchester this week to discuss levelling up and the cost of living crisis with two influential figures in the region: Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, and his night time economy adviser Sacha Lord.Andy Burnham reflects on Boris Johnson's time in office, saying that speaking to the outgoing prime minister and his team often felt like "shouting into the abyss". The Labour politician tells Ryan Wykes about "the Johnson gap": a gap between rhetoric and delivery.And Sacha Lord gives a pretty dire diagnosis about the health of the hospitality sector to Dan O'Donohue, saying that many pubs, restaurants and bars would struggle "to make it through the winter".Dan is also joined by the Liverpool Echo's political editor Liam Thorp to discuss the tragic shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel - and how it has impacted communities in the city.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following a heartbreaking investigation by the Manchester Evening News, which found that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after his lungs were exposed to damp and mould in a social housing flat in Rochdale, The Northern Agenda looks at the North's housing shame.Rob Parsons speaks to Stephen Topping, the journalist who worked on the investigation, about how the tragedy is just one example of the terrible conditions that families are living in on the Freehold estate in the Greater Manchester town.And with around 1.2 million Northern private rented households being deemed as "non-decent" in a new report, Dan O'Donohue is joined by Brian Robson from the Northern Housing Consortium to discuss the actions that Boris Johnson's successor must take to address the issue.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining Rob Parsons and Dan O'Donohue on The Northern Agenda podcast are two of the leading figures in our region on the subject of crime and policing.In a week where the police watchdog revealed that most victims of burglary, robbery and theft aren't getting the justice they deserve, Rob speaks to former Merseyside Police chief constable Andy Cooke.Now Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, he explains how our police forces need to "go back to basics" to solve more crimes.And Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for the North West, speaks to Dan O'Donohue about his new book 'The Race to the Top: Structural Racism and How to Fight It'. The newly appointed Chancellor of Manchester University, who became the UK's first Muslim chief prosecutor in 2011, discusses structural racism, the fight against grooming, and the so-called 'war on woke'.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are into Week Two of the slow-burning Tory leadership race with Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss criss-crossing the country, trying to win over Conservative party members who will choose the next prime minister.The Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons is joined by Liam Thorp, political editor at the Liverpool Echo, to discuss whether the contest has reverberated to Liverpool – and the impact of the Arriva North West bus drivers strike on the city.Rob also speaks to Sir Roger Marsh, the chair of NP11 - the "business-led voice for the North" that brings together 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships from the region. Sir Roger explains what LEPs want to hear from both candidates in the Tory leadership race.And producer Daniel J. McLaughlin chats to author and academic Matt Cook about 'Queer Beyond London', a new book he has co-written with Alison Oram. He discusses how LGBTQ communities in the North can have a distinctive voice compared to their southern counterparts - and the importance of Manchester and Leeds in the country's queer history.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the last five days the eyes of the political world have been focusing on Liverpool's waterfront for Labour party conference, its first in power for 15 years. Thousands of people have piled into venues around the city, from party members and MPs to business leaders, metro mayors and of course senior Cabinet members - many of whom are from the North - and their teams. Rob Parsons spent two days ducking in and out of fringe events and drinks receptions, as did Jo Timan of the Manchester Evening News and Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter for Manchester. They chat about the rain-soaked conference vibes, Keir Starmer's personal speech, money worries for the Manchester to Liverpool train line and Lisa Nandy's love of Britney Spears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Parsons is joined by Dan O'Donohue on The Northern Agenda to take stock on a week where Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are locked in battle to win over Tory members, who will decide which one of them will become our next prime minister.Ahead of the first regional hustings in the Conservative leadership contest, held in Leeds this week, Rob and Dan discuss the big intervention by The Northern Agenda and 16 major Northern news titles, asking Sunak and Truss not to turn their back on the North - and to keep their focus on levelling up and regional inequalities.Rob also speaks to Jake Berry, the chair of the influential Northern Research Group - made up of northern Tory backbenchers. The MP for Rossendale and Darwen tells the podcast what he wants to see from the two candidates running for prime minister.And Manchester-born Lord Jim O'Neill, the former chief economist at Goldman Sachs, speaks to Rob about how his vision for a Northern Powerhouse - which he came up with during his time at the Treasury with George Osborne in 2014 - is holding up eight years on. The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Parsons and Dan O'Donohue are back for another episode of The Northern Agenda podcast, discussing the heatwave of July 2022, Boris Johnson's last ever PMQs, and the Tory leadership contest.Dan chats to Nick Fletcher, the Conservative MP for Don Valley, about the fight to save Doncaster Sheffield Airport from closure. The Red Wall MP also tells the podcast why he is backing a Minister for the North, and his thoughts on the contest to become the next prime minister.And Dr Dave Beck, a lecturer in social policy at the University of Salford, discusses the potential of Universal Basic Income being introduced to the UK. The food poverty expert explains why he thinks UBI would be good for the economy, wellbeing, and the environment - and how it could be implemented sooner than we think.