Episodios

  • 🕳️ Potholes: we're looking into them

    🕳️ Potholes: we're looking into them
    Jun 30 2025
    With Liam Thorp off this week, Rob Parsons spends today's episode looking into one of the perennial bugbears of politicians across the North: potholes. They're a big issue for voters - and the new Labour government has told local councils they must publicly report on what they're doing to keep our roads fit for driving by June 30 or risk losing their share of an additional £500 million of funding. 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. Rob talks to Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood about the thinking behind the new policy and gets the industry perspective from Newcastle-based David Jobling-Purser, vice-chair of the Road Emulsion Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 m
  • 📺 The man who wouldn't pay his licence fee

    📺 The man who wouldn't pay his licence fee
    Jun 19 2025
    Why are so many private hire taxi drivers in the North of England licensed in Wolverhampton - and what's that got to do with the grooming gangs scandal? Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp have a Northern take on this week's big report into child sexual exploitation in this week's Northern Agenda podcast as they take a look at the big political stories across the region. There's also the fascinating case of the Merseyside man who successfully won a court battle to avoid paying his licence fee because he doesn't watch any live TV. Is this a sign of how our viewing habits are changing? And Rob has a very niche suggestion for what Sunderland council ought to have called the city's new footbridge after getting residents to help come up with a name. The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 m
  • 💷 Rachel Reeves splashes the cash up North

    💷 Rachel Reeves splashes the cash up North
    Jun 12 2025
    Rachel Reeves gave her long-awaited spending review statement setting out where she and Keir Starmer are going to be spending their money between now and the General Election. But 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? This week Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp are joined by Henri Murison of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership to answer these questions and more. And you can hear a bit about Rob's memorable award acceptance that may have prompted a public health warning... The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 m
  • Wes Streeting visits Leeds, the cash bonanza for the North's transport services, and Burnley Banksy

    Wes Streeting visits Leeds, the cash bonanza for the North's transport services, and Burnley Banksy
    Jun 6 2025
    This week Rob and Liam dissect the big announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves of a multi-billion pound cash bonanza for the North's transport services, what it'll mean for people who want to get about the region and why it feels very different to when Rishi Sunak announced the exact same thing less than two years ago. And ​R​ob has an interview with ​Wes Streeting ​w​here he quizzed the Health Secretary on his controversial shake-up of the NHS, whether he wants to hand control of health services to mayors like Andy Burnham, and what he thinks of the local councillor in Wakefield who says Keir Starmer is the worst Prime Minister he's ever seen. Plus​ hear all about the Burnley Banksy and his mysterious minions artwork and Liam explain​s why he's been talking to librarians​... The Northern Agenda is a Reach produced, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 2 m
  • The trampoline and the swamp

    The trampoline and the swamp
    May 27 2025
    ​This week Rob Parsons speaks to one of the leading voices in the region, if not the country, on the all-important issue of how we can ensure everyone has a chance to succeed in life regardless of their background. The concept is also called social mobility, and in 2010 a body called the Social Mobility Commission was set up to hold the country and the Government of the day to account on whether things are actually improving in this respect. Its chair Alun Francis has years of experience on the ground trying to make the lives of young people better in the North. Currently, the Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College, he previously had the top job at Oldham College. It's the 15th anniversary of the Child Poverty Act this year, the legislation that brought the social mobility commission into being. So what better time to talk to Alun about why young people in the North are still being held back by where they're from, and importantly what we can do about it. The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 m
  • A new brand for the North

    A new brand for the North
    May 23 2025
    This week ​on the Northern Agenda, 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? Rob reports back from a big-money property and development conference in Leeds where Northern politicians are desperate to make connections with investors, but it turns out so are the people running our big football clubs. ​With Radio 1's Big Weekend and a trophy parade for Liverpool Football Club, Liam tells us why it's going to be one of busiest weekends on Merseyside for years. ​And why do all the quirkiest stories from across the North seem to come from Blackpool? The Northern Agenda is Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 m
  • How are Reform UK doing now they have their first Northern MP, two Northern mayors and two Northern councils to run?

    How are Reform UK doing now they have their first Northern MP, two Northern mayors and two Northern councils to run?
    May 16 2025
    The Northern Agenda podcast is back, bringing you more weekly insights into the big issues affecting the North of England. This time, Rob Parsons is joined by new co-host Liam Thorp, political editor of the Liverpool Echo, to talk about the biggest politics stories in the North from a Northern perspective. Rob and Liam look at how Nigel Farage's Reform UK have been getting on now they have their first Northern MP and run several councils and local authorities in our region. Plus Liam explains why the Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News have been putting their old rivalries aside for a joint front page and they ask why on earth people have to keep parking on the pavement on Merseyside. The Northern Agenda is a Reach production, presented by Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp, and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • The Northern Agenda returns this Friday!

    The Northern Agenda returns this Friday!
    May 13 2025
    The Northern Agenda is back and this time, Rob Parsons is joined by Liverpool Echo political editor Liam Thorp for your weekly fix of the political stories that really matter to the North! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    2 m