Ian & Simon welcome back to the show, Viola Langley & Paula Savage after this week's decision from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwateng to refuse Aquind's application to run an interconnector through Portsmouth.
It's all about party politics as Ian & Simon discuss the revelations of parties and social events in Downing Street, and around Government while the rest of the country was in lockdown. Should Boris Johnson resign? Will the Conservative party move to replace him? Will the Lib Dem motion of no confidence succeed? Before moving onto court action in Australia as Novak Djokovic is deported due to his vaccination status.
Ian & Simon invite CLLRs Lee Hunt & Graham Heaney onto the show to talk about the controversial Lennox Point development, why planning is backlogged in Portsmouth before turning attention to recent party revelations in Westminster, and asking what they mean for Boris Johnson's premiership.
Ian & Simon welcome Polly & Miranda onto the show, both of whom who've worked helping refugees & unaccompanied minors to help our listeners what's going on behind the headlines in the redtop press. What's the real experience on the ground of those fleeing war torn countries seeking security and safety in the UK? We also have a look at the Bexley & North Shropshire by-elections. Is the win in Bexley comfortable enough to be repeated in North Shropshire? Are there signs of a progre...
With the government's announcement last night of a return to some COVID restrictions brought about by the dawn of the Omicron variant, Ian & Simon discuss if this is too much or too little too late as well as looking at vaccine hesitancy rates in the UK and amongst NHS staff.
Battling through technology issues, Ian and Simon explore three big questions in this week's show:- 1) Is the freedom of anonymity online worth the price of faceless abuse that hides behind it? 2) If we make MPs safer by making them more distant from those they serve - are we defending democracy or diminishing it? 3) Should MPs be allowed to take 2nd jobs? Information sources used in this week's show: www.theyworkforyou.com https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575833?reveal_response=yes http...
Ian & Simon invite their guests to explore how it is that streets, bars and clubs can still be unsafe places for women - what's happening, and what we can do about it. With guests: Natasha Layley - Portsmouth University Students' Union, Emma Cherry - Spike Aware Portsmouth & Mariam Daniel - BLM Portsmouth http://www.parcs.org.uk/ Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS) provides a range of integrated support and services for survivors of sexual and domestic abuse in Portsmou...
Before Portsmouth City Council returns to its first Full Council meeting in the Council Chamber since COVID, after previously using the Guildhall main auditorium as a COVID safety measure, Ian & Simon cast their eyes over the agenda to ask - will this be the 2nd shortest full council meeting of the year? Agenda details: https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=4631&x=1 PCC Council Livestream: https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/council-09nov2021 (2pm 09/11/21)
In our 100th episode we invite environmental campaigners Sue James and James Sebley onto the show to tell us what COP26 is all about, what it needs to achieve, and if there's any hope of it doing so. The UN Emissions Gap Programme video referred to in this episode is: https://youtu.be/_BiZ1tUeIWI As Sue mentioned, find more details here about events in Portsmouth: https://campaign.exchange/2021/10/24/cop26portsmouth/ -November 5th - Climate Strike 12pm -2pm. Portsmouth Guildhall Square -November...
Ian & Simon welcome back to the show Viola Langley & Paula Savage from 'Let's Stop Aquind' who are joined by fellow LSA campaigner Eve Mellor and Jean Nicolas from French protest group Non A Aquind. In the week Secretary of State for BEIS Kwasi Kawteng again delayed his decision on this controversial project we ask what's the latest, and what's next on both sides of the channel.
Ian & Simon welcome local anti sewage campaigners, Sarah Shreeve (Stop the Sewage: Southsea), Mike Owens (Hayling Sewage Watch) & Alex Ford (Professor of Biology at Portsmouth University) to tell us what's raising the stink in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas about sewage discharges into Langstone Harbour.
Ian & Simon welcome representatives from the three major UK political parties to share with listeners the three things from their party conference they'd want voters to know. Our guests are Paul Gray: Liberal Democrats. Craig Withey: Labour. Rob New Conservatives. After the show, we've launched a poll on twitter to let listeners tell us who they'd vote for in a general election. https://twitter.com/pompeypolitics1/status/1447269482645311499?s=20
We welcome newly elected Conservative Group Council Leader, Councillor Simon Bosher onto the show to tell us about his vision for his party & Portsmouth.
Ian & Simon speak with former Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Steve Pitt and ask why Portsmouth City Council has bought another of the city's theatre buildings.
Ian & Simon invite back Cabinet Member for Housing & Preventing Homelessness, Councillor Darren Sanders to talk about how Portsmouth City Council is helping, and preparing to help people escaping Afghanistan.
Ian & Simon invite Economics lecturer Simon Foster onto the show to discuss the government's planned increase in NI contributions for employers and employees and to ask if this is a fair way to fund social care?
Despite monday's Full Council meeting being abandoned as the leader of the Conservative Council Group had tested possitive for Covid 19 - we invite on three councillors to discuss two big issues on that agenda - Cllr Jeanette Smith (PPP) asking why PCC are still using pesticides, and Cllrs Lynne Stagg (LibDem) - Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation, & her opposite Cllr Graham Heaney (Lab) to discuss the Local Transport Plain - What does it mean for Portsmouth? Is it bold enough? W...
Ian and Simon give a rundown of the packed agenda for tomorrow's Full Council meeting - strangely organised on a Monday - we invite Council Leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson onto the show to answer why the change of day and to talk about his motion to council calling on it to protest agains central government imposed targers which would see Portsmouth build over 17,000 homes over the next 20 years - but before that we turn our attention to the Labour motion calling on the council to rethink its plans...
Ian & Simon share their views and insight into the potential July 19th unlocking. Is it too much too soon? Will people continue to wear face masks once they are no longer mandatory in shops & public transport? Will the hospitality industry find enough staff to cope with the increase in custom? Are those on the least wages being asked to take the most risk?
Ian & Simon cast their beedy eyes over events at the PCC Planning meeting from June 29th, where HMOs and Park & Ride carparks were on the agenda before turning their critical analysis towards the recent Batley & Spen by-election.
In the last of their series welcoming newly elected councillors onto the show, Ian & Simon welcome Daniel Wemyss, Conservative Councillor for Hilsea to tell us about his first month (or so).
Ian & Simon welcome three guests onto the show; Alex Dutton from Portsmouth Party DJ & PopKids - to talk about the delayed release from lockdown, David Fuller - Care home manager to talk about mandating covid19 vacinations in care home staff, and Matthew Winnington to talk about NHS sharing patient data.
Ian and Simon invite newly elected councillor for Milton & cabinet member for Climate Change and Green Recovery, Kimberly Barrett onto the show to ask her how her first month (ish) has gone.
Ian & Simon welcome back to the show, newly elected Councillor for Charles Dickens ward, Kirsty Mellor. We ask her how her first month as a councillor has gone and what's next.
Ian & Simon reveal who got to run Portsmouth City Council when Full Council voted on a motion of no confidence in its leader. They also delve into the revelations of spurned SPAD Dominic Cummings before casting their eyes and opinions eastwards to Belarus and ask if their airspace is safe.
Ian & Simon welcome back to the podcasts, man-of-the-hour, newly elected Cllr George Madgwick (Paulsgrove). As the source of one of the two major shock results from Thursday's local elections in Portsmouth, George talks to us about how hard work and straight talking convinced the good folk of Paulsgrove to give him 49% of the vote, and increase turnout by nearly 8 points - and what this means for him, the ward, and the council leadership.
Ian cracks open his spreadsheet to tell us how he thinks the local elections in Portsmouth will go - Simon doesn't always agree. Also covered this episode, the seemingly unassailable Conservative support in the Hartlepool by-election & the Hampshire & IOW Police & Crime Commission elections as well as the arrangements Portsmouth city council have in place to make counting the ballots Covid secure - and how that means no overnight dramas. Please - go and vote! There's only one way to ...
Central Southsea Ward hustings with Charlie Douglas (Con), Charlotte Gerada (Lab), & Steve Pitt (Lib Dem).
Our penultimate virtual hustings with Dr Renu Raj (Conservatives) & Kirsty Mellor(Labour) candidates for Charles Dickens ward in Portsmouth who face question submitted from the public.
Craig Withey (Labour) & Matthew Winnington (Liberal Democrats) answer questions submitted by the public as they both campaign to be elected to serve Eastney & Craneswater ward on May 6th. Please note due to technical issues with one of the candidates connection we have cut our some parts when this was being worked on - but not any candidate responses.
