Rob Parsons
@robparsonsna.bsky.social
Executive Editor - Local Democracy Reporting Service for Reach Plc
3/3
Here's what his team said when I approached them to ask why....
Here's what his team said when I approached them to ask why....
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3/3
Here's what his team said when I approached them to ask why....
Here's what his team said when I approached them to ask why....
Northern mayors like @andyburnham.bsky.social and @kimmcguinness.bsky.social have signed a letter to Rachel Reeves calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail to be delivered in full and the two-child benefit cap to be lifted
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
But one mayor refused to sign...
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www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
But one mayor refused to sign...
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November 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Northern mayors like @andyburnham.bsky.social and @kimmcguinness.bsky.social have signed a letter to Rachel Reeves calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail to be delivered in full and the two-child benefit cap to be lifted
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
But one mayor refused to sign...
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www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
But one mayor refused to sign...
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Will Greater Manchester be left out in the cold by Keir Starmer's government after Andy Burnham's high-profile antics at Labour conference?
I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio!
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I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio!
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October 1, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Will Greater Manchester be left out in the cold by Keir Starmer's government after Andy Burnham's high-profile antics at Labour conference?
I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio!
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I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio!
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'It won't do Andy Burnham any harm to be seen to be at war with an unpopular government'
Was great to have
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport
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Was great to have
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport
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September 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
'It won't do Andy Burnham any harm to be seen to be at war with an unpopular government'
Was great to have
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport
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Was great to have
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport
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'The qualities that made Angela Rayner so good are those you're more likely to see in Northern people'
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race...
Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race...
Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
September 15, 2025 at 7:26 AM
'The qualities that made Angela Rayner so good are those you're more likely to see in Northern people'
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race...
Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race...
Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
Sorry for another self-indulgent post but it was my last newsletter as Northern Agenda Editor today 😢
You can read it here:
newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...
You can read it here:
newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...
September 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Sorry for another self-indulgent post but it was my last newsletter as Northern Agenda Editor today 😢
You can read it here:
newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...
You can read it here:
newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...
I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast...
Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.
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Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.
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September 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast...
Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.
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Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.
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I have some job news...
September 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I have some job news...
"It doesn't send a good sign when councils close the door and refuse to engage with the local press."
Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk
on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban...
@oliverpridmore.bsky.social
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Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk
on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban...
@oliverpridmore.bsky.social
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September 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
"It doesn't send a good sign when councils close the door and refuse to engage with the local press."
Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk
on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban...
@oliverpridmore.bsky.social
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Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk
on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban...
@oliverpridmore.bsky.social
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The Starmer-Trump US-UK trade deal removing tariffs on £1bn+ of cheaper US ethanol means Hull firm
Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.
Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today
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Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.
Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today
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August 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Starmer-Trump US-UK trade deal removing tariffs on £1bn+ of cheaper US ethanol means Hull firm
Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.
Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today
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Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.
Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today
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The investment can't come a moment too soon, with the raw sewage being regularly pumped into treasured waterways and lakes like Windermere in Cumbria a foul-smelling reminder of the poor state of much of the country's public realm.
The investment can't come a moment too soon, with the raw sewage being regularly pumped into treasured waterways and lakes like Windermere in Cumbria a foul-smelling reminder of the poor state of much of the country's public realm.
August 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
8/12
The investment can't come a moment too soon, with the raw sewage being regularly pumped into treasured waterways and lakes like Windermere in Cumbria a foul-smelling reminder of the poor state of much of the country's public realm.
The investment can't come a moment too soon, with the raw sewage being regularly pumped into treasured waterways and lakes like Windermere in Cumbria a foul-smelling reminder of the poor state of much of the country's public realm.
Billions of £ of investment in vital infrastructure is promised by the Labour govt in the coming years - but the biggest projects in the North aren't in transport, energy or schools.
That was what I discovered when I had a look at the online Infrastructure Pipeline. Regional breakdown here...
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That was what I discovered when I had a look at the online Infrastructure Pipeline. Regional breakdown here...
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August 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Billions of £ of investment in vital infrastructure is promised by the Labour govt in the coming years - but the biggest projects in the North aren't in transport, energy or schools.
That was what I discovered when I had a look at the online Infrastructure Pipeline. Regional breakdown here...
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That was what I discovered when I had a look at the online Infrastructure Pipeline. Regional breakdown here...
