The Lead
@theleaduk.bsky.social
The Lead is a lean, mean mag on politics, culture and everything in between.
Pinned
The Lead
@theleaduk.bsky.social
· Oct 21
The Lead is campaigning to end child poverty. We cannot allow our most vulnerable members of society to be treated with such disdain – the government must take decisive action, now.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
Over the coming months you can expect more nuanced journalism that gets to the heart of the crisis.
It's Wednesday and our latest editions of The Lead North are out, starting in Lancashire where the political jostling for a major venue for the county is well underway
Battle to have Lancashire's arena as politicians jostle to leave mark on areas
Who will leave a political legacy that people can enjoy for years to come?
lancashire.thelead.uk
December 3, 2025 at 10:54 AM
It's Wednesday and our latest editions of The Lead North are out, starting in Lancashire where the political jostling for a major venue for the county is well underway
In the UK, the vast majority of us think we are a lot poorer than we are. That failure of reckoning is a function of three things: our social atomisation, our unbalanced media and our broken politics ✍️ @hannahfearn.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...
national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...
What it means to be wealthy in 2025
Most of us think we're poorer than we are – this disconnect creates worse social outcomes for us all
national.thelead.uk
December 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
In the UK, the vast majority of us think we are a lot poorer than we are. That failure of reckoning is a function of three things: our social atomisation, our unbalanced media and our broken politics ✍️ @hannahfearn.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...
national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...
Juries uphold something rare, ancient and profound: the idea that the state cannot take away your liberty without first convincing a group of ordinary citizens that it is right to do so. Weakening them is a threat to British values ✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/a-weakened...
national.thelead.uk/p/a-weakened...
A weakened jury system is a gift to the far right
At a time when trust in institutions is collapsing, juries remain one of the few places where civic duty still lives.
national.thelead.uk
December 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Juries uphold something rare, ancient and profound: the idea that the state cannot take away your liberty without first convincing a group of ordinary citizens that it is right to do so. Weakening them is a threat to British values ✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/a-weakened...
national.thelead.uk/p/a-weakened...
Good morning from a chilly Lancashire, here's our latest editions of The Lead North this Sunday morning. Starting right here, as the leader of the Reform-led county council faces questions over why he missed Remembrance in the county
Reform UK's Lancashire leader takes trip paid for by Israeli government
The first cabinet meeting cancelled at County Hall in quite some time raises eyebrows in opposition ranks
lancashire.thelead.uk
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Good morning from a chilly Lancashire, here's our latest editions of The Lead North this Sunday morning. Starting right here, as the leader of the Reform-led county council faces questions over why he missed Remembrance in the county
Undecided? Here’s a snapshot of some of the work we have published recently that shows exactly why this kind of journalism matters.
Final chance to get 30% off an annual subscription to The Lead
Sign up to become a paid subscriber for less than £3 a month – only available until the end of today!
national.thelead.uk
November 30, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Undecided? Here’s a snapshot of some of the work we have published recently that shows exactly why this kind of journalism matters.
Most of us think we're poorer than we are – this disconnect creates worse social outcomes for us all
New from @hannahfearn.bsky.social as she reflects on The Budget
New from @hannahfearn.bsky.social as she reflects on The Budget
What it means to be wealthy in 2025
Most of us think we're poorer than we are – this disconnect creates worse social outcomes for us all
national.thelead.uk
November 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Most of us think we're poorer than we are – this disconnect creates worse social outcomes for us all
New from @hannahfearn.bsky.social as she reflects on The Budget
New from @hannahfearn.bsky.social as she reflects on The Budget
This week, the Chancellor dared to address the disparities in our broken council tax symptom, at least partially. But is the mansion tax any good? We dug into it in the week's The Lead Untangles
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
The Lead Untangles: Is the mansion tax fair?
What is the mansion tax, who does it affect, and does it go far enough?
national.thelead.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This week, the Chancellor dared to address the disparities in our broken council tax symptom, at least partially. But is the mansion tax any good? We dug into it in the week's The Lead Untangles
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
A special edition this evening: Lifting the two-child benefit cap is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs.
A verdict on the Budget through progressive eyes from our @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
A verdict on the Budget through progressive eyes from our @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
The Lead's budget verdict: technocratic tweaks to a broken system
Lifting the two-child benefit is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs
national.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:51 PM
A special edition this evening: Lifting the two-child benefit cap is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs.
