Grace Williams
graciewills.bsky.social
Grace Williams
@graciewills.bsky.social
12 followers 21 following 40 posts
Trainee Digital Reporter at @TheBoltonNews My previous work can be found at the Warrington Guardian & MerseyNewsLive
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
For those who know me well, it’ll come as no surprise that I absolutely loved covering this story about the rare birth of an Eriskay foal at Smithills Open Farm in Bolton 🐴

youtube.com/shorts/BJxjD...
Smithills Open Farm has celebrated the birth of a critically endangered livestock breed 🐴
YouTube video by Grace Williams
youtube.com
Closing the show, Sandher said: “We will be working with universities and other groups in the sector. It’s a sensible government over here.”
Sandher said: “We protect and promote free speech. Previous legislation was dangerous and could have led to anti-Jewish hate speech.”

Iman said: “Is there any evidence that Holocaust denial is widespread at universities?”
Whittingdale said: “University is a place where people can put forward ideas and have them challenged in academic debate.

"Barring people because you don’t like what they have to say undermines that whole principle.”
5th and Final Topic

Do universities have a free speech problem?
Whittingdale said: “People coming out of university are not getting the benefit in economic terms.”
Grady said: “I’d be interested to know who are the people that you think shouldn’t be going to university.”

Sandher said: “On both sides, I want to see every child in this country get a great job.”
Grady said: “It should be funded properly through taxation. We have developed business models that do not work. £50,000 of debt for students is not the answer.”

Iman said: “Many of them will never pay it back. The interest rates are crazy for young people.”
Whittingdale said: “The government has agreed to increase fees when they said they wouldn’t. All you’re doing is putting the cost onto students.”

Grady said: “You have established a regime that is failing on it’s own terms.”

Sandher said: “The question is, how do we reform the sector?”
4th Topic

Are some universities going bust?

Grady said: “It’s an inherently volatile funding regime.”

Iman said: “Some universities are almost a ‘visa scheme’.”

Grady said: “With respect, this is the comment of someone who doesn’t understand the sector they are working in.”
Iman said: “The harder Brexit was because there were some who didn’t accept the vote. The European Union is growing incredibly slowly.”

Sandher said: “Distance does matter for trade.”

Whittingdale said: “It is a question of balance. We need trade with other countries too.”
3rd Topic

Reeves wants ‘reset’ with EU to boost growth

Sandher said: “It’s a step-by-step process. It’s a grown-up trading relationship."
Grady said: “I don’t believe that cutting the state is the answer here.”

Iman said: “Some elements of the civil service have politicised themselves.”
Sandher said: “£100 million pounds is going to teams to help them work effectively. Let’s go do it, this is the ‘test and learn approach’.”

Whittingdale said: “At root, the problem is the state is too big."

Coburn said: “You had 14 years to shrink the state if that’s what you wanted to do.”
Grady said: “We are all pretty sick of politicians trying to blame other people. Is attacking the workers the way to go about it? No.”

Iman said: “I have spoken to many civil servants who left because they couldn’t see the changes.”
2nd Topic

Can the government ‘Shake-Up’ Whitehall?

Whittingdale said: “The real responsibility lies with government.”

Sandher said: “As a former civil servant, I’m excited.”
Grady said: “Donald Trump is incredibly irresponsible.”

Iman said: “Rushing to do something would be unwise.”

Whittingdale said: “America does have an interest in the future of the Middle East.”
General secretary of the University and College Union, Jo Grady said: “It’s amazing to see the celebrations on the streets of Damascus."

Journalist and Broadcaster, Inaya Folarin Iman said: “We can hope for the people but it’s not in our control.”