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a week where the North East was revealed as the country's child poverty hotspot, with one in two children growing up in poverty in some towns, what can we do to turn the situation around?The Northern Agenda podcast speaks to former Labour MP Anna Turley, who now chairs the North East Child Poverty Commission. She tells Dan O'Donohue about the grim situation facing the region - and what the government should do to tackle child poverty.And while the recent political debate about rail in the North has centred around HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, we look at another massive rail project in our region: the multi-billion-pound upgrade to the Transpennine railway.Rob Parsons talks to Rob McIntosh, the managing director for Network Rail's eastern region, about the upgrade to the 76-mile rail project that stretches across the North between York and Manchester, via Leeds and Huddersfield.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On The Northern Agenda podcast this week Rob Parsons speaks to Oliver Coppard, the recently-elected Labour mayor of South Yorkshire.  The mayor describes his first few weeks in the job where he's had to wrestle with the impact of devastating bus cuts which will see only four services running after 10pm across his whole patch from October. And Rob also speaks to Tris Brown, one of two passionate Northerners behind the '100 ideas for the North' project. When we talk about political ideas which might impact on our lives in the North, generally the conversation turns to big projects or concepts, like HS2 or Levelling Up. But could it be that smaller ideas, if they're good enough and can be replicated across our region, could help change a local community or even be felt further afield? The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labour frontbencher Louise Haigh joins Dan O'Donohue on this week's Northern Agenda podcast, discussing rail strikes, Labour's victory in the Wakefield by-election, and why she believes Boris Johnson's Red Wall is starting to crumble.The shadow transport secretary tells the podcast that voters in Wakefield saw Johnson as "a prime minister they no longer trusted" and the Tories as "a party they have lost complete faith in".And Sir Robert Goodwill, the Tory MP for Scarborough and Whitby, discusses the deaths of thousands of crabs and lobsters which have washed up along the North East and North Yorkshire coastline.The chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee explains the environmental and financial impact of these deaths on the region, as well as issues facing the fishing community more generally.He also discusses the levelling up agenda, devolution in Yorkshire, and his thoughts on Boris Johnson's position after recent developments.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk about the way we talk. On this week's podcast, The Northern Agenda speaks to Dr Robert M. McKenzie about new analysis on the way we respond to accents.The associate professor in sociolinguistics, along with a team of academics at Northumbria University, found that there is prejudice against the northern accent - with many believing it is a sign of being less intelligent, educated, and ambitious.He speaks to Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons about their research in the British Academy-funded Speaking of Prejudice project.They are joined by podcast producer and poet Daniel J. McLaughlin, who discusses how his Lancastrian accent impacts his professional life and performances.And Conservative MP James Grundy chats to Rob about why he believes Leigh should split from the Wigan borough. He argues that people from Leigh are often treated as 'second class citizens' by their neighbours in Greater Manchester.The Leigh MP also discusses levelling up, local devolution, and why he is pleased that the government has scrapped HS2’s £3 billion Golborne Link.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four of the leading Wakefield by-election candidates locked horns in a special Northern Agenda and YorkshireLive hustings on Tuesday night.Ahead of the election on June 24, the candidates running to be Wakefield's next MP debated on issues such as transport in the North, jobs and skills, the cost of living crisis and ethics in politics. Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue chaired the hustings, and he was joined by:🗳️ Nadeem Ahmed (Tories)🗳️ Simon Lightwood (Labour)🗳️ David Herdson (The Yorkshire Party)🗳️ Chris Walsh (Reform UK)The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a week where 148 Tory MPs voted that they had no confidence in Boris Johnson, the Northern Agenda podcast speaks to two northern Conservatives who came to parliament in 2019 - and backed the prime minister in the confidence vote.As the Levelling Up bill returns to the Commons, Jacob Young - the MP for Redcar - tells Dan O'Donohue how he believes the government's flagship policy remains the priority for the Tories. He also explains why he stood by Boris Johnson in the confidence vote this week.And James Daly, the MP for Bury North, speaks to Rob Parsons about the importance of sport for the North's towns, cities, and communities.