Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5h

Become a paid subscriber to The Lead today to help support our work covering underreported stories and the issues that matter to you – always with a focus on people, policy and place.

national.thelead.uk

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5h

Soon readers will have the opportunity to sign our upcoming petition to the Chancellor, and keep reading for more of our exclusive, nuanced coverage on the issues impacting the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society.

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5h

In today's newsletter, we share The Lead's stance on child poverty, and a call from Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Principal Policy Adviser, @katieschmuecker.bsky.social, who says the government's ambitions to tackle child poverty must be set higher.

@jrf-uk.bsky.social

Child poverty is a failure of the state and the economy it claims to safeguard

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5h

Today, The Lead is launching its latest campaign to end child poverty now.

The government insists we cannot afford to lift children out of poverty, while those same children pay the price for political caution.

This is no longer workable.

national.thelead.uk/p/child-pove...

The government insists we cannot afford to lift children out of poverty, while those same children pay the price for political caution.

£450k spent on keeping Toad Hall standing - now it's coming down

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 2d

Sefton Council has spent more than £450,000 on Toad Hall over the past 10 years, The Southport Lead can reveal.

Plus: Salfordian Hotel plan defended, Patrick Hurley on flags, and Southport Inquiry latest

southport.thelead.uk

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 2d

Reform UK’s leaders at Lancashire County Council have insisted that the futures of 10 elderly care facilities have not yet been decided – but they have been accused of making up their mind to close them before a public consultation has taken place.

Reform UK closing care homes in money-saving exercise would be 'unconscionable'

Opposition leaders say Reform UK have already decided that the care facilities will close in Lancashire - but those in power at County Hall deny this

lancashire.thelead.uk

1 6 8

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 2d

Our special report in the latest edition of The Blackpool Lead into whether the decision to extend the length of time the Illuminations run for has been a net positive.

Under the skin of the decision to extend the Illuminations season in Blackpool

It has been welcomed by the businesses it aims to support - but there remains scepticism in the council opposition ranks

blackpool.thelead.uk

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 2d

The decision to extend the Illuminations season came after the pandemic - something that impacted almost every aspect of British life negatively (unless you happened to be selling PPE), but hospitality and leisure-led towns like Blackpool especially.

“Left for dead” on Snowdon by white hiking group: Rural racism is not a myth

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 3d

Half of ethnic minority Brits have reported “negative experiences” in nature because of their racial identity, according to new research shared exclusively with The Lead.

Half of ethnic minority Brits have reported “negative experiences” in nature because of their racial identity, according to new research shared exclusively with The Lead.

2 13 26

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 4d

Sally Wainwright's latest series, Riot Women, set in Hebden Bridge, is airing this Sunday.

Wainwright talked about here love for the area in an audience Q+A following the screening.

calderdale.thelead.uk/p/new-calder...

The Lead Untangles: Is the Conservative Party finished?

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 4d

Following a ghostly conference and numerous unfavourable opinion polls, the Tories’ fall from grace is undeniable. And now the question on everyone’s lips is: Is the Tory Party actually dead? Or will the stamp duty announcement spark a turnaround in popularity?

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Can the Stamp Duty announcement save the Tories from political extinction?

open.substack.com

Reposted by The Lead

Natalie Morris @nmozz.bsky.social · 5d

“As dangerous, nationalist ideologies creep closer to the political and cultural mainstream, it has never been more vital to ensure minoritised communities have a voice.”

Me for the @theleaduk.bsky.social on our Black History Month coverage:

open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

Black History Month is more important than ever – but it is being hollowed out

Why we're shining a light on Black stories this month. Plus: The latest from Reform Watch, and everything our team is reading, watching and listening to this week.

open.substack.com

1 1

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5d

Make sure you’re subscribed to The Lead so you don’t miss a thing.

national.thelead.uk

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5d

Looking ahead, we will shine a light on the hidden health inequality of STIs; the racial disparities that are too often left out of the conversation of child poverty; and, this weekend, the realities of rural racism, and the groups pushing for inclusivity in the British countryside.

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5d

Here at The Lead, we are committed to spotlighting stories that directly impact Black Brits all year round, and this month is no different.

Black History Month is more important than ever – but it is being hollowed out

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5d

This month, in the vacuum that should be being used to platform Black stories, that space is instead being filled with swelling hostility. Black History Month matters. In fact, it may be more important now than it’s ever been.

@nmozz.bsky.social

national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...

Why we're shining a light on Black stories this month. Plus: The latest from Reform Watch, and everything our team is reading, watching and listening to this week.

Missing pensioner found dead on Southport beach

1 4 4

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 5d

Today, our thoughts are with the family of George Norwell, 77, who was found dead on Southport beach after a two-day search.

southport.thelead.uk/p/missing-pe...

Plus: Garrick Theatre renovation next step and community cohesion calls

southport.thelead.uk

3

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 6d

Health and beauty chain Bodycare has now moved out of its Buckshaw Village HQ - only to be replaced by another company run by owner Jaswinder Singh.

New company owned by former Bodycare owner moves into former HQ

PLUS: Ten care facilities face closure under Reform UK plans

lancashire.thelead.uk

Ambitious plans for central Blackpool transformation are under way

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 6d

Ambitious plans to transform swathes of central Blackpool - one of the country’s poorest areas - are under way.

We’ve been keeping a watchful eye on the Blackpool Central regeneration in recent months.

PLUS: Forever-chemical testing to resume on the Fylde Coast

blackpool.thelead.uk

Plugging the gap: Nine bold ideas for Rachel Reeves' Autumn budget (part 2)

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 6d

And here's part two: national.thelead.uk/p/budget-gap...

Four more ideas that could change Rachel Reeves' equation from taxing ultra-frequent fliers more to raising the pension age faster

Plugging the gap: Nine bold ideas for Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget (part 1)

1 1

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 6d

Read part one of our two-part series into the bold ideas experts suggest for the upcoming autumn budget national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...

The chancellor has an opportunity to reform the tax system in its entirety. Will she seize it?

Special report: hope, despair, and the deadly journey to Britain

1 1 1

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 6d

We asked, you answered. Which of our nine expert-backed tax policies should the chancellor use to plug the gap in her autumn budget? 💸

What do you think? Will Reeves go after the banks and the super rich? 👀

✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social

1 2 3

Reposted by The Lead

Sarah Collins @sarahelizacollins.bsky.social · 7d

In the week I visited the Loon Plage camp in Dunkirk for a special report for @theleaduk.bsky.social a man was found dead by the side of the road and another in critical condition after being hit by a truck. Six people died or went missing in the sea.

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 7d

Life at Loon Plage is tough: there is no running water, no toilets, no permanent medical or welfare tents and people sleep in tents in the grass or bushes.

@sarahelizacollins.bsky.social meets refugees waiting to cross the channel in northern France.

national.thelead.uk/p/immigratio...

Sarah Collins meets refugees waiting to cross the channel at Loon Plage in northern France

Special report: hope, despair, and the deadly journey to Britain

The Lead @theleaduk.bsky.social · 7d

Life at Loon Plage is tough: there is no running water, no toilets, no permanent medical or welfare tents and people sleep in tents in the grass or bushes.

@sarahelizacollins.bsky.social meets refugees waiting to cross the channel in northern France.

national.thelead.uk/p/immigratio...

Sarah Collins meets refugees waiting to cross the channel at Loon Plage in northern France