Podcasts about Greater Manchester

Harry and Stelios are joined by Lewis Brackpool to discuss Restore standing in the Greater Manchester mayoral election, the dark future of the Democratic Party, and the mysterious death of Doctor Who.

Following the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation last night, the UK is set to get its seventh Prime Minister in ten years. Seven different leaders in a decade reflects one of the country's most politically turbulent periods in modern history. As one BBC commentator said, if you go back 40 years it would be unthinkable to have such a high turnover of Prime Ministers in such a short timeframe. Currently it looks the next leader will be Andy Burnham, former Mayor of Greater Manchester, and front runner to claim the top job. Whoever becomes the next leader of the UK, they will have to move fast to stabilise the country. Marcus Ganley is a public law specialist with firm Franks Ogilvie but was previously a ministerial adviser to the Clark government and held senior roles in Australian federal politics. He joins Emile.

Michael Sen, CEO des Gesundheitskonzerns Fresenius, kritisiert die aktuelle Gesundheitsreform scharf: „Ich würde das Ganze auch nicht als Reform titulieren" – es handle sich lediglich um den Versuch, ein fiskalisches Loch zu stopfen.Er fordert einen umfassenderen Ansatz: „Es gibt 16 Landesdatenschutzverordnungen und dergleichen mehr." Sen warnt vor gefährlicher Abhängigkeit bei der Medikamenten-Herstellung: Rund 80 Prozent der verschriebenen Arzneimittel seien Generika, bei Wirkstoffen wie Breitband-Antibiotika liefere China 80 bis 90 Prozent der globalen Produktion. [08:43]Die Rentenkommission übergibt heute ihren Bericht an den Kanzler – nach 20 Sitzungen und über 150 Beratungsstunden. Die 33 Empfehlungen wurden einstimmig verabschiedet, darunter das Element einer Kapitaldeckung in der ersten Säule der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung. Florian Dorn, CSU-Abgeordneter und stellvertretender Vorsitzender der Kommission, ist überzeugt, dass das Ergebnis zeigt, „dass wir aus der Mitte der Gesellschaft, aus der Mitte der politischen Parteien gemeinsam bei einem so großen Paket wirklich um gemeinsame Lösungen ringen." [05:04]Keir Starmer hat seinen Rücktritt als britischer Premierminister angekündigt und bleibt bis zur Wahl seines Nachfolgers im Amt. Als Favorit gilt Andy Burnham, der bisherige Bürgermeister von Greater Manchester und frisch gewählte MP für Makerfield. [08:43]Table.Briefings - For better informed decisions.Sie entscheiden besser, weil Sie besser informiert sind – das ist das Ziel von Table.Briefings. Wir verschaffen Ihnen mit jedem Professional Briefing, mit jeder Analyse und mit jedem Hintergrundstück einen Informationsvorsprung, am besten sogar einen Wettbewerbsvorteil. Table.Briefings bietet „Deep Journalism“, wir verbinden den Qualitätsanspruch von Leitmedien mit der Tiefenschärfe von Fachinformationen. Professional Briefings kostenlos kennenlernen: table.media/testenHier geht es zu unseren WerbepartnernHol dir deine persönlichen Daten mit Incogni zurück und hol dir 60 % Rabatt auf ein Jahresabo: https://incogni.com/tabletodayImpressum: https://table.media/impressumDatenschutz: https://table.media/datenschutzerklaerungBei Interesse an Audio-Werbung in diesem Podcast melden Sie sich gerne bei Laurence Donath: laurence.donath@table.media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally announced his resignation outside 10 Downing Street on June 22, 2026, succumbing to significant pressure from his own party members following a series of policy errors and severe local election losses.He will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister until the Labour Party appoints a successor. Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the leading candidate to assume the position.Less than two years after achieving a historic landslide victory in July 2024, Starmer departs with unprecedentedly low approval ratings. His decline was hastened by several critical factors:The Mandelson Scandal: His contentious choice to appoint party veteran Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US backfired dramatically when extensive connections to Jeffrey Epstein were uncovered in late 2025.Electoral Hemorrhaging: The hard-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, decisively defeated Labour in local elections, instigating alarm among Labour MPs.Policy Backlashes: Unpopular domestic reforms—such as poorly managed efforts to eliminate winter fuel payments for the elderly and disputes over farm taxes—alienated his support base.The Final Straw: A series of cabinet resignations throughout the spring culminated in Andy Burnham winning a parliamentary by-election last week, providing the dissenting faction with an immediate and suitable replacement.Andy Burnham: The newly inaugurated Member of Parliament for Makerfield and previous Mayor of Greater Manchester promptly announced his intention to run for leadership. He enjoys significant popularity due to his "Manchesterism" initiative focused on regional empowerment and is largely regarded by the Labour Party as the sole individual capable of countering Nigel Farage's electoral challenge.Wes Streeting: The former Secretary of State for Health was anticipated to contest against Burnham; however, he opted to endorse him instead, aiming to prevent a divisive summer election, thereby smoothing Burnham's ascent to leadership.Nigel Farage: The leader of Reform UK has called for an immediate general election, although British law stipulates that the ruling Labour Party is not constitutionally required to conduct a general election until August 2029.A change in leadership within a party during its term does not automatically necessitate a general election.

His departure, even with a parliamentary majority of 174 seats, was in discussion after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham secured commanding victory in Makerfield by-election.

Keir Starmer is on his way out and Andy Burnham looks set to become Britain's next Prime Minister. After years as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham appears to have cleared the field, with Labour MPs rallying behind him and potential rivals standing aside. But what happens next?Can Burnham turn his popularity into a successful premiership? Does he have a plan for Britain's sluggish economy, rising welfare costs and growing defence commitments? What exactly is "Manchesterism", and can it work across the whole country?To discuss all of this and more, Krishnan Guru-Murthy is in Westminster, speaking to Channel 4 News Political Editor Gary Gibbon about Burnham's path to Number 10, the likely shape of his government, the future of Labour, and what Nigel Farage and Reform UK make of the challenge ahead. He's joined by Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika, the i Paper's Kitty Donaldson, and Ipsos UK Chief Executive Kelly Beaver to assess what a Burnham premiership could mean for British politics.

De ontwikkelingen stapelen zich in rap tempo op nadat Keir Starmer vanochtend liet weten dat hij aftreedt als premier, het lijkt erop dat het Andy Burnham is die de nieuwe bewoner wordt van 10 Downing Street. Wes Streeting, die zich een paar weken geleden nog kandidaat stelde, heeft inmiddels laten weten Burnham te steunen. Voormalig vicepremier Angela Rayner was eerder al afgehaakt als premier-kandidaat. Zullen andere kandidaten zich opwerpen of is het een gelopen race voor de voormalig burgemeester van Greater Manchester? In deze extra aflevering praten Ruth Oei en Joost Dobber, correspondent in Londen voor het Financieele Dagblad, je bij. Over Van Bekhovens Britten In van Bekhovens Britten praten Lia van Bekhoven en Connor Clerx elke week over de grootste nieuwsonderwerpen en de belangrijkste ontwikkelingen in het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Van Brexit naar binnenlandse politiek, van de Royals tot de tabloids. Waarom fascineert het VK Nederlanders meer dan zo veel andere Europese landen? Welke rol speelt het vooralsnog Verenigd Koninkrijk in Europa, nu het woord Brexit uit het Britse leven lijkt verbannen, maar de gevolgen van de beslissing om uit de EU te stappen iedere dag duidelijker worden? Na ruim 45 jaar onder de Britten heeft Lia van Bekhoven een unieke kijk op het Verenigd Koninkrijk. Als inwoner, maar zeker geen anglofiel, heeft ze een scherpe blik op het nieuws, de politiek, de monarchie en het dagelijkse leven aan de overkant van de Noordzee. Elke woensdag krijg je een nieuwe podcast over het leven van Van Bekhovens Britten in je podcastapp. Scherpe analyses, diepgang waar op de radio geen tijd voor is en een flinke portie humor. Abonneer en mis geen aflevering. Over Lia Lia van Bekhoven is correspondent Verenigd Koninkrijk voor onder andere BNR Nieuwsradio, VRT, Knack en Elsevier en is regelmatig in talkshows te zien als duider van het nieuws uit het VK. Ze woont sinds 1976 in Londen, en is naast correspondent voor radio, televisie en geschreven media ook auteur van de boeken Mama gaat uit dansen, het erfgoed van Diana, prinses van Wales (1997), Land van de gespleten God, Noord-Ierland en de troubles (2000), In Londen, 9 wandelingen door de Britse hoofdstad (2009) en Klein-Brittannië (2022).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

VOV1 - Thủ tướng Anh Keir Starmer đang phải đối mặt với nhiều sức ép sau một loạt kết quả bầu cử địa phương không thuận lợi, khi Công đảng mất hơn 1 nghìn 200 ghế hội đồng địa phương và đánh mất quyền kiểm soát Nghị viện xứ Wales.Đáng chú ý, Thị trường Greater Manchester, ông Andy Burnham đã giành chiến thắng áp đảo trong cuộc bầu cử bổ sung tại khu vực Makerfield diễn ra cuối tuần qua. Trong bối cảnh uy tín của Thủ tướng Keir Starmer sụt giảm nghiêm trọng, việc đối thủ Andy Burnham giành chiến thắng và quay trở lại Quốc hội thách thức ra sao tới vị trí lãnh đạo Công đảng của ông Keir Starmer trong thời gian tới? Tương lai chính trị của Công đảng cũng sẽ được định hình thế nào sau chiến thắng của ông Andy Burnham?Thủ tướng Anh Keir Starmer. Ảnh: Reuters.

fWotD Episode 3335: Manchester Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 22 June 2026, is Manchester.Manchester is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of over 589,000 in 2024. It borders the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the city of Salford to the west. The two cities and the surrounding towns form one of the United Kingdom's most populous conurbations, the Greater Manchester Built-up Area, which has a population of 2.87 million.The history of Manchester began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort of Mamucium or Mancunium, established around AD 79 on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell. Historically part of Lancashire, areas of Cheshire south of the River Mersey were incorporated into Manchester in the 20th century. Throughout the Middle Ages Manchester remained a manorial township, but began to expand significantly with a boom in textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution, which resulted in it becoming the world's first industrialised city. Manchester attained city status in 1853. The Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894, creating the Port of Manchester and linking the city to the Irish Sea, 36 miles (58 km) to the west. Its fortune declined after the Second World War, owing to deindustrialisation, and the 1996 Manchester bombing led to extensive investment and regeneration.Following considerable redevelopment, Manchester was the host city for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The city is notable for its architecture, its musical exports, its links to media, its links to science and engineering, its sports clubs and its transport connections.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:25 UTC on Monday, 22 June 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Manchester on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Brian.

#302If you're looking to buy UK property from overseas, you might want to consider Burnley.Once a month I'm joined by Darren McNeill from our sponsors FMP to look back at a deal he sourced for a client 5 years ago.This month, we discuss a buy-to-let in Burnley, Lancashire BB11 2LN.Darren explains how Burnley has benefited from the Manchester 'ripple effect' and how the outskirts of Burnley are undergoing the same process.We revisit the journey of a three-bedroom mid-terrace house purchased for just £60,000.We explore its impressive capital growth and rental yields, and dive into the changing landscape of Burnley as an investment hotspot.Finnigan McNeill Property specialise in high-yielding turnkey properties in the Northwest for under 125K.Check out our shorts on YouTubeOur WhatsApp  groupProperty Engine discounts (Code: EXPAT)Starter: 30 day trialPro: 30 day trial/3 mths 1/2 price, Ultimate: 1/2 price 3 monthsGoalsettingLeave a review37 Question Due Diligence Checklist / Auction GuideOur Sponsors: Finnigan McNeill Property GroupWe discuss:UK Property deal review: Healywood Road, BurnleyBuy to let property bought for £60,000 in 2021UK Property rents projected at £500 per monthCurrent property value estimated at £90,000Five-year capital growth in UK Property highlightedCurrent rental income now £750 a monthRent increases in UK Property since COVIDUK Property average tenancy length under three yearsMore tenant changes in some UK rental propertiesBurnley UK Property market overview and potentialBurnley's capital growth in UK Property marketGovernment Levelling Up funding boosts Burnley PropertyUniversity and transport upgrades in Burnley, UKBurnley town centre regeneration for UK PropertyEffective landlord licensing in Burnley rental marketBurnley council's proactive role in UK rentalsBurnley UK Property prices rising post-COVIDAverage price for 2-bed buy to let in BurnleyComparing two bed vs three bed UK PropertyBest UK Property investment strategy: numbers-driven approachKeywordsUK property, UK buy to let, UK property investment, Buy to let UK, Property investment UK, Burnley property market, Northwest England property, Greater Manchester property investment, Buy to let Burnley, UK property capital growth, UK rental yields, UK landlord licensing, Turnkey property UK, Expat buy to let UK, FMP property sourcing, UK property regeneration, Buy to let properties under £125,000 in UK, Best areas to invest in property in Burnley, How much does a two bedroom terrace house cost in Burnley, Burnley investment property case study, Average rental yields in Burnley UK, Hands free turnkey property investment UK, Regeneration effects on property values in Northwest England, Impact of landlord licensing in Burnley, Rental demand for two and three bed terraced houses in Burnley, UK government Levelling Up Fund property impact, Expat guide to UK property investment, How to analyse UK property rental spreadsheetsCheck out our new YouTube Channel @ExpatPropertyStory