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Northern Agenda podcast, Dan O'Donohue is joined by a panel of experts to ask how the Conservatives are performing in the North - and why they perform poorly in northern cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle.Dan is joined by:- James Pearson, chairman of the Manchester Conservatives- Jon Tonge, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool- Liam Thorp, political editor of the Liverpool EchoThe Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's two guests on the Northern Agenda podcast are politicians on either side of the party divide, but each represent northern towns looking for answers about how best to move forward from their industrial pasts.Lisa Nandy and Miriam Cates are both speaking at the Restitch Social Fabric Summit this week - a conference organised by think tank Onward about how to create more connected and rooted societies.Miriam Cates, the Tory MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, tells Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons about how a manufacturing revival is needed if the steel town that dominates her constituency is to thrive.And Lisa Nandy, Labour's shadow levelling up secretary, shares her party's vision for levelling up - and how she has told Michael Gove "not to get too comfortable in that new office in Wolverhampton" because she is sizing it up already.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

​I​f you're into politics it's likely you'll be heading to, or at the very least reading about, one of the big party conferences happening this autumn. By far the biggest is Labour's annual get-together in Liverpool, their first as a new government. ​A​nd anyone who's interested in the future direction of the Labour party will want to ​R​ob Parsons' interview with one of its most interesting new MPs, Josh Simons, MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester​. ​H​e's a former advisor to Jeremy Corbyn and used to run ​t​he influential think-tank Labour Together, which has extremely close links to the current Keir Starmer government.  ​T​he loyal 'Starmtrooper' been earmarked by a lot of observers as one to watch in the new intake of MPs​.​ And on the podcast he talks about a fundamental shift in the way politics is done under the new government and his thoughts on the levelling up agenda and what Labour does to replace it.  And I​isteners will certainly have a view on his defence of Rachel Reeves over the first big controversy of the new Labour government, the cutting of the winter fuel allowance so it only goes to the poorest pensioners. ​A year on from Rishi Sunak's decision to axe the Northern leg of HS2 to Manchester, while giving a conference speech in Manchester, Rob speaks to a transport expert who's helped put together a report on what we can learn from the cancellation of the high speed rail project in the North.  Jonathan Spruce of the Institution of Civil Engineers talks about how we need to take the politics out of these huge infrastructure projects if they're ever going to succeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As local authorities submit their bids for their share of the next round of the Levelling Up fund, Bradford council has published a compelling report which argues that the region should be a test case for the project.Bradford City Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe discusses the 16-page document with Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue.And new IPPR North director Zoe Billingham chats to Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons about her arrival at the think tank - and how the government can really make the levelling up agenda benefit our region.Rob is also joined by Inayat Omarji MBE, a local leader in Bolton who has dedicated 5,000 hours to turning his local abandoned church into a beautiful hub for community life.He discusses the new campaign for a Community Powers Act that will help local people with "their fingers on the pulse" be empowered when it comes to community decision making.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have all heard of the North-South divide, but author Sam Bright believes that the gap is far bigger and covers a wider area.The journalist and author of 'Fortress London' joins Rob Parsons on The Northern Agenda to discuss the "burning injustices" between the capital and the rest of England.He explains why he thinks Parliament should be relocated to Leeds, and how the government has "deployed lots of fancy words in typical Boris Johnson fashion" on levelling up but why it falls substantially short in substance.And West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin reflects on his first year in the role. The former Batley and Spen MP chats to Rob about her recent announcement on bus fares, her relationship with levelling up secretary Michael Gove, and how the prosperity of Leeds impacts the rest of the region.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special edition of The Northern Agenda podcast we dissect all the results across the North in the 2022 local elections. Westminster Editor Dan O'Donoghue is joined by Liverpool Echo Political Editor Liam Thorp, Newcastle Journal Editor Graeme Whitfield and Rosie Lockwood to pick over what today's results - from Cumberland to Stockport and Hull - mean for our region. Elsewhere, Dan speaks to York Central MP Racheal Maskell about the future of the North's railways and why she believes the Government's £96bn Integrated Rail Plan has left people frustrated. And Northern Agenda Editor Rob Parsons speaks to Naomi Timperley, co-founder of the Manchester Tech Festival, about getting more people into digital jobs and how Northern cities are starting to become tech hotspots. The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue. This week's episode is produced by Carly Holds. You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you know where your local war memorial is? If you do, the Imperial War Museums want to find out, too!A campaign has been launched to document every war memorial across the nation ahead of Remembrance Day this year. The drive has the backing of Southport MP Damien Moore, who tells The Northern Agenda's Rob Parsons why it is important to remember both the fallen and the commemorations in their names.The Conservative MP also answers questions on levelling up, Partygate, and the local elections.Professor Helen Marshall also appears on this week's podcast, speaking to Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue about a new report that found higher technical education across the UK is in rapid decline.The vice-chancellor of the University of Salford explains why higher technical education is important for industries across the North - with many workplaces desperately looking for those trained with practical skills.She also addresses education minister Michelle Donelan's plan to introduce fines for 'cancel culture' on university campuses, arguing that the government "needs to be a bit more realistic".And local democracy reporter Nick Statham chats to Rob about the battle for overall control of Stockport council in May's local elections, saying that the Tories could be "the kingmakers" of the Labour or Liberal Democrat administration.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the TUC's Annual Regional Conference in Hull, Frances O'Grady joins Rob Parsons on The Northern Agenda podcast to discuss the state of trade unionism - and her response to the mass sacking from P&O Ferries.Hull is one of the major employment centres for P&O, which replaced nearly 800 seafarers with cheaper agency staff just a month ago.Frances, who will be stepping down as the TUC's general secretary at the end of the year, calls on the government to "get tough on some of these corporate gangsters".And Rob also speaks to local democracy reporter Stuart Minting, who offers his perspective on the local elections and the creation of a completely new authority in North Yorkshire. Stuart discusses the fears of residents in England's largest county about the transformation, explaining that the "most radical shake-up to North Yorkshire politics in decades" could leave communities a long way from where the decisions are being made.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Rob Parsons speaks to the author of a new book setting out how the dramatic history of the North has shaped the region as it is today. Brian Groom, who wrote 'Northerners: A History, From the Ice Age to the Present Day', tells us about how the North-South divide goes back further than we might think and identifies three lesser-known Northern historical figures we all ought to be familiar with. Rob also speaks to George Morgan, Local Democracy Reporter for Wirral council on Merseyside, about what we can expect in his patch ahead of the local elections. Will the Greens make inroads into Labour territory on this hung council? The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. This week's episode was edited by Carly Holds. You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell calls for more action on the cost of living crisis. The Labour MP tells Dan O'Donoghue that for many of her constituents 'there's really no light at the end of the tunnel', as she urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to reverse his decision to scrap the £20 a week Universal Credit uplift. Meanwhile new polling from the Country Land & Business Association has revealed a major shift in the political allegiances of rural voters in the North. Dan speaks to CLA President Mark Tufnell about what the big parties need to do to win over the countryside. And as we continue our look ahead to the May 5 local elections, Rob Parsons speaks to South Yorkshire Local Democracy Reporter George Torr about the race to succeed Dan Jarvis as the region's metro mayor. The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With voters returning to the ballot box on May 5, the local elections could result in some changes to the political landscape in England.One of the guaranteed changes is in South Yorkshire, where the metro mayor Dan Jarvis is stepping down after four years. The Barnsley Central MP, who will be remaining in Westminster, discusses why he is leaving the role. The Labour politician reflects on his tenure with The Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons, discussing his successes and frustrations - including his thoughts on working with Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and Michael Gove.And Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue is joined by polling guru Sir John Curtice to discuss how the major parties might perform on May 5. The professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, and regular fixture in TV studios during election night broadcasts, explains how Boris Johnson could find himself performing worse than Theresa May at the local elections.He also discusses whether the collapse of the Red Wall in the 2019 general election and Brexit could affect how voters cast their ballot.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though the levelling up agenda is supposedly at the top of the government's agenda, the phrase did not receive a single mention in Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement this week.Some Northern leaders have called the Chancellor's mini-budget a "missed opportunity", and on The Northern Agenda podcast, we digest what it means - and what it misses - for the North.Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue is joined by Dr Arianna Giovannini, the IPPR North's interim director, to respond to Sunak's 3,500-word Spring Statement.She argues that though the Chancellor had "fairer and more progressive levers at his disposal", but he made the political decision not to pull them in his mini-Budget.And this week, the shortlist for the 2025 UK City of Culture was announced with Northern bids from Bradford and County Durham making the final four.Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons speaks to Alison Clark, the lead for Durham 2025, who argues that their bid has turned the North East entry from a sleeping to waking giant.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our first conference, held in Newcastle last week, The Northern Agenda asked the question: what will the North look like in 2030?Speakers and panellists - from MPs to mayors, ministers to educators - offered their perspective on this topic, pondering what the government's Levelling Up agenda could do for health, education, jobs, poverty, and more.This week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast, hosted by Rob Parsons and Dan O'Donohue, features behind-the scenes interviews from some of the conference's guests, including:⬆️A message from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham⬆️How Northumbria police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness wants to tackle poverty through the police force⬆️North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll on his idea for a 'coup d'North'⬆️Levelling up minister Neil O'Brien on the department's relationship with the Treasury⬆️The Northern Powerhouse Partnership's Henri Murison gives his reaction to the speeches from the conference⬆️And shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy on the most powerful word in politics that needs to be heard in the NorthThe Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only a few weeks ago the big story in many of our Northern communities was the rioting and disorder we saw this summer, seemingly sparked by the horrific killing in Southport. We saw violence break out across the country but it seemed like much of it was in the North, places like Sunderland and Darlington, Blackpool, Hull, Preston and Liverpool. Since then we've seen a steady stream of the perpetrators hauled before the courts and in some instances handed hefty prison sentences. But with the dust now settled, how much do we understand about why the rioting spread so easily and why so many people - often with no previous history of criminal activity - decided to get involved? Rob Parsons speaks to Chris Read - council leader in Rotherham, where a hotel housing asylum seekers came under attack - and Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey about how the violence unfolded in their patch, what they think caused it and whether we can stop it happening again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s widespread agreement that tackling regional inequality is one of the big political issues of our time, but how best to go about it? How much progress can the North make by 2030, the date set by Michael Gove to judge the success of the Levelling Up agenda? And what role should the government and private enterprise play and should we focus on short-term gains or tackling longer, structural problems? These are the questions The Northern Agenda sought to answer at our first ever conference, bringing together some of the region's key decision-makers and experts.The Northern Agenda's Rob Parsons and Dan O'Donohue look back at some of the highlights from the conference in Newcastle, including keynote speeches from Levelling Up minister Neil O'Brien and shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy, as well as panels on health, education, and poverty.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders across the North of England have issued the united message of support for Ukraine, and offered a welcoming hand to those displaced by the invasion from Russian forces.In Rochdale, the Greater Manchester town twinned with Lviv, members of the Ukrainian community joined councillors in the town centre for a show of solidarity.One of those people who attended the vigil was Neil Emmott, the Rochdale council leader. He tells the Northern Agenda's Westminster editor Dan O'Donohue why the town is "standing shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine, and whether Rochdale would welcome those who have escaped from the war.And Kristian Johnson, investigative reporter at Yorkshire Live, speaks to York Central MP Rachael Maskell about the dentistry crisis hitting the North.The Labour politician explains how some of her constituents are using their life savings, travelling abroad, or even pulling out their own teeth, because it is "virtually impossible" to see an NHS dentist, due to years-long waiting lists and medical professionals leaving the health service.The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/Image: Rochdale Borough Council Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When people think of Northern transport as a political issue, generally their minds turn to trains - and there's certainly no shortage of issues to discuss there. But in this special episode of The Northern Agenda podcast, we're going to talk about buses, the form of transport used much more frequently in the North every day than trains and for many people representing a lifeline getting them to work, school or vital social contact.Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons speaks to a passenger and wheelchair user who relies on buses to help her get her son to school, a senior bus industry leader who fears passenger numbers may never return to what they were pre-pandemic, and a senior Labour politician who warns that if action isn't taken all we can hope for is managed decline on our vital transport networks. The podcast will also reveal the results of an exclusive survey of bus passengers in the North by the Northern Agenda.Guests include:🚍Louise Haigh, shadow transport secretary and Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley🚍John Dowie, director of partnerships at the First Bus group🚍George Torr, local democracy reporter based in Sheffield🚍Snoof Kattekop, an artist and educator based in LiverpoolThe Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices