Welcome to the Bumper Episode where our hosts look at the Mayorals and the Council elections, and what they could mean for our PM. There are brand new positions being made that could be targets as well as interesting elections happening in Bristol and London.

In March, we saw the Chancellor announce the last budget before the next General Election. Our host comb through some of the major announcements, including the abolishment of None-Dom status, whether these policies will help those who need it the most and whether or not this spells an early General election. This episode also features an interview …

There's an election happening in 2024. But who's running? What are their policies? Are they really doing as good or as badly as the media say? Welcome to our new mini-series, Election fever, wghere our hosts look at each of the main political parties and anaylyse their chances when the British public go to the polls. First up are Reform UK. Hot off…

Happy 2024 Everybody! This year, 4 billion people will be voting in either Executive, Legislative and Referendum elections. These elections will cover 65 countries across all 6 habited continents. While we can't cover all of them, leaving out elections in places like India, North and South Korea, Iran, Indonesia and Taiwan, we chose the 4 that inte…

It's been 7 years since the landmark referendum that saw the UK, eventually, leave the European Union. And it's still a decision that affects us to this day.In our last episode of 2023, we talk to three university students contributing to North West Bylines, to talk about how Brexit has affected the young and what can be changed and done about it i…

Sunak has changed up his cabinet before an anticipated General Election next year. In this episode, Chris and Julian discuss those leaving, those coming in, the unsurprises and surprises of both. If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little …

Throughout last month, by-elections happened. One in Scotland and two in England. We bring in Martin Roche of our friends across the border, Bylines Scotland, to discuss the results once again and do they confirm what we suspect might happen in the upcoming 2024 General Election. We do apologise for the lateness of this episode, we had some behind …

In the past week, the Prime Minister has made some startling u-turns on Net Zero commitments. The main policy shifts were delaying the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, pushed back the transition away from fossil fuel boilers to the same year, and scrapped energy efficiency targets on homes. Mr Sunak advertised these chan…

In July, three By-Elections took place and all the results were interesting. Each of the major parties won one constituency each. The big attention was, of course, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where the Conservatives just managed to hold onto the constituency by a mere 495 votes. Even though the party tried to play this off as a victory, it's very m…

In this month's hour-long episode, we hear from a host of special guests including Carla Denyer, Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Ryan Jude, a Labour Party Councillor for Lancaster Gate, and Leo Murray, Co-founder and Director of Innovation and Engagement at Possible. At this event, eac…

This month, Julian and Chris celebrate pride month by bringing you some Pride themed articles or articles written by Queer authors. The articles this month include a discussion about gender from North West by Isabelle Goodhand, the function of Pride in the 2020s, especially with encroaching of LGBT+ rights from Central Bylines by Bryan Manley-Green…

After a long Hiatus, we're back and once again talking about Politics. Julian and Chris return to discuss key areas of interest to them, Brighton & Hove and the County of Hertfordshire. What were the results in these areas? Do they spell success for the Conservatives? Or, indeed, any of the major parties? And what do these results mean for a future…

On this week’s podcast, Julian Greenbank interviewed the UK LGBT poet laureate, Trudy Howson. Trudy started her life as an actress, looking to make it big in London during the 1970s. She then found a new life with the local LGBTQ+ community. Through it, she went to the first Pride march in 1972 and met so many people, including Sir Ian McKellen and…

As the celebration of Ramadan comes to a close, the Bylines Network podcast team has a look at the meaning and story behind the celebration. We also speak with Kamran Shezad from the Bahu Trust, about their efforts to make the celebration a more sustainable event.Bylines Network Podcast

A special extra episode, provided by East Anglia Bylines' Jessica Walsh. Jessica speaks with Simon Feneron, manager of the Banningham Crown, about a journey which he made to the Ukrainian border to deliver aid to refugees fleeing the conflict. Please consider donating to the Banningham Crown's crowdfunder, and checking out Jessica's write-up of the…

The Bylines Network Podcast's recent episode looks at the International Day of Forests, telling the unique efforts of different speakers. On the 21st of March a variety of events honor and promote awareness of the value of forests, as well as trees outside of forests, for the sake of present and future generations. Every year, countries are urged t…

As February comes to a close, the Bylines Network takes a look at LGBT+ History Month, which was celebrated this month. In the episode, the team speaks with Clive Duffy, one of the co-founders of Herts Pride and co-founder of the pro-LGBT awareness charity Ask For Clive, and also with Kaylee Golding, the founder and presenter of the ONYOURGAYDAR po…