The Rise of Andy Burnham in UK Politics. Guest: Anatol Lieven. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is emerging as a formidable potential successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Though Burnham enjoys strong regional support, he faces daunting national issues, including the funding crisis in the NHS and Britain's inability to borrow like the United States. 141918```

Andy Burnham's resounding win in the Makerfield byelection has set the stage for a leadership battle with Keir Starmer. The outgoing mayor of Greater Manchester received more votes than Reform and Restore combined, and the nature of the victory has prompted speculation he could replace Starmer as prime minister within weeks, if not days. Annie Kelly speaks to political correspondent Alexandra Topping UK politics – live updates Andy Burnham wins by huge majority. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

In the end, it was not even close. Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election by a landslide, putting him on course to be Britain's next prime minister.The Mayor of Greater Manchester managed to unite the left behind his ‘Stop Reform' campaign, beating even the most optimistic polls with 24,937 votes (54.8 per cent). That put him more than 20 points ahead of Reform's Robert Kenyon, who won 15,696 votes (34.5 per cent), and in a distant third came Restore Britain's Rebecca Shepherd, who took 3,111 votes (6.8 per cent).Now that Burnham has proved he is the man who can take the fight to Reform in a constituency full of ‘their kind of people', what happens next?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham will return to Westminster as an MP, and potential challenger to Keir Starmer, after decisively beating Reform UK to win the Makerfield byelection. Kiran Stacey and Jessica Elgot chat through what happens next. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Andy Burnham is coming back to Westminster – is he about to become prime minister? And could Sir Keir Starmer be in denial?After a stunning victory in the Makerfield by-election, Burnham has gone from mayor of Greater Manchester to Labour MP, instantly kickstarting the speculation about a challenge to Starmer's leadership.So is this the beginning of the end for Starmer and will his MPs turn against him? Harriet has the lowdown from inside the Labour party – so how quickly will it kick off?Beth Rigby has raced back from Makerfield to join Harriet Harman and Ruth Davidson as they dissect one of the most consequential by-election results in recent political history and they're answering some of your questions along the way.Plus, Ruth has the latest from Scotland after the by-elections in Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry. Is this a change in fortune for the Tories?Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.Find out how to subscribe to our members' club, Sky News Insider, here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunctionSky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

Our friends at the Manchester Evening News have taken over the Northern Agenda podcast today, sharing their reaction to Andy Burnham's by-election victory in Makerfield. Daniel J. McLaughlin is joined by the MEN's political writer Iram Ramzan and local democracy reporter Declan Carey to discuss the result, what it means for Greater Manchester, and what we can expect for the Labour Party and Reform UK in the near future. Photo: Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your morning briefing. All the news you need to start your day.On today's podcast:(1) Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham won a decisive victory for the ruling Labour party in a by-election that delivers him a seat in the UK parliament and with it a pathway to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his job. (2) British policymakers declared that the business world could fend for itself during Brexit. History suggests they were partly right, but the underlying story, however, is more complicated as the missed opportunities of a lost decade start to stack up. (3) The pound is set to face growing pressure as its recovery from the post-Brexit selloff has made it the most overvalued currency among major peers, according to Goldman Sachs. (4) Vice President JD Vance will not depart Thursday night for face-to-face negotiations with Iran in Switzerland, the White House said, as the US and Iran begin a 60-day countdown to reach a nuclear agreement and a more permanent peace deal. (5) Dutch chip-equipment giant ASML Holding NV is contending with its biggest challenge yet under the Trump administration: In a series of recent meetings, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick outlined concerns to ASML’s senior leaders that one of its top-of-the-line machines may have made its way into China, in violation of US-led export restrictions. (6) Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the European Union shouldn’t rush into peace talks with Russia, distancing himself from recent EU efforts to engage Vladimir Putin. Podcast Conversation: Why Guinness Keeps Growing While Beer Sales Worldwide Fizz Out See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Constable discusses the upcoming by-election in Makerfield, where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham challenges Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. The segment explores internal Labour Party power struggles and the physical process of UK voting, highlighting Starmer's refusal to step down despite mounting pressure from prospective rivals. (2)

After Andy Burnham's landslide win against Nigel Farage's Reform party in Makerfield, we thought you'd love to hear his interview with James O'Brien again, first released in 2022Dubbed 'King of the North' at the height of the pandemic, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham speaks to James about why he sees the country of his birth as containing 'two Englands'. After growing up in a catholic Labour family in Aintree, Burnham went on to study at Cambridge but did not fit in. He tells James why.

Helen Pidd goes to Makerfield where the Labour candidate and would-be prime minister Andy Burnham faces Reform UK in a crucial byelection. With reporting from Josh Halliday. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstep. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

We're at a pivotal moment in world geopolitics. Increasingly the masks and the gloves are both off - but it's not a binary choice any more between two sets of suits in slightly different coloured ties: now we have the right showing its true colours  - and a chance for the progressive majority in this country to find its feet and lead us towards a genuinely thoughtful, emotionally literate, high-bandwidth politics that ditches the toxic tribalism and instead lays the ground for a future that could actually work. We're joined this week by Neal Lawson, co-founder and Executive Director of the progressive pressure group, Compass; and Rupert Read, Co-Director of the Climate Majority Project. Neal is a member of the Labour Party, and Rupert of the Green party and we came together to discuss the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield, where Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester is standing as a candidate, with a view to standing for leadership of the Labour Party if he wins.  His main challenger is the Reform party led by Nigel Farage.  The Greens are newly invigorated after their recent win in the Gorton and Denton by-election in Manchester, so there has been a lot of conversation in progressive circles as to whether the Greens should step away to give Burnham a clear run. This seemed a good moment to have a vigorous conversation - to explore the possibilities and potential and the routes forward should Burnham win. CompassThe Climate Majority ProjectAndy Burnham in the Observer committing to PR Jamie Driscoll's post in The Canary - There's Nothing Pragmatic About Centrism The Fraud by Paul Holden —About Accidental Gods—We offer three strands all rooted in the same soil, drawing from the same river: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass Our next Open Gathering offered as part of our Accidental Gods Programme is 'WALKING THE PATH OF THE INNER WARRIOR' which will run on Sunday 28th June 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are here. You don't have to be a member of Accidental Gods to come along - but if you are, all Gatherings are half price.If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are hereManda and Louise both offer one-to-one Mentoring Calls.  Manda is fully booked just now, but if you'd like to contact Louise, details are here.

