Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 11h

This is a brilliant piece. Exceptionally good and perfectly sums up a lot about the West Midlands.

Would also recommend listening to the episode of Mark Steel's in Town from Handsworth. Sums up how integrated it is www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

2

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Will Hawkes @willhawkes.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve written for @pelliclemag.com about the Dog and Bell, a unique pub whose evolution over the past 40 years nevertheless illustrates the story of modern London pubs. It’s here: www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out — The Dog and Bell in Deptford, London — Pellicle

On a Friday night in early December, Deptford’s Dog and Bell is Christmas as imagined by a Haribo-addled toddler.  A huge resin Santa, grinning merrily in his sleigh, squats in Prince Street out...

www.pelliclemag.com

1 10 29

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 21h

The Conservatives have managed to find three more union flags for Kemi Badenoch's party conference speech, which begins in ten minutes. Only one has been on the stage since Sunday. This morning? Four.

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Chris McKeon @cjmckeon.bsky.social · 1d

Following today’s defections, Chris Philp tells one of my PA colleagues the Tories shouldn’t worry too much about Reform say because Farage “was boasting about MP defections during our conference, which has not happened.”

Feels a bit like a hostage to fortune that.

2 2 4

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Felicity Hannah @felicityhannah.bsky.social · 1d

Rail travel - my odyssey:
1) Booked a train to London using split tickets to make it £170 return instead of £240.
2) Train delayed. Next train is the same company and gets in later than planned train but split ticket doesn’t count. Nice staff say it is up to the train manager if he will let me on.

10 10 64

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 1d

A bit of drama in the Conservative Party conference hall earlier, as London Assembly member Andrew Boff heckled a 'gender critical' session he later said was ‘curated hatred’

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Conservative conference gender session ‘curated hatred’ – Tory politician

Andrew Boff claimed the gender identity session featuring former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies was ‘one sided’ and said it was ‘not a debate’.

www.independent.co.uk

1 1 3

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Have had this thought about a few bits at this conference. Some things have seemed very weirdly low-budget/quality. The money is there...

1 2

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 2d

From Victoria Atkins' rally at Conservative party conference: Labour has ruined lives of farming communities with tax policy, Tories claim
www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Labour has ruined lives of farming communities with tax policy, Tories claim

Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins pledged to scrap the ‘family farm tax’ at the Conservative party conference in Manchester.

www.independent.co.uk

1

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 2d

In place of a speech by Victoria Atkins, the shadow Defra secretary, she is holding a “rally for the countryside” in the main exhibition hall. Her Union Jack jacket is back from the dry cleaners again.

24 12 66

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Jack Blackburn @hackblackburn.bsky.social · 2d

Not saying it’s already been a long conference, but James Cleverly is on the Guinness at 10.25am

2 2 17

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Claire Coutinho, shadow energy secretary, now up - and she's got a powerpoint to show us. Says Ed Miliband's claim of saving £300 on energy bills was a case of disinformation.

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 2d

Day two of Conservative Party conference begins with Mel Stride getting a standing ovation for telling members a future Tory government would abolish business rates.

1 1

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 3d

The bar of the Midland Hotel, lunchtime on the Sunday of Tory conference.

27 50 240

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 3d

In Manchester as part of the Press Association team covering the Conservative Party conference.

Kemi Badenoch due to speak on the Tories' immigration policy at 2.45pm.

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 4d

The latest from Britain's rail network: Avanti conductor has come over the tannoy telling us the train is "overweight" and can't move because too many people are stood in the middle carriages. That's a new one on me...

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 4d

It shouldn't be difficult for the FA to do a rapid review and set a pot of funding aside to give grants. The Premier League and its clubs could contribute funds.

It still defies belief something wasn't done after Alex Fletcher's injury.

Guardian Sport @sport.theguardian.com · 5d

As Billy Vigar’s family grieve, FA faces questions over its response on safety issues

Alex Fletcher called for changes after crashing into concrete hoardings three years ago. As far as he is concerned, nothing happened as a result When Chichester City confirmed that Saturday’s FA Trophy tie with Farnham Town would go ahead, they did so with a message: “Billy Vigar, forever in our hearts.” The match, the team’s first since Vigar’s tragic death a week previously, would be contested to “honour Billy”, the club said. “We invite you to join us in paying tribute to Billy on the day.” Vigar, 21, died after sustaining a “significant brain injury” during Chichester’s Isthmian Premier League fixture at Wingate & Finchley on 20 September. His passing was mourned by Arsenal, where Vigar had been part of the academy, and more broadly by clubs and individuals from across non-league football. There was a great sadness at the passing of a player who was well liked in a tight-knit community but had died, as Vigar’s family put it, “playing the sport he loved”. Continue reading...

dlvr.it

Reposted by Harry Taylor

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 5d

‘I think it’s selfish’: William and Kate face backlash over Windsor Great Park no-go zone

Royal couple’s desire for more privacy means 2.3-mile perimeter exclusion zone and less public land for walkers For almost two decades Tina has enjoyed early morning walks through Windsor Great Park’s ancient-oak studded open fields with the freedom to let her dog off the lead. In recent weeks, however, she has noticed disturbing changes: fencing appearing around her regular route near Cranbourne Gate, trenches being dug, hedges planted and CCTV cameras erected. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

23 16 62

Reposted by Harry Taylor

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 5d

This is a great piece of local journalism - about all those flags going up in Brum.

Some interesting details.

The Dispatch @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social · 5d

Ryan Bridge has become a familiar face in Stirchley lately. He's one of two "company directors" of raisetheflags.org, where he collects donations from £10-£500 for flags.

1 120 300

Reposted by Harry Taylor

ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 5d

In memoriam...

59 1.6K 5.5K

Harry Taylor @harrytaylor.bsky.social · 6d

Used to live in Salford, and often wondered that for the area around Salford Red Devils' old ground in Weaste. The pubs that shut, corner shops that stop having regular matchgoers call in, the long ploughed furrows to the ground that run dry. Fascinating subject.

1 1 2

Reposted by Harry Taylor

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 6d

Two local newspapers have joined a growing list of publications claiming Reform UK councillors are stonewalling their journalism with “Trumpian” tactics

Reform UK accused of ‘Trumpian wall of silence’ towards local press

Councillors have resorted to media bans and refusals to engage with reporters to avoid answering the tough questions, publications claim

www.thetimes.com

5 14 18

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Sarcophagus Gibbs @sararoseg.bsky.social · 6d

You don’t actually have to both sides this. The Jewish community in the UK is not the Israeli government. You can just condemn the murder of two British Jews killed in their place of worship and you don’t have to say a single other thing.

6 940 3.6K

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 9d

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

British Politics' Midlife Crisis

Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

benansell.substack.com

21 460 1.2K

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Chris McKeon @cjmckeon.bsky.social · 10d

Andy Burnham, making one of only a handful of appearances at this year's Labour conference, attacks a 'climate of fear' in the party and criticises calls for 'simplistic statements of loyalty' - but insists he's there to support the Government.

2 1

Reposted by Harry Taylor

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10d

Sadiq Khan says he loves visiting Liverpool for its food and culture and people, joking: “It also means I can take a break from the sharia lot in London.”

6 44 420