31st January marks the start of seven days of celebration for Lunar New Year. A hugely important celebration, this year marks the start of the Year of the Tiger. To open our new podcast series, the team speaks with Pei Tong from Movema, who is helping organise celebrations for Lunar New Year in Liverpool. Thank you to Anna, Henry, and Maddy, for re…

Welcome to the sixth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing! Please find the articles compiled for this edition linked below: 0:27 This Culture of Racism is not Cricket- Nabeela Akhtar (West England Bylines…

Welcome to the sixth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing! Please find the articles compiled for this edition linked below: 0:28 Bristol City Council approves its Clean Air Zone - Julian Greenbank (West E…

Welcome to the sixth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing! Please find the articles compiled for this edition linked below: 0:28 COP26: What will climate change look like in East Anglia by 2050? - James G…

Welcome to the sixth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing! Please find the articles compiled for this edition linked below: 0:28 - The North East on Screen: Get Carter (1971) - Phil Coghill (North East By…

Welcome to the fifth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing! Please find the articles compiled for this edition linked below: 0:28 Climate crisis: time’s running out - Liyanah Riaz (North East Bylines) 6:05…

Welcome to the fourth audio edition of the Bylines Network podcast. Thank you to all of our writers for penning these great articles, to our readers for recording them, and to Julian Greenbank for editing!Bylines Network Podcast

What goes on at Labour conference? What will conference mean for the party? Will this be the year that Labour pledges to support electoral reform? Join us this week, as we speak with Owen Winter and Mike Buckley about Labour conference, starting tomorrow. Owen, part of Labour for a New Democracy, has been campaigning for proportional representation…

With the mainstream media attention diverted from Afghanistan, this week the Bylines Network podcast looks at the situation on the ground, and what has changed since the Taliban took over the country in August. With a new administration installed, and clampdowns on women's rights and the right to protest, it is important to keep an eye on the situa…

Welcome to the third audio edition of the Bylines Network! Thanks to our writers for producing these articles, our readers for recording them, and our editor, Jules, for putting them all together. 0:23: Unite’s new general secretary – new dawn for Labour, or cold war? - Jane Thomas (Yorkshire Bylines) read by Alex Toal 5:20: Hauliers dismiss ‘bring…

Welcome to the third part of our miniseries on the state of higher education in the pandemic. In this episode, John and Alex speak about the "marketisation" of higher education, with the introduction of tuition fees. What does it mean to "get a degree", and how does the university experience weigh up to how it is sold? Then, Alex speaks with Nick H…

Welcome to part 2 of our education mini-series, focusing on the lives of students during the pandemic. In this episode, we focus student housing: throughout Covid many students were either forced into mass-produced university accommodation, or trapped in run down private housing. With discussion of rent rebates, strikes, and evictions, Paige and Jo…

We're delighted to be introducing the first ever audio edition of the Bylines Network! This week, we're taking four articles from across the network, and bringing them to life with the voices of our hosts. 0:50: Anti-vaxxers, past and present - Pen Hemingway (Yorkshire Bylines) read by Alex Toal 7:56: A 3% pay rise is not enough for NHS England - L…

We're delighted to bring you the first episode of our new education miniseries! Our hosts Paige, Connor, and John have all been in university for the past year of Covid, and have put together a four-part series on the reality of being a student during the biggest crisis in a generation. In the first episode, Connor, Paige, and John give personal te…

As the final round of unlocking arrives on 19th July, we discuss the challenges which this new stage of the pandemic will pose. Cases are soaring, and with them the risk of Long Covid and of vaccine-resistant mutations. For our article of the week, we speak with Mo Kanjilal of Sussex Bylines about her recent piece Playing For England: Football and …

Our Article of the Week for this week is by Mo Kanjilal, written for Sussex Bylines. We'll be speaking with Mo about the article and the week's news this week, we hope you enjoy this little preview here! Be sure to check out the full article here.Bylines Network Podcast

This week, four bills appeared in Parliament and were scrutinised by MPs: - The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which passed its Third Reading this week and is now in the Lords. - The Dissolution and Parliament Bill, which went through its Second Reading this week. - The Nationality and Borders Bill and the Elections Bill, which both wen…

Tune in for this week's episode of the Bylines Network podcast as we break down the result of the Batley & Spen by-election! Katrina speaks with Alex, who spent a few weekends campaigning in Batley & Spen, about the situation on the ground, why Labour managed to eek out a win, and what the result means for Labour. Then, join us for our article of t…

This week, Chris and Jules dig into the Chesham & Amersham result, as the Liberal Democrats surge to a shock win. With tactical voting from many in Labour and the Greens, what does this say about the future of progressive politics, and the state of the blue wall. Then, in place of our "article of the week", Jules speaks to Liz Webster about the new…

At the height of pride month, join the team at the Bylines Network podcast, as we discuss the history and state of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK and across the world. Hosts Chris Davis and Connor Lamb open the discussion with a look at what Pride has become in 2021, the commercialisation of pride and the “pride-washing” which many companies do, making st…

This week, Alex and new host Connor Lamb from North East Bylines discuss the resignation of Kevan Collins, the government's education tsar. Why did the government ignore their own advice, and what will the £1.4bn dedicated to closing the education gap actually do? Then in our "article of the week" section, we speak with Viv Griffiths of Sussex Byli…

Over the weekend of the local elections, all eyes turned North to Hartlepool and the so-called “red wall”. The weekend’s narrative quickly became one of disaster for Labour, and triumph for Johnson. However, something very different was happening in the South. The Conservatives lost control of county councils in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and …

Join us for this week’s episode of the Bylines Network podcast, as Alex and Jules discuss the Queen’s speech. Listen as we take a broad look at what bills have been announced, and what they indicate about the government’s plan for the country over the next few years. In our ‘article of the week’ section, we speak with Brian McHugh, who wrote on the…

This week, join our team of young hosts: Kerry, Jules, and new host Chris Davis, to discuss being young, in politics, and in Bylines. What drew us to politics? How to we reach out to engage other young people? How did we get involved with Bylines, and what good can it do long-term? Be sure to follow all of our hosts: @jewelsog @kerrya_pearson and @…

Fed up of people asking what the local elections mean for Keir Starmer? Sick of hearing about the vaccine bounce or post-Brexit realignment? Join us as we break down the local results in terms of what they actually mean for the people who voted in them. This week, we have our first ever returning guest, as Georgia Taylor (now Councillor Georgia Tay…

This week, we speak to some of the people hoping to get elected to local office at various levels of local government. 1. Julian Greenbank speaks with Liz Webster, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner. 2. We revisit our local elections webinar with Labour Tees Valley mayoral candidate Jessie Joe Jac…

This week, we turn to the question of democracy and the local elections. With an unrepresentative system, and efforts to suppress voter turnout, our system is looking less and less democratic. This week, we are joined by Abbie Jones from Make Votes Manchester Manchester, and Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy, to look into these problems, and …

At a generous estimate, 35% of people vote in local elections, a little over half the number that vote in General elections. Given how important local government is, this simply can't do! In the first of our four-part series covering the local elections, we speak to Rachael Farrington, creator or votingcounts.org.uk, and Professor Colin Copus, Dire…

For this episode of the Bylines Network podcast, George Richmond speaks with Sam Philips, a farmer in Gloucestershire. Sam has been promoting sustainability in farming, and trying to encourage farmers to give back more to the planet. Across the conversation, George and Sam discuss the obstacles to sustainable farming, the challenges and opportuniti…

The Bylines Network podcast is back! This week, we travel down to Sussex, with Mo Kanjilal interviewing Stephanie Prior, Standing Invitee on Brighton and Hove City Council's Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture (TECC) Committee. In this week's episode, Mo and Stephanie discuss why it's so important to encourage representation at a local lev…

This week the Bylines Network podcast comes to Yorkshire, as host Grace Pritchard speaks with Dr Pam Jarvis and Dr Stella Perrott about coercive control, a psychological technique common in the public sector for reducing opposition along the chain of command. With powerful anecdotes from both the public and private sector, the podcast explores what…

This week we revisit our Bylines Network webinar: Democracy under Fire, with Peter Jukes (Executive Editor, Byline Times), Tom Brake (Director, Unlock Democracy), Clive Lewis (Member of Parliament for Norwich South), and Natalie Bennett (Green Party peer). If you'd like to get in touch, be sure to email us at editor@yorkshirebylines.co.uk, we hope …

Our first episode of the Bylines Network podcast visits the North East, speaking to Jessie Joe Jacobs, Labour’s candidate for Tees Valley Mayor. Host Ellie Rainsley speaks with Jessie about her work in the charity sector, how the North has been let down by successive governments, and what she plans to do to make the Northern Powerhouse more than ju…