If you are worried about China taking over due to having better robots than the yanks, I got mixed messages for ya here. This was created using DeepSeek v4 Pro. Remember when DeepSeek could do the same thing as chatGPT but on shitty processors and not much RAM? All those stocks shit themselves? Oh what memories. Would have been a great time to buy NVIDIA stocks. I didn't, if you're asking....It's pretty good but it really didn't follow the instruction in the prompt that Joel Hill is Jack the Insider on the transcript. So that's a minus point. But also, this took fucking ages to generate. It's better than lots of the yankee slop but damn son this took MINUTES. So they might take over if we are patient or whatever. Enjoy the episode. ----------------------------------------------Joel Hill (Jack the Insider) and Hong Kong Jack return for a sprawling episode that tackles two of the biggest stories shaping politics in 2026. The pair open with the jaw-dropping Redbridge poll putting One Nation at 31% of the primary vote — a number that would all but wipe the National Party off the federal map and potentially deliver Anthony Albanese a strengthened majority government by splintering the right. Joel and Jack clash over whether culture-war grievances or material concerns are driving the surge, while drawing historical parallels to Joh for Canberra and the DLP split of the 1950s.The conversation then crosses hemispheres for a tour through UK chaos: Peter Mandelson's leaked dossier exposing a rudderless No. 10 under Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband pleading guilty to embezzling SNP donations on a surreal shopping spree of Lalique salt shakers, seven Dysons, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock, and a deeply troubling police body-cam incident that has reignited the two-tier policing debate ahead of three critical by-elections.The centrepiece of the episode is a sober, hour-long deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic and what Australia has refused to learn. The Two Jacks lay out the true death toll (perhaps 22 to 69 million globally), the devastating scale of long COVID, the vaccine rollout failures, the absurdities of hotel quarantine with rubbish bags over heads, and why governments and public health officials are desperate to avoid a Royal Commission. They close by asking whether the next pandemic will meet a population that has permanently lost trust in its leaders — and whether we'll simply repeat the mistakes of both COVID and the Spanish flu.Sport provides a lighter coda: the Carlton revival under an interim coach, James Hird's awkward candidacy at Essendon, the expanded 48-team World Cup that nobody seems excited about, and a formidable New Zealand Test side taking on England at Lord's.00:00:25 — Introduction Joel welcomes listeners to Episode 159, recorded 4 June. Today: Australian political news, a check-in on the UK, and a deep dive into the COVID-19 pandemic.00:01:21 — The Redbridge Poll: One Nation at 31% The AFR's Redbridge poll: One Nation 31%, Labor 28%, LNP 20%, Greens 12%. The two-party preferred is now being calculated as One Nation versus Labor — a seismic shift in how Australian politics is measured.00:03:12 — Not Just a Protest Vote Jack argues this is real, not a re-run of Hanson's 1990s flash-in-the-pan. The South Australian state election and the Farrah by-election suggest One Nation support is durable. Joel counters that protest votes can be expressed at the ballot box and that Australians are tiring of pluralism.00:04:09 — If One Nation Succeeds, Labor Wins The cruel irony: One Nation's rise probably delivers Labor government. The National Party could simply disappear. The DLP kept the Coalition in power for decades as an anti-Labor party; One Nation may do the reverse.00:05:46 — Scrutiny and Splintering Joel notes One Nation's policies are "two-sentence fragments" and motherhood statements. When proper scrutiny arrives, the contradictions will surface. Hanson's parliamentary attendance is as poor as imaginable.00:08:22 — The Third Rail Jack argues populists succeed because they discuss what polite society won't: immigration, culture wars, welcome to country rituals. The major parties must engage these topics or cede the ground entirely.00:11:34 — Feeling Unheard The core driver, Jack contends: voters feel sneered at and silenced by mainstream politics. It's not about flag counts, it's about being listened to.00:13:50 — What Actually Drives Votes Joel pushes back: voting determinants are the household economy, migration, climate change — not culture war trivia. Culture wars "don't amount to a hill of beans" at the ballot box.00:14:51 — The DLP Parallel Both agree the One Nation phenomenon most closely resembles the DLP split of the 1950s and 60s — a right-wing fracture that delivered Labor government after Labor government.00:17:18 — The Republic Referendum Lesson Jack recalls the 1999 republic referendum: pro-republicans split between models rather than uniting, scuppering the whole project. Voters will vote their preference even knowing it helps their enemy.00:19:32 — UK Parallels: Accommodate or Fight? Significant figures in the UK Tory party are debating whether to fight Reform or reach an accommodation. Tony Abbott recently said the Liberal Party won't criticise Pauline Hanson.00:21:48 — Joh for Canberra Redux Imre Salusinszky's comparison: this is "Joh for Canberra" all over again. But Joel notes Joh's moment lasted months; One Nation's has already lasted years.00:24:08 — State Election Previews Joel predicts the Victorian state election will be chaotic and peculiar — a government that's been in power too long, an opposition that may not be up to the task, and One Nation peeling votes from safe Labor seats. NSW will give a clearer reading.00:25:44 — Hanson "Ready to Govern" — from the Senate? Pauline Hanson announced she's ready to govern. Joel asks: shouldn't she contest a lower-house seat first? Jack recalls the only precedent: John Gorton became PM while still a senator, but had to be eased into Kooyong.00:28:20 — The Mandelson Dossier: Starmer's Empty Suit Jack's read of the leaked Mandelson documents: ministers don't know what the PM wants, there's zero respect or fear of his authority. Starmer comes across as an empty chair. One minister's text: "Every meeting with Labour MPs — it's all about who can we tax to pay benefits to other people."00:30:50 — Mandelson's Legal Peril Mandelson is under police investigation for misconduct in public office. Could face charges — the seriousness depends on whether it's mere misconduct or genuine bribery for foreign interests.00:31:49 — The Nicola Sturgeon Saga Her estranged husband has pleaded guilty to embezzling roughly £400,000 in SNP donations. The shopping list: six high-end coffee machines, seven Dyson vacuums, Lalique salt and pepper shakers, Montblanc pens, Swiss watches, an iJag, part of a Volkswagen, and a motorhome with four miles on the clock parked at his 92-year-old mother's house. Nicola claims she "didn't go in the kitchen much."00:34:20 — The BBC Interview Laura Kuenssberg's forensic interview with Sturgeon — "not quite Prince Andrew, but not much better." Sturgeon has been cleared by Police Scotland, but her reputation, already damaged by the Alex Salmond trial, is now in tatters.00:35:05 — Will He Go to Prison? £400,000 is a substantial sum. With another £600,000 unaccounted for, a custodial sentence seems likely. The money was ring-fenced for a second independence referendum push.00:36:50 — Money Laundering or Conspicuous Consumption? Joel wonders if the bizarre purchases — multiple watches on the same day — were an amateur money-laundering attempt: buy goods with SNP funds, sell them quietly for cash.00:38:23 — UK By-elections: Makerfield Looms Three by-elections on 18 June, including the critical Makerfield contest. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester's high-profile mayor, is the tepid favourite. Low turnout could help him return to Westminster.00:39:30 — The Body-Cam Incident A white teenager accused of racially vilifying a Sikh man was stabbed — and police arrested the bleeding victim, not the attacker. Body-cam footage shows the victim saying "I can't breathe, I've been stabbed" while officers dismiss him. Joel calls the footage "just awful."00:41:22 — Two-Tier Policing Jack traces UK policing's overcorrection: after the Macpherson/Lawrence report, guidelines were rewritten so aggressively that they've produced a pattern of questionable enforcement that devastates community trust — and plays directly into Tommy Robinson's hands.00:42:08 — NSW Police on Four Corners Joel recommends the harrowing Four Corners investigation: bashings in custody, false arrests, an officer who threw body-cam footage into Sydney Harbour, and two undercover officers jailed for a savage assault. The problem today is general duties policing, not the specialist squads of the 1980s. Some command areas are far worse than others — a leadership failure.00:44:55 — Victoria Police: Under-Resourced, Not Corrupt Joel shares an anecdote: two divisional vans for 80,000 people in outer-east Melbourne. Tough work being a police officer; even tougher being a good one.The COVID-19 Reckoning00:45:09 — Why This Matters Joel sets the frame: we parked COVID in 2023 with a hangover but never understood what we'd been through. Today's episode aims to crack that problem.00:45:51 — The True Death Toll Officially: 7 million dead. But most countries stopped testing and stopped reporting cause-of-death data to the WHO. Using excess mortality, the real toll is between 22 and 69 million — at the high end, exceeding the Spanish flu.00:47:02 — Long COVID's Shadow Roughly 400 million people globally (6% of the population) have experienced long COVID. In Australia alone, between 200,000 and 500,000 people are living with or have lived with the condition. Second infections can be worse. Emerging links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and accelerated dementia.00:49:43 — The Collective Amnesia Governments worldwide have "a collective embarrassment" about how they handled the pandemic, Jack says. They want it in the history books and forgotten. Joel says this is a grave mistake for public trust — and for public health, given COVID is now a permanent fixture alongside flu season.00:50:50 — Why Excess Deaths Are the Only Honest Metric All other figures are "kind of made up" because attribution methods vary wildly between countries. Excess deaths remain elevated in Australia and most nations.00:51:25 — Children and COVID Bobby Kennedy Jr. removed under-18s from government-supported vaccines in the US. Joel argues this is a disastrous move given mounting evidence that childhood COVID infection leads to higher rates of long-term chronic illness.00:52:47 — Why No Royal Commission? Not just politicians protecting themselves — public health officials and much of the media wanted to avoid scrutiny of their judgments and actions during the pandemic.00:53:32 — The Media's Abdication Jack watched "a lot" of Daniel Andrews's daily press conferences. Only two journalists ever asked pertinent questions: Rachel Baxendale and Leigh Sales. Nobody asked why curfews, why beach arrests, why the disparate impact on tradies and cafe owners while the "laptop class" actually made money working from home.00:56:14 — Andrews's Immense Popularity Joel adds context: Andrews was wildly popular at the time, which partly explains the media's deference — though Jack insists that shouldn't have mattered.00:57:34 — The Curfew Nonsense Curfews were about giving law enforcement the easiest possible environment, Joel says — and should have been acknowledged as such and wound back sooner. Meanwhile, Bondi's wealthy swam en masse while Western Sydney's working-class communities were treated harshly.00:57:59 — The Vaccine Rollout Failure The Morrison government bet everything on AstraZeneca — the non-mRNA, first-available vaccine. Then rare blood-clotting issues emerged (seven deaths, mainly men aged 40–49). Meanwhile, Australia was left waiting for Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines because no other supply deals had been secured.00:59:37 — Omicron Breaks the Pandemic's Back The Omicron variant emerged from South Africa: more infectious but far less lethal. Combined with 95%+ vaccination rates among Australians over 18, it effectively ended the acute phase — though at the cost of entrenched mistrust.01:00:38 — Government Overreach and Broken Trust Jack's core criticism: governments outsourced decision-making to public health officials rather than making political judgments that balanced competing interests. Joel counters that it would have been a "bold move" for politicians with no scientific background to contradict public health advice.01:02:19 — "Just Let It Rip" Was Never an Option The three countries with the highest COVID mortality — Brazil (highest), United States (second), India (third) — were all led by populist governments that largely refused mandates. Letting it rip was devastating.01:03:27 — The ADF Quarantine Scandal Scott Morrison refused to allow ADF quarantine facilities to be used for returning travellers. Instead, people were crammed into hotels with gaps under the doors. Joel recalls the "rubbish bags over heads" episode in Victoria — dark green plastic bags as infection control.01:05:00 — The Inquiry's Recommendations Create a proper Australian CDC. Release expert advice publicly. Better national planning with clear political accountability. And critically: politicians must own the big decisions on freedoms and spending instead of hiding behind experts.01:06:01 — The Next Pandemic There will be another one. If it's a respiratory, airborne pathogen like COVID, similar circumstances will return. Are we ready? Probably not. Will we close the country again? The economic damage — unemployment hitting 7.5% in 2020 — was enormous, even if it recovered to 3.5% by pandemic's end.01:08:06 — Who Was Left Behind? The arts community was inexplicably excluded from JobSeeker and JobKeeper. Meanwhile, the "laptop class" working from home effectively got a 15% pay rise by eliminating commuting costs. Bunnings did very well; so did companies that kept JobKeeper without passing it to employees.01:11:14 — The Human Cost of Lockdowns Public housing towers in Flemington were locked down. Joel recalls one family: an African-Australian single mother with nine children in a two-bedroom commission flat, trapped. Jack calls what happened with schools "disgraceful." But Joel notes the evidence now shows childhood COVID infection has serious long-term health consequences, complicating the retrospective judgment.01:13:59 — Will We Learn Anything? Jack's bleak prediction: the next pandemic is probably far enough away that we'll take no notice of COVID's lessons and make the same mistakes. Joel agrees — we didn't learn from the Spanish flu a century ago either.01:15:51 — Malcolm Roberts and Vaccine Misinformation The One Nation senator claims 70,000 Australians died from COVID vaccines — a figure with no evidentiary support, built by misattributing excess deaths. In reality, mRNA technology is now being deployed as a cancer treatment, showing promise against bowel and pancreatic cancers.01:17:36 — Trust Destroyed If the next pandemic arrives within this generation, governments will face a population that has lost faith. If it takes 50 years, the damage may have faded. Western Australia, meanwhile, locked itself down with negligible deaths and actually loved the isolation — provided the iron ore and LNG ships kept moving.01:20:37 — The Spanish Flu Echo Joel's closing historical note: Australia's response to the Spanish flu in 1919–1921 was nearly identical to COVID — lockdown disputes, police arresting people for not wearing masks, states fighting the newly created federal Department of Health. The whole thing collapsed into acrimony the moment state rivalries flared. A century later, nothing had changed.01:21:48 — Federation as Fatal Flaw Jack adds: the three high-mortality COVID countries (US, Brazil, India) share a feature beyond populist leaders — they're all federations where central government power is limited. When "the emperor is far away and the mountains are high," coordinated pandemic response is nearly impossible.01:23:40 — No Appetite for Truth Jack's final word: nobody wants a proper inquiry. Not politicians, not public health officials, not much of the media. Joel disagrees on the importance — the pandemic's legacy still shapes how Australians think, vote, and trust.Sport01:27:40 — AFL Coaching Carousel Essendon and Carlton both need permanent coaches. Joel asks: is James Hird the right man for Essendon? Jack: 17 other clubs wouldn't give him an interview, but the Bombers may have backed themselves into a corner where appointing him is the only way out.01:28:53 — Merit vs Member Sentiment Rowan Connolly's question: would you take James Hird or John Longmire (five grand finals, one premiership, 60%+ win rate)? The answer is obvious on merit — but members and fans want the fairy tale.01:29:47 — Carlton's Astonishing Revival Three straight wins. Ranked 16th in forward-50 entries a month ago; now second. The game style is unrecognisable — no more bombing the ball to non-existent power forwards. Mitch McGovern's low, flat kick to Patrick Cripps for the match-winner against Geelong was emblematic of the transformation. Seven players aged 21 or younger are now getting games and bringing energy.01:33:18 — FIFA World Cup 2026: Nobody's Excited Expanded to 48 teams, Scotland are going — and a Scot in his 30s told Jack that neither he nor any of his mates (all doing well financially, normally first on the plane) have any interest. Ticket prices are "extraordinary." The final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — which Jack describes as "Waverley on steroids, but even more bleak."01:36:08 — Australia's Draw Socceroos face Turkey first up, then the United States. Jack suggests marketing it as "Gallipoli Round Two." Spain are favourites; England, Brazil, and Germany are in the chasing pack.01:37:06 — Cricket: England v New Zealand, First Test at Lord's Joel runs through New Zealand's likely top seven — Latham, Conway, Williamson, Ravindra, Mitchell, Blundell — noting the first four have all made Test double-centuries. "Just about the best first six in Test cricket." With O'Rourke's express pace and Henry's quality, this is a formidable Black Caps side.01:38:40 — Stump Speech & Next Week Listener mail (including an "exposé of who Jack is") held over for next episode. For the record: Hong Kong Jack's CV includes HSC at Assumption College Kilmore, a stint as a carpenter, a law degree from Melbourne University, stints at Holding Redlich and Slater & Gordon, work as a litigation and immigration lawyer, and an appointment to the Refugee Review Tribunal as a federal cabinet appointee.01:40:39 — Outro Joel thanks listeners for hanging in for an extra ten minutes. Back next week.The Two Jacks is recorded weekly. Send your questions and feedback to the show.