A verdict on the Budget through progressive eyes from our @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
A verdict on the Budget through progressive eyes from our @zoegrunewald.bsky.social
Reposted by The Lead
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
The Lead's budget verdict: technocratic tweaks to a broken system
Lifting the two-child benefit is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs
national.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
Reposted by The Lead
Could you rebuild an entire life in 28 days? Open a bank account, get a job, find somewhere to rent?
It's an impossible task for most refugees, and it's leaving many people homeless and at risk.
Important piece by @theleaduk.bsky.social 👇
It's an impossible task for most refugees, and it's leaving many people homeless and at risk.
Important piece by @theleaduk.bsky.social 👇
New asylum policies making homeless refugees “targets for the far right”
Labour’s abrupt return to the 28-day move-on period is pushing vulnerable people into rough sleeping and exposing them to fraud and abuse.
national.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Could you rebuild an entire life in 28 days? Open a bank account, get a job, find somewhere to rent?
It's an impossible task for most refugees, and it's leaving many people homeless and at risk.
Important piece by @theleaduk.bsky.social 👇
It's an impossible task for most refugees, and it's leaving many people homeless and at risk.
Important piece by @theleaduk.bsky.social 👇
It's Wednesday, here's our latest editions of The Lead North. The new boss of collapsed health and beauty chain Bodycare has promised the firm will remain based in Lancashire because locals know all about ‘rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it’.
New Bodycare boss vows to keep company in Lancashire and relaunch stores
Plus: the latest on local government reorganisation in the county, who is backing what?
lancashire.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
It's Wednesday, here's our latest editions of The Lead North. The new boss of collapsed health and beauty chain Bodycare has promised the firm will remain based in Lancashire because locals know all about ‘rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it’.
Labour's slap dash approach to asylum policy - specifically, halving the the time limit for newly accepted refugees to leave Home Office accommodation - is leaving people at risk of homelessness, exploitation and far-right violence
✍️ @cjayanetti.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
✍️ @cjayanetti.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
New asylum policies making homeless refugees “targets for the far right”
Labour’s abrupt return to the 28-day move-on period is pushing vulnerable people into rough sleeping and exposing them to fraud and abuse.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Labour's slap dash approach to asylum policy - specifically, halving the the time limit for newly accepted refugees to leave Home Office accommodation - is leaving people at risk of homelessness, exploitation and far-right violence
✍️ @cjayanetti.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
✍️ @cjayanetti.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
Reposted by The Lead
If you haven’t already seen this from @theleaduk.bsky.social it is essential reading …
X's new transparency feature has exposed many of the platform's influential MAGA personalities as being located outside the US.
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
Bots, AI memes and Reform councillors: How foreign Facebook pages are hijacking UK patriotism
Fake British “patriot” pages run from abroad are fooling thousands – including elected councillors.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
If you haven’t already seen this from @theleaduk.bsky.social it is essential reading …
X's new transparency feature has exposed many of the platform's influential MAGA personalities as being located outside the US.
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
Bots, AI memes and Reform councillors: How foreign Facebook pages are hijacking UK patriotism
Fake British “patriot” pages run from abroad are fooling thousands – including elected councillors.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
X's new transparency feature has exposed many of the platform's influential MAGA personalities as being located outside the US.
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
Some weekend reads for you as latest editions of The Lead North drop, starting in Blackpool where the number of people needing support to feed themselves in the town is growing rather than decreasing
Inside Blackpool’s 'foodbank of foodbanks' - which provides more than 17,000 meals per week - in danger of closure
The number of people needing support to feed themselves in Blackpool is growing rather than decreasing
blackpool.thelead.uk
November 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Some weekend reads for you as latest editions of The Lead North drop, starting in Blackpool where the number of people needing support to feed themselves in the town is growing rather than decreasing
Former editor of The Big Issue in the North @kevingopal.bsky.social discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation with @nmozz.bsky.social
The Lead in Conversation: "Kids are in poverty because adults are in poverty"
Former editor of The Big Issue in the north discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation.
national.thelead.uk
November 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Former editor of The Big Issue in the North @kevingopal.bsky.social discusses the shameful crisis of child poverty and the regional disparities that are being driven by inequality and deprivation with @nmozz.bsky.social
Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.
November 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Child poverty is at an all-time high in the UK according to official statistics - but it's important to look beyond the figures to who it really impacts. Last week, @kevingopal.bsky.social spoke with Sophie, a student who grew up skipping meals in Newcastle, because she saw her mum doing it.
The government has pledged more money to improve special needs education – but desperate families say the whole system needs overhauling.
