NEW: The 7am Manchester to London train that was going to run without passengers can now operate as normal, says the Office of Road and Rail The regulator's decision made headlines over the weekend after the Guardian broke the story. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Northern mayors like @andyburnham.bsky.social and @kimmcguinness.bsky.social have signed a letter to Rachel Reeves calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail to be delivered in full and the two-child benefit cap to be lifted www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e... But one mayor refused to sign... 1/3

A superb cartoon by @graemebandeira.bsky.social for the @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social - Great drawing. Lots of beautiful details. "NOTFIXED" - The #art of an #editorial #cartoon on #UK Exchequer #RachelReeves and the #Budget - #Labour #government #KeirStarmer - #Netflix #Wednesday

STEALING A LIVING! Inspired by the heist at Le Louvre here's today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon... www.shareyourstories.live/northern-agenda/

This is quite a story in the Manchester Evening News. Excellent work by @josephtiman.bsky.social, Neal Keeling and Local Democracy Reporter Declan Carey to get to the bottom of this...

MADCHESTER! Will there be many Unhappy Mondays ahead for Kemi? Here's today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon...

Will Greater Manchester be left out in the cold by Keir Starmer's government after Andy Burnham's high-profile antics at Labour conference? I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio! 1/2

It was fantastic to welcome Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, for an in-conversation event with @robparsonsna.bsky.social at #LabourConference2025 yesterday. The discussion, jointly hosted by the Railway Industry Association, covered key topics such as rail devolution and the case for investment.

'It won't do Andy Burnham any harm to be seen to be at war with an unpopular government' Was great to have @patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport 1/2

'The qualities that made Angela Rayner so good are those you're more likely to see in Northern people' @liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race... Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here: podfollow.com/the-northern...

Sorry for another self-indulgent post but it was my last newsletter as Northern Agenda Editor today 😢 You can read it here: newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...

Does it matter if Labour's next Deputy Leader is a Northern woman? And why have Reform UK got it wrong about Northern Powerhouse Rail? @liamthorp.bsky.social and I talk about this - and more - on the Northern Agenda podcast. Have a listen here! podfollow.com/the-northern...

69% of Northerners - and 62% of Britons - back the construction of new high-speed railways between northern cities in principle, amid Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice saying his party would axe such schemes North of England Support: 69% Oppose: 16% All Britons Support: 62% Oppose: 19%

I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast... Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall. 1/2

I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast... Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall. 1/2

I have some job news...

"It doesn't send a good sign when councils close the door and refuse to engage with the local press." Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban... @oliverpridmore.bsky.social 1/2

This story might be worth bearing in mind next time shadow justice secretary @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social talks about law and order😐 From today's Northern Agenda newsletter, great scoop by @paddyedrich.bsky.social in the Liverpool Echo 1/2

Really terrible news for everyone at Vivergo and the rest of the bioethanol industry as the Government refuses to offer funding to support it. The US-UK trade removed tariffs on more than £1bn of cheaper US imports, fatally undermining what could have been a major domestic growth industry...

The Starmer-Trump US-UK trade deal removing tariffs on £1bn+ of cheaper US ethanol means Hull firm Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in. Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today 1/2

Billions of £ of investment in vital infrastructure is promised by the Labour govt in the coming years - but the biggest projects in the North aren't in transport, energy or schools. That was what I discovered when I had a look at the online Infrastructure Pipeline. Regional breakdown here... 1/12

It was brilliant to have the always excellent and very nice @priceoffootball.bsky.social on The Northern Agenda pod this week Keiran provided a fascinating if not depressing analysis of the d superset plights of some of the north’s proud football institutions

'You can't eliminate the danger of another Bury or Macclesfield Town going out of existence. But you can have greater checks and balances to dissuade wrong'uns from entering the industry' Keiran Maguire (@priceoffootball.bsky.social) on regulating football on the Northern Agenda podcast 1/2

NEW: The National Crime Agency will take over the investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse of Rotherham grooming gang victims by former South Yorkshire Police officers Victims had been furious that SYP were allowed to investigate themselves. Here's South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard:

Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards (@markjsewards.bsky.social) announced this week he'd worked with a local start-up to create a prototype AI version of himself to answer constituents' questions/deal with case work. I'm not a constituent but thought I'd give AI Mark Sewards a call 📲 1/2

The Government is shaking up the way it funds councils to make things fairer - but it's going to mean town halls in London losing out (while those up North largely benefit) New analysis by @theifs.bsky.social - and graphic by Marianna Longo in today's Northern Agenda newsletter... 1/2

What have Reform UK been up to in their first 3 months in power in the North's councils/mayoralties? I asked ace Local Democracy Reporters in Lancashire, Hull and Durham who've been following things on the ground Thanks: @paulfaulkner1980.bsky.social, Bill Edgar and @andygspence.bsky.social 1/2

Younger, better connected and more diverse: why watchdog is leaving Cheshire town for Manchester A story I wrote for @manchestereveningnews.co.uk eveningnews.co.uk about the Information Commissioner's Office moving its HQ from Wilmslow to Oxford Road www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

Have Labour "prioritised the miners over the minors who suffered...at the hands of rape gangs"? That's what a Tory MP claims after the Government announced a public inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave. On the Northern Agenda podcast, @robparsonsna.bsky.social explains why he's wrong. 1/2

You can listen to the full Northern Agenda podcast with me and @robparsonsna.bsky.social where we also discuss Orgreave, Hillsborough and Merseyside's controversial new public transport plan podfollow.com/the-northern...

