Pompey Politics Podcast, Blue and Yellow Till We Die

On this week·s show we invite back Havant Borough Councillors to share the news from their rainbow coalition (Green, Lib Dem & Labour) since they took over running the council in May. We're joined by:- Cllr Philippa Gray, (Lib Dem. Bedhampton) Deputy Leader of Havant Borough Council & Cabinet Lead for Finance Cllr Grainne Rason Bradley, (Green. Emsworth) Cabinet Lead for Environment & Water Quality & Climate Change Champion Cllr Mark Coates (Labour. Hayling East) Chairman of Human Resources Committee Cllr Paul Gray (Lib Dem. Hayling West) Cabinet Lead for Commercial & Chairman of Licensing Committee

Ahead of world world AIDS day we interview CP from Portsmouth Pride to talk to us about what it signifies and why it's so important as well as what's changed in since those Iceberg & monolithic tombstone informercials from the UK government in 1987. Queer all year Portsmouth https://queerallyear.co.uk/ Terrance Higgins Trust https://www.tht.org.uk Terrance Higgins Quilt on display at RN Dockyard Portsmouth https://historicdockyard.co.uk/event/navy-threads/ Elton John AIDS foundation https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org Portsmouth Pride https://www.portsmouthpride.org.uk/

We welcome two of Portsmouth's producers of goods & services onto the show to hear about their businesses and the challenges they face. Gary Fyles of Think Bigger Ltd, publisher & Growth Mindset coach & David Mugridge from Yarty Cordials Ltd, producing cordials inspired by family recipes. We're also joined by Cllr Ben Swann to help us understand a ward Councillor's view of the challenges faced. Do you run a business in the city? What do you have to say about the challenges facing your business today? What can local & national governments do to help businesses survive & thrive? Yarty Cordials https://helloyarty.com Thinking Bigger https://www.thinkingbiggerltd.co.uk

In a meeting where who wrote what, to whom, and when became much more contentious than you'd normally think, we take a look at Tuesday's Full Council meeting. Where was there consensus, where was there robust debate, and where was there political point scoring? Items on the agenda were:- • Definitions of sexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia • Tackling the crisis in temporary accommodation • Social Media Policy for Councillors • Increase in the single capped Bus fare from £2 to £3 • Nominations for Honorary Alderman • Support for the Repair Cafes - Portsmouth • CPO ‘Hope Value' Sites How many questions of cabinet members did the councillors have? Last month there were 16. This time was it higher or lower? Links to hear the motions in full are on our website. www.pppodcast.uk

How easy is Portsmouth as a city for disabled people to get around for work, study or leisure? What barriers to their freedom are disabled people encountering in Portsmouth? What can be done to remove or reduce the barriers? Join us on Sunday as we welcome Georgina Fry from Portsmouth's Disability Advisory Group to hear what the challenges are, and what is being done to help. Portsmouth Disability Advisory Group https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563355431337 Portsmouth Wheelchair Access Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/portsmouthwag/ PCPA (Portsmouth Carers and Personal Assistants) https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthCPA

Ahead of the US Presidential elections November 5th we take a look at a most pivotal of elections in a year of key ballots across the globe. Why is the 2024 Presidential election so important? How does it all work? How are US elections different to those in the UK? We·re joined by Lee Sartain, Senior Lecturer in American History to help us Brits try and make sense of it all. If you'd like more information about the Electoral College, or the American voting system in general here's some links worth looking at:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiPL-XHKnCk https://youtu.be/ajavsMbCapY?si=EO26YtxjjIwlziEn https://www.usa.gov/electoral-college Don't forget to like / comment / review / subscribe. Swing by pppodcast.uk if you'd like to sign up for our weekly emails about what episodes are coming up.