"It's the Hunger Games": SEND children are being failed in mainstream schools
The government has pledged more money to improve special needs education – but desperate families say the whole system needs overhauling.
national.thelead.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The government has pledged more money to improve special needs education – but desperate families say the whole system needs overhauling.
Some parts of Lancashire are experiencing severe levels of child poverty. Out of 317 local authorities, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley all feature high on the list with 440 per cent or more of children coming from families struggling to make ends meet.
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Some parts of Lancashire are experiencing severe levels of child poverty. Out of 317 local authorities, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley all feature high on the list with 440 per cent or more of children coming from families struggling to make ends meet.
On top of our scoop in Lancashire about Reform's Tom Pickup being found posting in a far right Whatsapp group, you can check out the best reporting from The Lead's Northern titles in this week's Notes from the North
national.thelead.uk/p/notes-from...
national.thelead.uk/p/notes-from...
Notes from the North: An arena for Blackpool, making a difference in Calderdale and a suspended councillor
All the highlights from our exclusive reporting as part of The Lead North, including battling to fight poverty in Calderdale and an interesting idea from Blackpool
national.thelead.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
On top of our scoop in Lancashire about Reform's Tom Pickup being found posting in a far right Whatsapp group, you can check out the best reporting from The Lead's Northern titles in this week's Notes from the North
national.thelead.uk/p/notes-from...
national.thelead.uk/p/notes-from...
In this week's Reform Watch, Nigel Farage is accused of racism, Wales' Laura Anne Jones is suspended for racism, and Lancashire's Tom Pickup has been found posting a has been suspended for posting in a far-right Whatsapp group. Sounds about right!
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-wat...
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-wat...
Reform Watch: Racism, racism and more racism
Each week we cast over eyes over what Reform have been up to – from bizarre proclamations to the detail of how their attempts to run councils are going.
national.thelead.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In this week's Reform Watch, Nigel Farage is accused of racism, Wales' Laura Anne Jones is suspended for racism, and Lancashire's Tom Pickup has been found posting a has been suspended for posting in a far-right Whatsapp group. Sounds about right!
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-wat...
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-wat...
Ahead of the Budget, the housing sector is united in calling for Local Housing Allowance rates to be unfrozen – will Reeves listen?
Journalist @mattyedwards23.bsky.social untangles this seemingly simple solution to the housing crisis.
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
Journalist @mattyedwards23.bsky.social untangles this seemingly simple solution to the housing crisis.
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
The Lead Untangles: Is there a simple solution to the homelessness crisis?
Ahead of the Budget, the housing sector is united in calling for Local Housing Allowance rates to be unfrozen – will Reeves listen?
national.thelead.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Ahead of the Budget, the housing sector is united in calling for Local Housing Allowance rates to be unfrozen – will Reeves listen?
Journalist @mattyedwards23.bsky.social untangles this seemingly simple solution to the housing crisis.
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
Journalist @mattyedwards23.bsky.social untangles this seemingly simple solution to the housing crisis.
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup claims the party is showing a moderate face to the public that masks true immigration policies
Exclusive: Calls for anti-extremism investigation of suspended Reform councillor after "hardline" posts in far-right WhatsApp group revealed
Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup claims the party is showing a different face to the public
national.thelead.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Lancashire councillor Tom Pickup claims the party is showing a moderate face to the public that masks true immigration policies
Breaking political news from The Lancashire Lead as Reform's Tom Pickup is suspended over leaked WhatsApp messages about the party's stance on immigration
Breaking: Senior Reform UK figure at County Hall suspended by party
Whatsapp leaks lead to suspension of the council's lead member for finance and resources
lancashire.thelead.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Breaking political news from The Lancashire Lead as Reform's Tom Pickup is suspended over leaked WhatsApp messages about the party's stance on immigration
Reposted by The Lead
Breaking: A senior Reform UK politician in Lancashire has been suspended by the party.
He will now sit as an independent.
lancashire.thelead.uk/p/breaking-s...
He will now sit as an independent.
lancashire.thelead.uk/p/breaking-s...
Breaking: Senior Reform UK figure at County Hall suspended by party
Whatsapp leaks lead to suspension of the council's lead member for finance and resources
lancashire.thelead.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Breaking: A senior Reform UK politician in Lancashire has been suspended by the party.
He will now sit as an independent.
lancashire.thelead.uk/p/breaking-s...
He will now sit as an independent.
lancashire.thelead.uk/p/breaking-s...