Episodios

  • Don't Look Back In Anger: Reform UK cancels Durham's climate emergency

    Don't Look Back In Anger: Reform UK cancels Durham's climate emergency
    Jul 17 2025
    With Oasis' Manchester gigs the talk of the town, even senior politicians like Commons Leader Lucy Powell can't resist making groan-inducing puns about the Gallagher brothers' classic songs. But with the five Heaton Park concerts generating tens of millions of pounds, how can we ensure the wider community benefits? And Liam tells us about his Oasis experience standing in front of Boltonian icon Vernon Kay. Elsewhere, after the tragic death of a child in Liverpool from measles, why are fewer and fewer families in some parts of the North getting vaccinated against this potentially deadly illness? And we'll be having a look at what Reform UK are up to in County Durham, where having taken over the local council a few weeks ago Nigel Farage's party has now cancelled the 'climate emergency' declared by a previous administration six years ago. Rob and Liam are joined this week by Sarah Longlands, who's based in Manchester and is Chief Executive of The Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • ⚖️ The change that's 200 years too late

    ⚖️ The change that's 200 years too late
    Jul 10 2025
    ​It's hard to believe a law that came into effect 200 years ago is still in force today. And on the podcast this week, Liam Thorp explains why the repeal of the cruel Vagrancy Act - which dates back to 1824 - can't come soon enough. Rob Parsons looks into why university leaders are trying to persuade the Government about the vital economic impact international students have on towns and cities in the North of England - and why there could be a lot at stake if they don't succeed. And as Liam heads off to watch Oasis at Heaton Park, Rob ponders whether he should adopt a new nickname inspired by rap sensation Pitbull. 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
    Más Menos
    41 m
  • 🎂 Happy Keir-niversary?

    🎂 Happy Keir-niversary?
    Jul 4 2025
    This week we're marking exactly one year since Keir Starmer and Labour won ​t​he 2024 General Election. But what's the last 12 months of a Labour government meant for the North, has ​S​ir Keir lived up to his promises or have things just got worse? That's what ​Rob and Liam are discussing on this week's episode, as they reflect on the good and bad of Starmer's first year (including some policies they definitely won't be talking around down the Dog and Duck in Beverley). Plus: How much is Andy Burnham's bus network in Greater Manchester actually costing? And how did one Yorkshire spa owner turn a mortifying social media faux pas into an opportunity? And Liam tells us how his Liverpool Echo colleagues covered the tragic breaking story about the death of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota. The Northern Agenda is 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
    Más Menos
    49 m
  • 🕳️ Potholes: we're looking into them

    🕳️ Potholes: we're looking into them
    Jun 30 2025
    With Liam Thorp off this week, Rob Parsons spends today's episode looking into one of the perennial bugbears of politicians across the North: potholes. They're a big issue for voters - and the new Labour government has told local councils they must publicly report on what they're doing to keep our roads fit for driving by June 30 or risk losing their share of an additional £500 million of funding. In this episode of The Northern Agenda Podcast, we’ll explore what this means for councils, the road maintenance industry, and the communities that depend on well-maintained local roads for driving, cycling and catching the bus across the North. Rob talks to Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood about the thinking behind the new policy and gets the industry perspective from Newcastle-based David Jobling-Purser, vice-chair of the Road Emulsion Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    28 m
  • 📺 The man who wouldn't pay his licence fee

    📺 The man who wouldn't pay his licence fee
    Jun 19 2025
    Why are so many private hire taxi drivers in the North of England licensed in Wolverhampton - and what's that got to do with the grooming gangs scandal? Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp have a Northern take on this week's big report into child sexual exploitation in this week's Northern Agenda podcast as they take a look at the big political stories across the region. There's also the fascinating case of the Merseyside man who successfully won a court battle to avoid paying his licence fee because he doesn't watch any live TV. Is this a sign of how our viewing habits are changing? And Rob has a very niche suggestion for what Sunderland council ought to have called the city's new footbridge after getting residents to help come up with a name. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    31 m
  • 💷 Rachel Reeves splashes the cash up North

    💷 Rachel Reeves splashes the cash up North
    Jun 12 2025
    Rachel Reeves gave her long-awaited spending review statement setting out where she and Keir Starmer are going to be spending their money between now and the General Election. But which of the Chancellor's announcements will have the biggest impact on the North? Which Northern town got more mentions than anywhere else? Which Labour MP produced a cringeworthy display of sycophancy and which Labour mayor gave the Government both barrels? This week Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp are joined by Henri Murison of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership to answer these questions and more. And you can hear a bit about Rob's memorable award acceptance that may have prompted a public health warning... 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
    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Wes Streeting visits Leeds, the cash bonanza for the North's transport services, and Burnley Banksy

    Wes Streeting visits Leeds, the cash bonanza for the North's transport services, and Burnley Banksy
    Jun 6 2025
    This week Rob and Liam dissect the big announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves of a multi-billion pound cash bonanza for the North's transport services, what it'll mean for people who want to get about the region and why it feels very different to when Rishi Sunak announced the exact same thing less than two years ago. And ​R​ob has an interview with ​Wes Streeting ​w​here he quizzed the Health Secretary on his controversial shake-up of the NHS, whether he wants to hand control of health services to mayors like Andy Burnham, and what he thinks of the local councillor in Wakefield who says Keir Starmer is the worst Prime Minister he's ever seen. Plus​ hear all about the Burnley Banksy and his mysterious minions artwork and Liam explain​s why he's been talking to librarians​... The Northern Agenda is a Reach produced, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    1 h y 2 m
  • The trampoline and the swamp

    The trampoline and the swamp
    May 27 2025
    ​This week Rob Parsons speaks to one of the leading voices in the region, if not the country, on the all-important issue of how we can ensure everyone has a chance to succeed in life regardless of their background. The concept is also called social mobility, and in 2010 a body called the Social Mobility Commission was set up to hold the country and the Government of the day to account on whether things are actually improving in this respect. Its chair Alun Francis has years of experience on the ground trying to make the lives of young people better in the North. Currently, the Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College, he previously had the top job at Oldham College. It's the 15th anniversary of the Child Poverty Act this year, the legislation that brought the social mobility commission into being. So what better time to talk to Alun about why young people in the North are still being held back by where they're from, and importantly what we can do about it. The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    34 m