“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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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

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.

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...

Splits, rows and even legal threats have dogged the first few months of what was supposed to be a new start for the left in Britain. For The Lead, left-wing veteran David Renton dives into just what went wrong for Your Party🧵

The latest from our Lead North team, starts with an exclusive for Lancashire Lead subscribers this morning as we revealed the deputy leader of Lancashire County Council and Reform county councillor for Skelmersdale, Simon Evans, is suing his former employer

Splits, rows and even legal threats have dogged the first few months of what was supposed to be a new start for the left in Britain. Left-wing veteran David Renton dives into just what went wrong.

What do the Russian bribes by a former Reform UK leader tell us? open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...

The Lead is delighted to see two of our contributors shortlisted for this year's Freelance Journalism Awards ⬇️

Speaking after the horrific attack on a synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester on Yom Kippur, local Labour MP Graham Stringer said he knows "Mancunians will come together" to protect the "very tolerant city".

The news story shortlisted is this one on the abhorrent treatment of children in prison during the covid lockdowns, for @theleaduk.bsky.social thelead.uk/dog-kennel-l...

The latest from The Lead North, starting in Blackpool where two teenage boys have been arrested after a major fire at the former Carlton House Hotel

Reporting live from Keir Starmer’s speech at this year’s Labour Party Conference 🪡

Day 3 at #LabourPartyConference in #Liverpool

Now at the Future of Education talk with the @tonyblairinstitute.bsky.social and education minister @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced she will double the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five years to 10. It comes after Reform was branded racist by Keir Starmer for pledging to scrap it entirely

Beyond supply issues, what’s driving the housing crisis, and what are the solutions? We’re hoping to find out from @ippr.org and @crisis-uk.bsky.social ft. The i Paper’s Vicky Spratt and @rachelblakemp.bsky.social

Delegates arriving in Liverpool for Labour conference this week will be greeted by the message: “Just tax billionaires you absolute numpty.” The billboard on St Anne Street has been unveiled by campaign group Everyone Hates Elon to demand "Labour finally commits to fair taxation of the super rich."

At the campaign fringe @zoegrunewald.bsky.social calls this one of the most pertinent conversations of the conference — on using the media to help dismantle the far right

This morning we’re at a @waronwant.bsky.social panel talk on economic justice and taxing the super rich 🪡

Day 2 at the #LabourPartyConference in Liverpool

At the Centre for Social Justice panel talk on responding to the crisis facing young men at this year’s #LabourPartyConference 🪡

“Our healthcare system was not designed with women in mind.” Follow this thread for updates on women’s health at the Labour Party Conference ⬇️

Hello! We’re here at the Labour Party Conference this week. Follow this thread for updates

Had fun contributing to this although sadly my bold plan to...erm...fiddle about with the personal allowance is doing less well than smashing the banks 😂

A packed Sunday edition of The Lancashire Lead Starting with a row in Chorley over fracking as a Reform councillor comes out in support of it

Mixenden and other parts of North Halifax will receive a £20m Government boost over the next 10 years.

Blackpool’s two Reform councillors have refused to vote in a motion condemning fracking - with one leaving the room during the debate before votes were cast.

Sefton Council leaders remain defiant that the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) will be built despite the departure of a second lead contractor.

FIVE BOLD TAX MOVES THE CHANCELLOR COULD MAKE IN TO PLUG THE GAP IN THE AUTUMN BUDGET ⬇️

Excessive state interference or a foundation for a modern UK? The Prime Minister is due to table a compulsory new ID - BritCards - for everyone in the UK - we've been here before, so what's changed?

Andy Burnham has suggested overhauling council tax to make it fairer. He's not wrong: Property prices in some parts of the country have ballooned, and the disparity between the richest and poorest is growing. The system is broken. It's time to fix it! national.thelead.uk/p/council-ta...

This autumn, the chancellor has an opportunity to reform the tax system in its entirety. The Lead spoke to the experts who gave us some bold ideas for how she can do it ✍️ @zoegrunewald.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/rachel-ree...

At The Lead UK, we’re welcoming Keir Starmer’s new “Pride in Place” regeneration plans, which put local communities and high streets back in the spotlight.

The Liberal Democrats have been urged (by a millionaire, no less) to back a wealth tax. But what exactly would this entail? national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...

As the Autumn budget draws near, it's time for the chancellor to think seriously about plugging the gap. Our Westminster editor @zoegrunewald.bsky.social put it to the experts. Sign up to receive today's newsletter, with bold ideas from those at the forefront of the discussion. national.thelead.uk

Hospitals are incredibly expensive to run and incredibly expensive to maintain. Southport Hospital in particular is an old site in need of various repairs and upgrades but thanks to newly confirmed government funding, an eight-figure sum is about to help with that.

As the shutters are pulled down on the last remaining shops in health and beauty chain Bodycare's empire it has emerged that taxpayers will foot the company's £37m redundancy bill.

“Blackpool is edging closer to a tipping point.”. That was the verdict from a leading resort councillor after plans to open a £26m, four-star hotel in a prominent derelict town centre building collapsed.

Most Brits would love to have spare money to spend in John Lewis, which Boris Johnson ignorantly jived just five years ago. But, they don't: the store’s latest figures show losses of £88m. The middle class is disappearing, and the consequences shouldn't be overlooked.

In today's newsletter: 💸 A warning from @hannahfearn.bsky.social about the disintegration of the middle class 👀 More dodgy dealings and nonsense in our regular Reform Watch 📚 Anti-racism, urban walks and more in The Lead's Digest 🧭 Our weekly view from the north national.thelead.uk/p/john-lewis...

Strategic C-sections and a birthday lottery: The hidden cost of free childcare hours | @scarlethannington.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/strategic-...

My latest piece for @theleaduk.bsky.social on why the government has got a massive John Lewis sized hole in its growth strategy

A couple with two young children now need a combined income of £74,000 to live a life with even the smallest of luxuries. This is bad for growth and great for the far right. Why Labour should care more about the middle class✍️ hannahfearn.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/john-lewis...

Ed Davey refused to rule out a Liberal Democrats-Labour coalition if it meant preventing a Reform UK government. But the idea doesn't appear to be popular among members. Do you think a left wing coalition is likely in 2029? www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

We're petitioning to ban Elon Musk from the UK. Even the home secretary agrees his recent speech at the UK's largest far right rally was abhorrent! Do you? Sign here: startafire.co/scramnews/ba...