With Labour's first budget for 14 years freshly released & out in the open we take a look at the key policies. Now we've finally heard what was, and wasn't in it. What sticks out? Who are the winners & losers? How will it affect you? Where there any surprised? Photo credit: Lauren Hurley

We take a look at Tuesday's (15th October 2024) Full Council meeting of Portsmouth City Council. Should the council call on the government to think again about the Winter Fuel Allowance cuts? Should the council call on the government to prevent NHS dentists just shutting up shop leaving their patients without dental health care? Should the council ask Hants & IOW Police & Crime Commissioner to speed up DBS checks getting in the way of appointing PCC staff to support residents in need? Should PCC be investing more taxpayer's money into Portico (the council owned shipping company)? Full Agenda: https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5327&x=1 Watch the council meeting in full at:https://youtu.be/HKrd5XKSTAs Links to specific motions available on www.pppodcast.uk

Returning from our extended summer break, we'll take a look at political events of note since our last show. Has anything of note happened in local & national politics since the heady early morning hours of July 5th? Please leave a review, rating & follow wherever you get your podcasts.

39 days into the election campaign, 4 left before voters in the UK go to the polls. Ian & Simon take a trip back over the events of the last 39 days and discuss what the next 4 might be like.

As part of a string of interviews about each party manifesto Portsmouth South Reform candidate Mark Zimmer shared with us what he feels are the key policies from the Reform UK 'Contract'. We'll be sharing our interviews with each of the five larger parties as well as including them in our episode 23rd June.

As part of a string of interviews about each party manifesto Havant Labour candidate Stefanie Harvey shares with us what she feels are the key policies from the Labour Party Manifesto. We'll be sharing our interviews with each of the five larger parties as well as including them in Sunday's show.

As part of a string of interviews about each party manifesto Fareham & Waterlooville Liberal Democrat candidate Bella Hewitt shares with us what she feels are the key policies from the Lib Dem Manifesto. We'll be sharing our interviews with each of the five larger parties as well as including them in Sunday's show.

Each of the larger parties standing in our area gives us their favourite policies of their manifesto Interviews with Conservative: Penny Mordaunt. Labour: Stefanie Harvey. Liberal Democrat: Bella Hewitt. Green: Elliot Lee. Reform: Mark Zimmer. 12 days to go before the UK heads to the polls. Have our listeners heard anything that changes their minds? Longer versions of their interviews are available as separate episodes.

As part of a string of interviews about each party manifesto Portsmouth South Green candidate Elliot Lee shared with us what they feel are the key policies from the Green Party Manifesto. We'll be sharing our interviews with each of the five larger parties as well as including them in Sunday's show.

As part of a string of interviews about each party manifesto Portsmouth North Conservative candidate Penny Mordaunt shared with us what she feels are the key policies it contains. We'll be sharing the interviews with someone from each of the five larger parties as well as including them in Sunday's show.

In a week that's seen Nigel Farage take over Reform and decide to stand, 80th D-Day commemorations Rishi Sunak left early - can this election get any stranger? Candidates are now confirmed for the General Election. Who's standing in Portsmouth North, Portsmouth South, Havant, Gosport, Fareham & Waterlooville? ········ If you want to take part in our PPP Poll: https://forms.gle/SmhSqpQudywvTtcEA ··Remember, this the first general election for which you'll need photo ID to vote in person.·· (link in event comments) -··Register to vote by midnight by 18th June -··Register for postal vote by 19th June -··Register for proxy votes by 5pm 26th June -·Request FREE photo ID (Voter Authority Certificate - VAC) by 5pm 26th June Register to vote https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote VOTER ID https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id Postal Vote https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/postal-voting Info on boundary changes: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/boundary-review-2023-which-seats-will-change/

May 28th 2024 saw a full meeting of Portsmouth City Council to consider the pre-submission of Portsmouth's local plan. We take a look at the contributions, and hear where there was disagreement & debate, and where there was consensus. What impact would the plan have on the number of new homes in the city ? On loss of open spaces? On the number of HMOs? On provision of local schools, doctors & dentists? Did Portsmouth's Councillors vote through the submission or did it suffer the same fate as neighbouring Havant's plan which had to be ditched and taken back to the drawing board?

So, the General Election is ON! Why call it now? What difference will this make in Portsmouth? We share our views in full expectation that views shared on day two of a general election campaign will roundly be disproven by the end of it.

Looking at the results from Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham & Gosport we're joined live by Cllr Steve Pitt - Lib Dem Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllrs Paul Gray (Lib Dem), Mark Coates (Labour), Sharon Collings (Reform), Grainne Rason (Green) with recorded interviews from Cllr Charlotte Gerada (Labour group Leader on Portsmouth City Council), Cllr George Madgwick (Portsmouth Independent Party group leader Portsmouth City Council) & Cllr Paul Whittle (Lib Dem - Portchester Wicor - Fareham Borough Council).