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'You can't eliminate the danger of another Bury or Macclesfield Town going out of existence. But you can have greater checks and balances to dissuade wrong'uns from entering the industry'
Keiran Maguire (@priceoffootball.bsky.social) on regulating football on the Northern Agenda podcast
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Keiran Maguire (@priceoffootball.bsky.social) on regulating football on the Northern Agenda podcast
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August 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
'You can't eliminate the danger of another Bury or Macclesfield Town going out of existence. But you can have greater checks and balances to dissuade wrong'uns from entering the industry'
Keiran Maguire (@priceoffootball.bsky.social) on regulating football on the Northern Agenda podcast
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Keiran Maguire (@priceoffootball.bsky.social) on regulating football on the Northern Agenda podcast
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NEW: The National Crime Agency will take over the investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse of Rotherham grooming gang victims by former South Yorkshire Police officers
Victims had been furious that SYP were allowed to investigate themselves.
Here's South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard:
Victims had been furious that SYP were allowed to investigate themselves.
Here's South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard:
August 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
NEW: The National Crime Agency will take over the investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse of Rotherham grooming gang victims by former South Yorkshire Police officers
Victims had been furious that SYP were allowed to investigate themselves.
Here's South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard:
Victims had been furious that SYP were allowed to investigate themselves.
Here's South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard:
Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards (@markjsewards.bsky.social)
announced this week he'd worked with a local start-up to create a prototype AI version of himself to answer constituents' questions/deal with case work.
I'm not a constituent but thought I'd give AI Mark Sewards a call 📲
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announced this week he'd worked with a local start-up to create a prototype AI version of himself to answer constituents' questions/deal with case work.
I'm not a constituent but thought I'd give AI Mark Sewards a call 📲
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August 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards (@markjsewards.bsky.social)
announced this week he'd worked with a local start-up to create a prototype AI version of himself to answer constituents' questions/deal with case work.
I'm not a constituent but thought I'd give AI Mark Sewards a call 📲
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announced this week he'd worked with a local start-up to create a prototype AI version of himself to answer constituents' questions/deal with case work.
I'm not a constituent but thought I'd give AI Mark Sewards a call 📲
1/2
The Government is shaking up the way it funds councils to make things fairer - but it's going to mean town halls in London losing out (while those up North largely benefit)
New analysis by @theifs.bsky.social - and graphic by
Marianna Longo in today's Northern Agenda newsletter...
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New analysis by @theifs.bsky.social - and graphic by
Marianna Longo in today's Northern Agenda newsletter...
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August 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Government is shaking up the way it funds councils to make things fairer - but it's going to mean town halls in London losing out (while those up North largely benefit)
New analysis by @theifs.bsky.social - and graphic by
Marianna Longo in today's Northern Agenda newsletter...
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New analysis by @theifs.bsky.social - and graphic by
Marianna Longo in today's Northern Agenda newsletter...
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What have Reform UK been up to in their first 3 months in power in the North's councils/mayoralties?
I asked ace Local Democracy Reporters in Lancashire, Hull and Durham who've been following things on the ground
Thanks: @paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social, Bill Edgar and @andygspence.bsky.social
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I asked ace Local Democracy Reporters in Lancashire, Hull and Durham who've been following things on the ground
Thanks: @paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social, Bill Edgar and @andygspence.bsky.social
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August 1, 2025 at 1:14 PM
What have Reform UK been up to in their first 3 months in power in the North's councils/mayoralties?
I asked ace Local Democracy Reporters in Lancashire, Hull and Durham who've been following things on the ground
Thanks: @paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social, Bill Edgar and @andygspence.bsky.social
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I asked ace Local Democracy Reporters in Lancashire, Hull and Durham who've been following things on the ground
Thanks: @paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social, Bill Edgar and @andygspence.bsky.social
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Until we get the truth about the 1984 Battle of Orgreave it's going to remain an open wound for a lot of mining communities - and undermine their faith in the police.
Me on this week's Northern Agenda podcast...
@orgreavejustice.bsky.social
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Me on this week's Northern Agenda podcast...
@orgreavejustice.bsky.social
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July 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Until we get the truth about the 1984 Battle of Orgreave it's going to remain an open wound for a lot of mining communities - and undermine their faith in the police.
Me on this week's Northern Agenda podcast...
@orgreavejustice.bsky.social
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Me on this week's Northern Agenda podcast...
@orgreavejustice.bsky.social
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'Performative populist politics'
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the decision by the ruling Reform UK group on Durham County Council to revoke the climate emergency declared by the same council in 2019.
Hear our full chat on the Northern Agenda podcast:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the decision by the ruling Reform UK group on Durham County Council to revoke the climate emergency declared by the same council in 2019.