Until we get the truth about the 1984 Battle of Orgreave it's going to remain an open wound for a lot of mining communities - and undermine their faith in the police. Me on this week's Northern Agenda podcast... @orgreavejustice.bsky.social 1/2

'We have this chance now of wiping the slate clean so our children and grandchildren can respect the police again' Kevin Horne, one of the 95 miners arrested after the 1984 Battle of Orgreave, tells a press conference in Sheffield what a public inquiry could mean @orgreavejustice.bsky.social

'If we want to keep the spirit of Oasis alive in Manchester and help an Oasis of the future thrive, we've got to make sure people can come through the system' @sarahlonglands.bsky.social of @clesthinkdo.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast Listen here: podfollow.com/the-northern...

Yours truly calling out a Reform Council’s decision to cancel a climate change emergency for what it is

'Performative populist politics' @liamthorp.bsky.social on the decision by the ruling Reform UK group on Durham County Council to revoke the climate emergency declared by the same council in 2019. Hear our full chat on the Northern Agenda podcast: podfollow.com/the-northern...

This week on the Northern Agenda podcast, @liamthorp.bsky.social and I are joined by the brilliant @sarahlonglands.bsky.social to talk - How do we spread the benefits of the Oasis gigs? - What's really going on with Reform UK revoking the climate emergency in Durham? podfollow.com/the-northern...

NEW: Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington will be allowed to put off their elections for metro mayors until May 2027, Local Government Minister @jimmcmahon.co.uk announces today Here's the MHCLG press release. The delay is to save money so the elections can be held alongside local elections

POLITICAL PLANET! Another Tory defection! Here’s today’s @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon… www.shareyourstories.live/northern-age...

Here's the funding needed to keep Greater Manchester's publicly-run bus network going each year - and less than half of it comes from passengers' fares But actually that's far from unusual... Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social‬) A thread 1/8

Here's the funding needed to keep Greater Manchester's publicly-run bus network going each year - and less than half of it comes from passengers' fares But actually that's far from unusual... Graphic by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr.bsky.social‬) A thread 1/8

At the start of this week’s Northern Agenda pod I spoke about how our Liverpool Echo newsroom responded to the terrible news of the death of Diogo Jota Me & @robparsonsna.bsky.social then discussed the 1st year in power for Keir Starmer Have a listen: cms.megaphone.fm/channel/nort...

This week on the Northern Agenda podcast, @liamthorp.bsky.social and I chat: ▶️ Starmer's first year as PM: What's been good and what's been bad for the North? ▶️ What's the real cost of Andy Burnham's bus network? ▶️ Is there actually a pub called the Dog and Duck? podfollow.com/the-northern...

Great piece by @zoebillingham.bsky.social of @ipprnorth.bsky.social in today's Northern Agenda Extra - have a read here... www.linkedin.com/pulse/starme...

This week on the Northern Agenda podcast I'm looking into potholes... Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood (@liliangreenwood.bsky.social‬) tells me why making town halls publish more information about them from today will help make our roads better podfollow.com/the-northern...

FAILING NOT SAILING! It's a heartache for Starmer as rebels force him to U-turn on welfare bill. Here's today's @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon...

'This news comes as a surprise and we were not consulted' Sheffield's council leader (@tomhunt100.bsky.social‬) on the govt's decision to stop councils from being run by committee It does beg the question, shouldn't people in Sheffield - not Ministers in London - decide how their council is run?

In 2021 the people of Sheffield voted in a referendum to move their council to a commitee system rather than the cabinet and leader model. Now the Labour government has told them (and others using the committee system like Wirral and Cheshire East) that they must switch back 🤷 1/2

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a new rapid investigation into NHS maternity services. And the Department for Health told me this morning that Leeds - whose services were downgraded last week by the Care Quality Commission - are among the 10 trusts to be looked at 1/2

What do you think of these ideas for a new community flag for Cumbria? There's a competition running, with winning entry used to celebrate the region's history, express community pride and increase recognition and awareness of the area. surveymonkey.com/r/CumbriaCom...

Today’s @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social cartoon… www.shareyourstories.live/northern-age...