We make our (usually wrong) predictions as to how the votes will go in tomorrow's local elections. Last year we both got 9 wards right and 5 wrong (but different wards). This year, how wrong will we be? Share your predictions: https://forms.gle/qHuLUh5yaTFa8n9c7 (open until ballots close 02/05/24) View the voting history for each of the 14 wards in Portsmouth & this year's candidates: https://shorturl.at/adloq Make sure to leave a comment or a review wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to make sure not to miss when we're next live, follow us on Facebook or Subscribe on Youtube. https://www.facebook.com/pompeypoliticspodcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC96riV9ldG7AhrkIeILU-BA www.pppodcast.uk

We're joined by two of the candidates standing in St Thomas ward in this year's local elections - Elliot Lee (Greens) & Mark Zimmer (Reform). Unfortunately Ian Holder (Lib Dem) was unable to make the hustings due to prior work commitments. At time of recording we had not heard from the other candidates: Julian Lewis (Labour), David Chandler (Conservative) & John Burrows (TUSC). 1. Tell us about yourself, your history, why you're standing for the party you are? 2. What are the top three issues for St Thomas - and what would you do about them? 3. In a cost-of-living crisis, how is another year of maximum level council tax rises justified - what would you see done to help those struggling? 4. With recent flooding in Old Portsmouth, and the ongoing new sea defences works, what would you do to better protect residents and properties from future events given their likelihood and severity is set to increase? 5. What would you do to tackle anti social behaviour, generally and in places like Hot Walls & Camber Docks which are repeated hotspots? 6. What's your view on the implementation of ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods' where through traffic is heavily discouraged in order to reduce dependence on cars and increase active travel? 7. HMOs - satisfying a need for cheap and flexible housing or profiteering disruption of communities? How would you see their expansion managed better for new and existing residents? 8. If neither money or politics were an issue, what would you change about how Portsmouth City Council functions? 9. If you're successful, what's top of your list do get done on day one? -Closing speeches

Our 2024 local election ward hustings for St Jude ward in Portsmouth. We're joined by candidates: Hugh Mason (Lib Dems), Josh Allen (Labour) & John Hill (Portsmouth Independents Party). Although invites were sent we did not receive a response from Lee Kewell (Conservative) or Harry Mallinder (Greens)

In a change to our planned hustings, unfortunately the Green candidate Ian McCulloch was taken ill and not able to attend. We'd not heard from the Labour, Liberal Democrat or Conservative candidate so put our questions to George Madgwick standing in Paulsgrove for the Portsmouth Independents Party. 1. Tell us about yourself, your history, why you're standing for the party you are? 2. What are the top three issues for Paulsgrove - and what would you do about them? 3. Anti-social behaviour and crime in general are issues across the city - what would you do to make Paulsgrove safer for its residents? 4. What needs to change about how Portsmouth City Council works? 5. In a cost-of-living crisis, how is another year of maximum level council tax rises justified - what would you see done to help those struggling? 6. The ward is poorly served when it comes to public transport - what would you do to change that? 7. If you're successful, what's top of your list do get done on day one? Don't forget you'll need ID to vote in person in May. Details here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram. Subscribe on YouTube. Details and links www.pppodcast.uk

Ian & Simon take a look at the 7 hour, full council meeting Tuesday March 19th - the last before the 2024 local elections in May. We take a look at the last PCC Full Council Meeting ahead of May's local elections with a packed agenda of no less than eleven notices of motion, five deputations & two questions from the public. Was Lord Mayor Tom Coles' last time Chairing a Full Council seven hours of delightful & harmonious agreement or were Councillors unable to resist kicking off their leaflet campaigns for May 2nd in the chamber? Agenda details in full on PCC website. Link in comments. 13a Fairtrade city 13b Council of Sanctuary 13c Urgent need for improved NHS Dentistry provision 13d Pride in the streets of Pompey 13e International Women's day - Tackling Gender inequality in Portsmouth 13f An end to pointless paper usage 13g Guildhall trust theatre operations outside of Portsmouth 13h Addressing failures in Portsmouth major project delivery 13i Crisis in local authority funding 13j Hampshire & IOW integrated care board 13k Safer recruiting council Questions to Cabinet: Q1 Crisis re EV charging points Q2 Accessibility taxis Q3 Road safety around Cosham schools Q4 Consider reducing cabinet positions* Q5 Building work standards checks Q6 Monitoring of Southern Water discharge levels Q7 Funding for Bransbury park* *Q4 & Q7 will receive written answers Full Council agenda available https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=4980&x=1 Recorded stream from Portsmouth City Council Democratic Services https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3w2COTufA