In this week's Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Joshi Hermann, founder of The Mill. The three discuss how The Mill has expanded out from Manchester to seven cities in just three years and it's plans to revitalise and redefine local reporting. They also discuss The Mill's funding model and why Joshi believes the method is sustainable, and how he is ensuring that essential public interest journalism is still freely available to read.They'll discuss the Mill's investigative work, how they fund and fight their legal battles and what the business is doing to utilise AI without being overwhelmed by it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life as a rival Labour superstar comes for his job - and the PM’s latest move is to announce an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s. Today, we look at Andy Burnham, the so-called King of the North, who’s lining himself up to destroy Starmer and remake the United Kingdom. Richard Ferguson’s here in just a moment. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Andy Burnham wants to be Makerfield’s MP: but do the voters want him? Henry Nowak death: The left is to blame for this terrible tragedy ‘Manchesterism’ pain in store if Andy Burnham marches on Fallout over Henry Nowak murder the fight Reform has been waiting for This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Lia Tsamoglou. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With three weeks to go until the Makerfield byelection, where an Andy Burnham victory could change the direction of the Labour party, Pippa Crerar joins him on the campaign trail in Wigan and Leigh, speaking to voters on their doorsteps. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Daniel Trilling on the far-right party threatening Reform's chances in the Makerfield byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Beth has a punchy exclusive interview with Andy Burnham for this extra episode of Electoral Dysfunction.Saying the quiet bit out loud, Beth asks if Burnham is using this as his path to Number 10 Downing Street or whether he would be loyal as an MP and serve in Keir Starmer's cabinet? You might want to watch on YouTube to see his response...She also asks how Burnham's ideas for the country are different to what we already have in government.Plus, what does the current Mayor of Greater Manchester think about Reform and Nigel Farage's chances in a future Mayoral race after the party did so well at the local elections there?And this race to be an MP isn't just about Andy Burnham – whilst Beth is in Makerfield, she's interviewing a number of other candidates too, but Reform and Restore UK's candidates weren't available.For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