Hear our full chat on the Northern Agenda podcast:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
July 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
'Performative populist politics'
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the decision by the ruling Reform UK group on Durham County Council to revoke the climate emergency declared by the same council in 2019.
Hear our full chat on the Northern Agenda podcast:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
@liamthorp.bsky.social on the decision by the ruling Reform UK group on Durham County Council to revoke the climate emergency declared by the same council in 2019.
Hear our full chat on the Northern Agenda podcast:
podfollow.com/the-northern...
NEW: Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington will be allowed to put off their elections for metro mayors until May 2027, Local Government Minister @jimmcmahon.co.uk announces today
Here's the MHCLG press release.
The delay is to save money so the elections can be held alongside local elections
Here's the MHCLG press release.
The delay is to save money so the elections can be held alongside local elections
July 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM
NEW: Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington will be allowed to put off their elections for metro mayors until May 2027, Local Government Minister @jimmcmahon.co.uk announces today
Here's the MHCLG press release.
The delay is to save money so the elections can be held alongside local elections
Here's the MHCLG press release.
The delay is to save money so the elections can be held alongside local elections
Here's the funding needed to keep Greater Manchester's publicly-run bus network going each year - and less than half of it comes from passengers' fares
But actually that's far from unusual...
Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social)
A thread 1/8
But actually that's far from unusual...
Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social)
A thread 1/8
July 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Here's the funding needed to keep Greater Manchester's publicly-run bus network going each year - and less than half of it comes from passengers' fares
But actually that's far from unusual...
Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social)
A thread 1/8
But actually that's far from unusual...
Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social)
A thread 1/8
'This news comes as a surprise and we were not consulted'
Sheffield's council leader (@tomhunt100.bsky.social) on the govt's decision to stop councils from being run by committee
It does beg the question, shouldn't people in Sheffield - not Ministers in London - decide how their council is run?
Sheffield's council leader (@tomhunt100.bsky.social) on the govt's decision to stop councils from being run by committee
It does beg the question, shouldn't people in Sheffield - not Ministers in London - decide how their council is run?
June 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
'This news comes as a surprise and we were not consulted'
Sheffield's council leader (@tomhunt100.bsky.social) on the govt's decision to stop councils from being run by committee
It does beg the question, shouldn't people in Sheffield - not Ministers in London - decide how their council is run?
Sheffield's council leader (@tomhunt100.bsky.social) on the govt's decision to stop councils from being run by committee
It does beg the question, shouldn't people in Sheffield - not Ministers in London - decide how their council is run?
In 2021 the people of Sheffield voted in a referendum to move their council to a commitee system rather than the cabinet and leader model.
Now the Labour government has told them (and others using the committee system like Wirral and Cheshire East) that they must switch back 🤷
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Now the Labour government has told them (and others using the committee system like Wirral and Cheshire East) that they must switch back 🤷
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June 25, 2025 at 9:11 AM
In 2021 the people of Sheffield voted in a referendum to move their council to a commitee system rather than the cabinet and leader model.
Now the Labour government has told them (and others using the committee system like Wirral and Cheshire East) that they must switch back 🤷
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Now the Labour government has told them (and others using the committee system like Wirral and Cheshire East) that they must switch back 🤷
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a new rapid investigation into NHS maternity services.
And the Department for Health told me this morning that Leeds - whose services were downgraded last week by the Care Quality Commission - are among the 10 trusts to be looked at
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And the Department for Health told me this morning that Leeds - whose services were downgraded last week by the Care Quality Commission - are among the 10 trusts to be looked at
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June 23, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a new rapid investigation into NHS maternity services.
And the Department for Health told me this morning that Leeds - whose services were downgraded last week by the Care Quality Commission - are among the 10 trusts to be looked at
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And the Department for Health told me this morning that Leeds - whose services were downgraded last week by the Care Quality Commission - are among the 10 trusts to be looked at
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What do you think of these ideas for a new community flag for Cumbria?
There's a competition running, with winning entry used to celebrate the region's history, express community pride and increase recognition and awareness of the area.
surveymonkey.com/r/CumbriaCom...
There's a competition running, with winning entry used to celebrate the region's history, express community pride and increase recognition and awareness of the area.
surveymonkey.com/r/CumbriaCom...
June 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
What do you think of these ideas for a new community flag for Cumbria?
There's a competition running, with winning entry used to celebrate the region's history, express community pride and increase recognition and awareness of the area.
surveymonkey.com/r/CumbriaCom...
There's a competition running, with winning entry used to celebrate the region's history, express community pride and increase recognition and awareness of the area.
surveymonkey.com/r/CumbriaCom...