We welcome to the show the Reform Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) for Portsmouth North & Portsmouth South - Mark Zimmer & Mel Todd. Will their current poll numbers translate into MPs come election time? From where are Reform getting their support? What are their key policies?

Ian & Simon take a look at Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's 2024 budget statement. Who are the winners & losers? Did it excite or alarm? Does it fix the problems facing tax payers? Will it help the economy? What could it mean for the timing of the General Election?

This week we take a look at some recent political events: Rochdale by-election result where three of the candidates were ex-members of the Labour party. Suspended Conservative MP Lee Anderson's words on GB News and the response to them. Ex Prime Minister Liz Truss' words at CPAC to Steve Bannon attributing her ousting as PM to the efforts of 'the big state'. The debacle of the House of Commons debate calling for ceasefire in Gaza proceeded with confusion and chaos due to its handling by Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

We bring you the news from Tuesday's Full Council meeting at which Portsmouth City Council's budget was focus of the agenda. Was it all plain sailing or was there drama and disagreement? Tell us what you think about Portsmouth City Council's budget, the fight to protect services and the planned increase in Council Tax? Full Documents available on PCC's website https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieagenda.aspx?M=4979 Links to Full speeches on our website www.pppodcast.uk

Cllr Dan Wemyss joins us to share the campaign to save a local Pharmacy in Hilsea as well as the controversial redevelopment of the form News Centre. Simon & Ian then take a look at the agenda for Tuesday's Full Council meeting which focuses on Portsmouth City Council's budget for 2024, 25 - Which we'll also cover in full next week.

We take a look at Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). Why are there so many in Portsmouth? What need are they filling? What problems do they cause? Who's winning? We interview Cabinet Member for Planning Policy Cllr Hugh Mason & Cllr Ben Swann. Portsmouth City Council's planning page. See new applications here and make comments: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/development-and-planning/planning-applications/planning-applications-view-and-comment-online/ Reporting problems with HMOs to Portsmouth City Council: https://my.portsmouth.gov.uk/en/AchieveForms/?form_uri=sandbox-publish://AF-Process-9bb346b9-5f5c-47d5-8a93-620e57be5e05/AF-Stage-652833ab-3b31-47b3-b7c2-7422281bdc30/definition.json&redirectlink=%2Fen&cancelRedirectLink=%2Fen&consentMessage=yes Portsmouth Council's HMO database: https://data.portsmouth.gov.uk/tables/development-and-planning/planning-hmo/

We invite Paulsgrove Councillor George Madgwick to talk to us about the recent theft from a local small business and how his comments on social media became the story. Then, we'll have a look at the Government's battle to gain votes and pass this week's Rwanda bill. Can it ever work? We'll finally take a look at UK expats regaining eligibility to vote in UK General Elections. Should people no longer living in the UK or paying taxes here get to vote? Transcription available www.pppodcast.uk

Ward Report: Charles Dickens We're joined by two of the three ward Councillors in a ward at the very heart of Portsmouth with a strong place in the city's history, what is there for the ward's future? We ask Cllrs Cal Corkery & Yinka Adeniran what the issues are that residents are bringing to them, has the clean-air-zone that covers most of the ward made life better, and what should be done to improve the blighted Commercial Road?

Rounding off their 2023, Ian & Simon take a look at their highs and lows of past (2019-2022), present (2023) and hopes for 2024 before making their guesses for when the General Election will be. Let us know when you think it will be in the comments or on our two question survey - https://forms.gle/tWypVyRZTPLtcc3G6

We invite Clls Matthew Atkins, Asghar Shah & Mary Vallely to use the episode to update their residents on what's happening in Cosham Ward. AI transcript available on our website www.pppodcast.uk Please remember to like / follow / subscribe and leave a review wherever you enjoy our podcasts.