Meet Jamie Fisher, the Precinct Operations Coordinator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of the world's most iconic sporting venues.Born and raised in Greater Manchester, Jamie relocated to Australia in 2019 with a working holiday visa, no fixed plan, and a determination to never work another bar shift. He's built one of the most diverse and decorated event careers you'll find, working with Manchester City Football Club, the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Tennis Australia, FIFA Women's World Cup™, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and now the Melbourne Cricket Club.He's stood on the roof of the 'G in front of 100,000 people raising the flag on ANZAC Day, managed Manchester City's title parade as the official bus manager, and somehow hitched a ride from Melbourne to Sydney in a stranger's Suzuki Swift during a COVID lockdown.In this episode, Jamie breaks down exactly how he used casual promo work and brand ambassador work as a backdoor into major events and why saying 'yes' before you've thought it through is actually a career strategy that pays off.We cover:(03:17) - Interview begins(05:50) - Quick Fire Questions(11:21) - Insight into Jamie's early career working in sport(13:18) - How Jamie beat 500 applicants to land his role at Man City(19:34) - Dream moments working with Man City(25:42) - Jamie roles at the Premier League and the Cricket World Cup(28:01) - How Jamie landed his first role in sport after moving to Australia(32:41) - How Jamie found contract work at major sporting events(37:27) - Jamie's role at the Melbourne Cricket Ground(43:26) - What makes it difficult to get a job in sport(44:16) - How Jamie decided working in sport was the path he wanted to take(49:22) - Impact of mentors on Jamie's journey(50:14) - How to land a job in sports events in the next 30 days(51:13) - Biggest 'pinch me' moment working in sport(53:31) - What would life look like if not a career in sport(54:11) - What at the time felt like the biggest mistake in your career, that either turned into the best reroute/diversion or the biggest lesson for you down the track in your career(55:41) - Jamie's question for next guestIf you like this ep, give these a go next:#252: What it's like to work on the FIFA Women's World Cup with Media Volunteer, Vi Truong#289: How to move from London to Australia and work in sport with George Ludlow#296: Manchester City FC Head of Research Tom Wilkins on using fan insights for business growthWant a job in sport? Click here.Follow SportsGrad on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokFollow Reuben on socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokThanks for listening, much love! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we find out more about Reform's candidate Robert Kenyon back story and why his old posts on social media are making headlines. Plus, what impact could Restore Britain have on the Reform UK vote and how Andy Burnham has outgrown Mayor of Greater Manchester. Adam is joined by Annabel Tiffin, political editor for BBC Northwest, Lara Spirit, the Deputy Political Editor for The Sunday Times, and More in Common's Luke Tryl. A full list of candidates and loads more information about the Makerfield by-election is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrp1z8n4w2oYou can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes are released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade and Chris Gray with Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

How do you create a community that helps women across Greater Manchester feel seen, heard and valued?Emma Neville is a menopause coach and trained counsellor, whose work is centred around listening to and supporting women. Hear about the lessons she's learnt from spending years giving her time to supporting people across Manchester from inside some of the city's most important charities, and from raising two girls in a family that's always on the move. After struggling with early menopause, Emma is on a mission to get this generation of Manc women to be the ones to make menopause matter. You'll learn why Emma is calling this chapter of her life 'untamed' and why saying ‘no' can be a full sentence. From creating her community and holding This Is Me parties, Emma has come to understand the power of bringing a room full of Manchester women together. She tells Lisa why bottling that energy could be Manchester's next biggest export. --------------------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business and its team members have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 30 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family' and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Emma, and This Is MeOn InstagramOn LinkedInVia her newsletter & CommunityConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X

Andy Burnham is the man on everyone's lips in Westminster. As he campaigns to return to parliament in the Makerfield by-election, Tim and James bring you the definitive guide to Burnham – and what could happen next.They're joined by Joshi Herrmann, founder and editor of Mill Media, whose profile of Burnham had Westminster buzzing over the weekend. He shares his view of the Greater Manchester mayor's ‘unusual gifts and glaring weaknesses', whether ‘Burnhamism' really exists, and if Burnham's emotional style of politics could survive the brutality of No. 10.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK correspondent Rob Watson looks at the Makerfield by-election which could return Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to Parliament for a Labour leadership contest. Former Labour PM Tony Blair has put his thoughts on the leadership issue into a 5,700-word scathing assessment of where the party is at. Rob also has the latest reports on the vetting of Peter Mandelson and how a possible social media ban is shaping up. Rob Watson is a BBC political correspondent

In this episode, we hear from Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester responsible for safer and stronger communities. In this discussion, Edwina and Kate explore how Greater Manchester is reshaping its response to domestic abuse and housing. Kate outlines an innovative housing scheme that protects survivors' priority on social housing lists when they move across Greater Manchester, and new orders that enables survivors to stay in the family home while perpetrators are housed elsewhere. Edwina and Kate discuss gender‑based violence, youth offending, the distinct challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system, and the system‑wide reforms required to address them. Kate discusses the inclusive 10‑year gender-based violence strategy, early intervention with children and young people, Housing First for women leaving prison, and a whole system diversion approach that tackles the root causes of women's involvement in the justice system through housing, substance use support, employment support and peer mentoring. Kate also reflects on the profound impact of maternal imprisonment on children, the success of family drug and alcohol courts, and how the mayoral model in Greater Manchester enables police, housing, probation and other services to work together to create safer, more supportive communities, offering a blueprint that could be replicated across the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Halliday on why Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is tipped to be the future Labour leader … if he wins the Makerfield byelection. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

In March, Index on Censorship reported on a school in Greater Manchester that had pulled 200 books from the school library shelves after the Head raised an issue with one book. With huge parental pressure in the US to censor young people's access to certain literature, particularly that relating to race, gender and sexuality, is the UK following suit in this worrying trend? In a world where our young people carry access to a whole world of unrestricted material in their pockets, why has the war been waged on literature rather than smartphones and social media?

‘It takes a village, it takes a city'How do you create your big Manchester Family?Fresh from the Big Manc Chippy tea event, which celebrated reaching 100 Mancs on the podcast, Lisa Morton is turning the tables in this episode. For the first time, she's the one answering questions on values, relationships, purpose, legacy and of course, the all-important chippy order.Lisa is joined by her daughter, Nina, and together they reflect on the belief systems and values that have been crucial in Lisa's life, both personally and professionally, and how those same values have helped Nina build her own relationships across Greater Manchester.You'll hear about what inspired Lisa to set up Roland Dransfield 30 years ago, the moments that have made her proud to be a manc, and those that have knocked her down. This episode is about the people who helped her back up, and the community she now calls her ‘Manchester family'.After sitting down with 100 born, bred or adopted Mancunians, find out how Lisa's view of the city region and its people has changed and what she believes it takes to build something special here.--------------------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business and its team members have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 30 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family' and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield:Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA Twitter

The by-election in Makerfield is shaping up to be one of the most consequential contests in recent political history. On paper, the seat should be fertile ground for Reform: heavily Leave-voting, older than average and exactly the sort of ‘left behind' constituency Nigel Farage hopes to win. But there is one complicating factor: Andy Burnham.The Mayor of Greater Manchester is hoping that his personal popularity can defy the political gravity of the seat and carry him back to Westminster – where, if he wins, Labour MPs may well carry him straight towards No. 10. But can Burnham survive Reform's attacks on immigration, Brexit and his record? And could Wes Streeting's intervention on rejoining the EU prove fatal in a seat like Makerfield?Tim Shipman is joined by Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, to discuss why this by-election could decide not just Labour's next leader, but the future shape of British politics.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite the Makerfield by-election not even having been officially announced, and despite the fact Andy Burnham is not yet officially standing, the campaign has begun and Labour figures are already kicking lumps out of each other.In a soft launch of his own leadership campaign,Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, announced he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU. Mr Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has now backtracked on his support for the idea two days after saying that “one day” Britain should indeed be a part of the bloc again. Sir Keir Starmer, meanwhile, is pretending nothing is happening.Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley speak to Matt Goodwin, Reform's candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, who says this is an absolute gift for his party. He says that Labour is “self-indulgent and self-absorbed” with “no serious interest in its heartlands” and is heading for electoral disaster in Makerfield.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducer: Georgia CoanSocial Media Producer: Conor ClarkSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlightsMatt Goodwin says Labour are "self-indulgent and self-absorbed"The Makerfield by-election is on a knife-edge for Reform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes Streeting has confirmed he'll challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said he is standing in the Makerfield constitutency to "save" the party. A massive police operation has taken place in central London where two major protest marches -- one led by the right wing activist, Tommy Robinson and the other a pro-Palestinian rally -- have passed off largely without incident. More than 30 people have been arrested. The last senior Hamas leader thought to have been involved in planning the October the 7th attacks has been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza.

