The Northern Agenda

"This is very much a FIVE-PARTY system now": reaction to the Greens victory in Gorton and Denton

Fiona McCudden is joined by Manchester Evening News reporter Stephen Topping and Northern Agenda editor Graeme Whitfield in the morning after Hannah Spencer's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election. They discuss how the Green Party won their first ever by-election, the anger felt toward Keir Starmer and the Labour government, and whether it would have made a difference if Andy Burham would have been allowed to run for the Greater Manchester seat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

British values, immigration and Oasis: reflections from the Gorton and Denton by-election hustings

On a special edition of the Northern Agenda podcast, Rob Parsons is joined by Beth Abbit of the Manchester Evening News to reflect on a hustings for five of the candidates hoping to be the next MP for Gorton and Denton. The hopefuls were quizzed on issues like British values, child poverty, immigration, Andy Burnham and even their favourite Oasis song during an hour long debate at the office of the Manchester Evening News. What were the big talking points for the candidates: Conservative Charlotte Cadden, Matt Goodwin of Reform UK, Jackie Pearcey of the Liberal Democrats, Green Hannah Spencer and Labour's Angeliki Stogia? Rob and Beth - a constituent in Gorton and Denton - discuss what they learned from the hustings and how the three-horse race is so hard to predict ahead of the vote on February 26. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

'This is personal': Why Rachel Reeves is spending £45bn on Northern Powerhouse Rail

Government Minister, metro mayors, journalists and political advisors all gathered in orange hi-vis jackets at a rail depot in Leeds today to hear an announcement by Rachel Reeves they hope will be a game-changer for the North's transport links. Leeds MP Ms Reeves has promised the Government will set aside £45bn to pay for Northern Powerhouse Rail, the project designed to speed up rail links between the North's big cities. But after so many broken promises, does anyone in the North believe it will actually happen? On a special edition of the Northern Agenda podcast, Rob Parsons speaks to the Chancellor about why this project is personal for her and what it will mean for the North's economy. Rail Minister Peter Hendy explains what the announcement will mean for the North's commuters - and are metro mayors Andy Burnham and Tracy Brabin happy with what they've heard? The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Live from Liverpool: a Labour conference special

The Northern Agenda podcast goes on location this week, broadcast from the home of the Liverpool Echo as Labour party conference comes to town. Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp are joined by Jo Timan of the Manchester Evening as they assess a 'flat', 'anxious' and 'confused' annual gathering of the party faithful, dominated by Andy Burnham's antics and the looming spectre of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. As Keir Starmer makes his big conference speech, Liam has an instant verdict on whether it will be enough to turn round Labour's dismal poll ratings. Plus, Rob picks up a freebie that makes him look like a dad on holiday...and why are two new towns destined for the North of England neither towns nor very new? The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp. The podcast is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

'We need to talk about Andy': Could Labour conference become the Burnham show?

The Westminster circus is preparing to descend once again on the Liverpool docks as Labour holds its annual party conference at the city's big convention centre. It'll be five days of political debate, speeches and drinks events for the Labour faithful. But as Keir Starmer tries to rouse his troops and get his stuttering premiership back on track, there's a shadow being cast by a certain Scouse-accented metro mayor and King of the North who may well just steal the limelight. Will this year's Labour conference turn out to be the Andy Burnham show? Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp discuss it with one of the country's most successful and best-connected political journalists, Patrick Maguire, who as well as being chief political commentator at The Times is a native of nearby Southport. Patrick will be appearing at the Ilkley Literature Festival on Sunday 19th Oct at 1:15 pm to talk about his book 'Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer', described as a blistering exposé of the most significant and ruthless political transformation in a generation.  More details here [https://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]