We welcome Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care Cllr Matthew Winnington onto the show to talk about this week's Pharmacy Summit in Portsmouth. Is this the right prescription or just a sticking plaster on a more serious ailment?

With the first King's speech in 72 years delivered this week, and Portsmouth's Full Council meeting next week, we take a look at what was said in Parliament by the King, and what's on the agenda in the Council chamber. Links to both on our website. www.pppodcast.uk

We invite Robert Whitfield, Chair of the One World Trust to talk to us about Artificial Intelligence, the opportunities and the dangers it brings and how we might hope to mitigate its the risks with a global approach to regulation.

We take a look at the Full Council of Portsmouth City Council that took place 17th October 2023. For a packed agenda with 11 notices of motion, how long was the meeting? were tempers frayed? was there more division or more agreement amongst the Councillors?

Simon & Ian are joined by The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Portsmouth - Cllr Tom Coles - we ask him what a Lord Mayor does and what freedoms and powers they have. The Lord Mayor shares some amazing stories of his first six months in office and lets us know some of the history surrounding the robes, chain and mace that signifies the position. Lord Mayor's Charities 2023/24 Portsmouth Hospitals Charity https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/charity/ Homestart Portsmouth https://hsportsmouth.org.uk/ The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity https://www.rnrmc.org.uk/donate Make sure to like, comment, share, subscribe, follow wherever you're hearing our podcasts so you know right away when our next episode is out.

In the first of our Ward Reports, we ask the three Councillors in the Portsmouth ward of Paulsgrove, what the big issues are there for their residents, how they operate as a party of independents, and what they'd change about how the council works.

With last week's roll-back of the UK ban on sales of new cars with petrol or diesel engines we ask if this announcement is good, bad, or not what it appears? Why make the change now? PM's speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/what-the-pms-new-approach-to-net-zero-means-for-you 20/09/23 Slides used by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/650b10d852e73c000d54dc6a/Net_zero_slides.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knPvAL2RKUE

Is the sea of Conservative blue in Havant Borough Council an ebbing tide? We welcome Labour's, Mark Coates (Hayling East), Amy Redsull (Warren Park), Gillian Harris (St Faith's), Lib Dems Philippa Gray (Bedhampton), Paul Gray (Hayling West) & Green Grainne Rason (Emsworth) onto the show to talk about the key issues in their wards, and ask if their 'rebel alliance' can make a difference on a council dominated by 30 Conservative Councillors.

For the last show of our summer season, we invite the Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Steve Pitt back onto the show and ask him about the challenges for the city and his vision for the future.

Ahead of PCC's Full Council meeting July 18th, we take a look at the agenda. Details of items on the discussion thread on the event.

We welcome Elliott Lee back to the show to share their experience of being arrested on the day of the coronation of King Charles IIIrd and held for seventeen hours.

We take three current topics and have a look at them in our own way - -The Court of Appeal in the UK struck down as unlawful the UK Government's policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their claim processed. -Bank of England raised interest rates for the 13th time, to 5%. Will this tackle inflation, who will suffer the most? Is this the only way to deal with disparity between supply and demand in the economy? -The Privileges Committee in the House of Commons released a report highlighting how it believes 10 Conservative Members of Parliament have been working to undermine its work investigating former PM Boris Johnson.

We ask former Councillors Lynne Stagg & Robert New, who stood down in May to share their experiences being on the Council. What would they change? How can parties find candidates that better reflect the communities they aim to serve?

We welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community onto the show to share their experiences as well as their hopes and fears for the future. We're joined by Tally from Portsmouth Pride, Elliot & George with recorded elements from Edward - from the University of Portsmouth Students Union LGBTQ+ Society. Our website www.pppodcast.uk Follow us on Facebook, or subscribe to our channel on YouTube to make sure you know when we're next live. Links on our website.

We ask newly elected Councillors, Paul Gray (Lib Dem) - Hayling West, Mark Coates (Lab) - Hayling East to tell us what the first month has been like, what the issues are on Hayling Island and how they will improve residents' lives on a council dominated by the Conservative party with a majority of 22.

Ian & Simon return, recovered from the election chaos to reveal who's now in charge and ask if when the music stopped everyone had a chair to sit on.