In this special episode of The Outdoors Fix to mark the end of the current run of conversations, I wanted to pick out my highlights from the past year. I've had so much fun heading out to record conversations in all sorts of outdoor places — from a hillside in the Howgill Fells in Cumbria, to a reservoir on the edge of Greater Manchester, to a valley in Eryri — or Snowdonia — and a woodland in London. Along the way, I've met some extraordinary people whose lives have been profoundly shaped by the outdoors, and who are now encouraging and enabling others to experience nature too. So, I've gone back through the archive and picked out some of my favourite moments from the past year — as well as the conversations that have had the biggest impact on me personally in making the outdoors a bigger part of my own life. I've also shared a few behind-the-scenes stories along the way. I really hope you enjoy this special episode — and don't forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are. I'll be sharing some new episodes with you in the not too distant future, but in the meantime, if you know someone who'd be a great guest, let me know! Thanks again for listening, Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Liv's highlights from the past year of The Outdoors Fix podcast appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

As the Labour Party launches a battle for the soul of Britain, former trade unionist Mick Lynch talks to Brendan about whether Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, will be the next leader of the Labour party and how deep the damage to the party really goes.

Andy Burnham may have a route back to Westminster – and a path to the Labour leadership. But first the Greater Manchester mayor must win a byelection in Makerfield, where Nigel Farage has vowed Reform UK will ‘throw absolutely everything' at the contest. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's north of England correspondent Hannah al-Othman, who has been talking to voters in the constituency. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Jack Horgan-Jones and Mark Paul join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The findings of the Irish Times and TG4 by Ipsos B&A poll throws up some interesting permutations for the Dublin Central byelection. Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan leads the first preference vote at 21 per cent, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats is in second place on 18 per cent, but as Jack explains, ‘second preference intention' could be vital for both. · It is now a question of when and not if for Keir Starmer after disastrous local and parliamentary election results prompted a slew of Labour MPs to call on the prime minister to resign. A defiant speech on Monday did little to inspire party members as Starmer vowed to fight any leadership challenge. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been given a route to challenge Starmer following Josh Simons' decision to step down as MP for Makerfield.· And speaking to The Irish Times on Wednesday, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressed his recent comments on immigration, made while out on a canvass last week in Dublin Central. And while no apology was forthcoming, he did point out that he had “no problem with people from the Congo or Africa or anywhere else. I've good friends around Drumcondra, there's a lot of the clergy in from Africa.” Could this controversy overshadow Fianna Fáil's Ard Fheis taking place today and tomorrow as the party marks its 100th year in existence?Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· One Dublin mother's 14-year wait for a bigger council house, the challenges for Ireland of a Reform-led UK government, and how difficult it has become for Irish diaspora to return home.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a dramatic week at Westminster, Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary and ex-deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has said her wrangling with HMRC is finally over – but neither has launched a leadership challenge. Instead, all eyes are now on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as he attempts to chart a path back to the Commons, leaving Sir Keir Starmer's premiership under severe pressure. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by political correspondent Anna Gross, deputy opinion editor Miranda Green and deputy political editor Jim Pickard to discuss the latest developments. The team also examines Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's shifting story about his £5mn personal gift from a Thailand-based crypto investor in 2024, and looks ahead to consider what a Reform government would do. Follow: Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Anna @annasophiagross; Miranda @greenmiranda & @greenmirandahere.bsky.social and Jim @pickardJE Want more? Burnham's return to Westminster will not be so easy Labour set to approve Andy Burnham's by-election runStarmer crisis as it happened: premier appoints new health secretary Angela Rayner says she has been cleared over tax affairsWes Streeting: the confident performer with a mixed record of reform To beat the populist right, Labour must be an insurgent government Zack Polanski admits ‘mistake' over houseboat council taxFT Series: Reform UK up close Sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter Inside Politics for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek views. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Nisha Patel. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and sound engineering by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers are Andrew Georgiades and Bianca Wakeman. Cheryl Brumley is the FT's global head of audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour psychodrama continues. Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary on Thursday afternoon, stating that it was clear Sir Keir Starmer would not lead the Labour Party into the next general election. However he has not yet triggered a leadership contest. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said he'll plan to run for a parliamentary seat in a by-election. So, where does this leave the party? And what will happen next?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Sophie McNulty, Harry BlighWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Keir Starmer latest - live pageFurther listening: What the hell's going on in Westminster? Clips: Sky News, BBC, C4 News, Times RadioPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham has announced his intention to stand in a by-election in Makerfield after Josh Simons, the Labour MP and former Cabinet Office minister, stood down to clear his path back to Westminster.The Mayor of Greater Manchester is by far the most popular Labour politician and would be confident of success in a leadership contest against Sir Keir Starmer. But first he has to be allowed to fight the seat – which is in his own backyard – by the party's National Executive Committee, and then beat Reform, which won the Makerfield wards in last week's local elections.Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley assess the chances of Burnham securing the nomination for and then winning Makerfield, as well as the role that Ed Miliband has played and where it leaves Wes Streeting after his resignation as health secretary on Thursday.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducer: Georgia CoanSocial Media Producer: Nada AggourSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlightsAndy Burnham announces his intention to stand in MakerfieldHow confident should he be of beating Reform? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump and President Xi conclude their two-day summit in Beijing with U.S. officials touting deals aimed at maintaining the two nations' trade truce. In the UK, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham sets his sights on No.10 after the resignation of Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Sterling suffers its biggest drop in more than 3 months with gilts also set for losses. U.S. deep-learning A.I. company Cerebras shares soar on its Wall Street debut which launches a slew of A.I. companies' IPOs due later this year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Labour MP for Makerfield has offered to give up his seat to allow the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, a chance to get into Parliament and possibly bid for the Labour leadership. Also: Wes Streeting resigns as the Health Secretary, saying he has "lost confidence" in Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. And Madonna, BTS and Shakira will headline the first ever football World Cup Final half time show.

What is Alastair's plea to Labour politicians, after this week's turmoil? After Wes Streeting's resignation from the cabinet, will he still run against the ‘King of the North', Andy Burnham, and how bruising would a leadership contest be for the government? How risky is this for Burnham, and can he beat Reform in Greater Manchester? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this emergency episode. __________ Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Vasco Andrade Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Emily Kent Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices