The Northern Agenda

The Northern Agenda is a weekly podcast covering politics and public affairs from across the North of England, voiced by journalists who are outside the Westminster bubble, reporting from the other side of the North/South divide.

From Blackpool to Barnsley and Bamburgh and everywhere in between, exploring subjects such as levelling up to buses, elections to the latest council scraps, The Northern Agenda brings you discussion and analysis of the North's big political stories, from people experiencing them on the ground.

Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp look at the political stories that really matter to the North - and from the North - that you won't hear about from the national media in London.

The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.

You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/

News
Politics
News Commentary
1
"This is very much a FIVE-PARTY system now": re...
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.
18 min
2
British values, immigration and Oasis: reflecti...
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.
29 min
3
'This is personal': Why Rachel Reeves is spendi...
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.
32 min
4
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.
38 min
5
'We need to talk about Andy': Could Labour conf...
The Westminster circus is preparing to descend once again on the Liverpool docks as Labour holds its annual party conference
49 min
6
Bridget vs Lucy: should Labour's next deputy le...
​Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp are back discussing the week's political news from a Northern perspective and there are some big questions to answer.
44 min
7
Rewiring England: Devolution and local power wi...
Rob Parsons speaks to Jim McMahon, a Northern politician at the heart of Government.
27 min
8
How a Northern journalist is telling us to "go ...
Dr Rebecca Whittington, host of 'Go Doxx Yourself', tells Rob Parsons how she helps journalists who are receiving online abuse
27 min
9
The Northern city rivalling the Golden Triangle...
Dr Chris Herbert tells Rob Parsons​ about the North-South divide on research funding and how he wants underserved communities in Yorkshire
22 min
10
Biofuel battleground: Why the fate of Hull's Vi...
19 min
11
Morecambe and Sheffield Wednesday: a Northern f...
Rob and Liam talk to Liverpool academic and football accounting expert Kieran Maguire about how two Northern clubs were left teetering on the brink and what it tells us about modern football.
44 min
12
What Reform UK are really like in power
How have Reform UK been doing since their wins in May - and what it could mean if they were put in charge of the country
31 min
13
Tackling the North's injustices: Orgreave, Hill...
Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp digest the big news that could get us closer to the truth about the violent clashes between police and striking miners four decades ago
31 min
14
Don't Look Back In Anger: Reform UK cancels Dur...
45 min
15
⚖️ The change that's 200 years too late
Liam Thorp explains to Rob Parsons why the repeal of the cruel Vagrancy Act - which dates back to 1824 - can't come soon enough.
34 min
16
🎂 Happy Keir-niversary?
What's the last 12 months of a Labour government meant for the North, has ​S​ir Keir lived up to his promises or have things just got worse?
47 min
17
🕳️ Potholes: we're looking into them
In this episode of The Northern Agenda Podcast, we’ll explore what this means for councils, the road maintenance industry, and the communities that depend on well-maintained local roads for driving, cycling and catching the bus across the North.
26 min
18
📺 The man who wouldn't pay his licence fee
29 min
19
💷 Rachel Reeves splashes the cash up North
Which of the Chancellor's announcements will have the biggest impact on the North? Which Northern town got more mentions than anywhere else? Which Labour MP produced a cringeworthy display of sycophancy and which Labour mayor gave the Government both barrels?
39 min
20
Wes Streeting visits Leeds, the cash bonanza fo...
Rob Parsons speaks to health secretary Wes Streeting during his visit to Leeds about his controversial shake-up of the NHS
60 min
21
The trampoline and the swamp
Why young people in the North are still being held back by where they're from, and importantly what we can do about it.
33 min
22
A new brand for the North
Rob and Liam chat about the new buzzword for the North, replacing the 'Northern Powerhouse' and 'levelling up'. What does it mean and why does it matter?
38 min
23
How are Reform UK doing now they have their fir...
The Northern Agenda podcast is back, bringing you more weekly insights into the big issues affecting the North of England.
40 min
24
The Northern Agenda returns this Friday!
1 min
25
Election special: who wants to be mayor of Hull...
Rob Parsons hosts a special mayoral hustings edition of The Northern Agenda podcast, brought to you from the home of the Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live.
51 min