Making what happens in Westminster relevant to people in the North. Featuring a great guest from our region and insight from our very own northern political team.
Making what happens in Westminster relevant to people in the North. Featuring a great guest from our region and insight from our very own northern political team.
Sol B River is a Leeds-born writer and TV producer. His recent documentary about the first black university student in 1960s Mississippi won plaudits around the world. In a week which has seen such focus on football and racism, we asked Sol - a big football fan - to give us his view - of 'taking the knee,' the racism faced by players and the changes he wants politicians to make. And Business Analyst Danni Hewson joins Gemma and James to talk about Yorkshire’s proud supermarket heritage. It comes after potential talks of a takeover for Bradford family owned Morrisons.
Former sub-postmasters across Yorkshire have been trying to clear their names after they were involved in one of the UK’s biggest miscarriages of Justice a scandal spanning 20 years. It was after money went missing from their accounts following a problem with a newly installed computer system. An inquiry is now underway to get to the bottom of how this happened. Caroline has spoken to families who devoted their lives to serving the Post Office who were then accused of crimes they didn’t commit. Producer: Louise Wheeler Studio Director: Qendresa Zena
The team speak to Politics Professor Dr Victoria Honeyman from the University of Leeds and local businessman Mike from Mike's carpets to assess the result of the recent Batley and Spen By-Election. We also hear from the winning candidate and now MP, Labour's Kim Leadbeater.
Aisha, Tim, Gemma and James talk about the battle for Batley with just days to go until the by-election. Gemma speaks to the BBC's Chief Political Advisor Ric Bailey about how the BBC covers a by-election and how the decide to allocate time to covering each of the candidates. And young film maker Sam talks to James and Gemma about why the area is such a good place to work and live.
Look North reporter David Rhodes speaks to the team about the cost of setting-up Yorkshire’s Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate and the way public money was spent on the project. It was one of a number of temporary hospitals built at the height of the pandemic. And Gemma catches up with BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Scott Dalton and Sharon Edwards who have spent the last week in Skegness talking to the people that keep our coast open for tourists.
Producer: Louise Wheeler Studio Director: Qendresa Zena
The team catch up with bar owner Martin Greenhow from Yorkshire to discuss the lifting of restrictions on June 21st. Tim speaks to singer Nancy from Goole about the impact of the pandemic on performers. She also belts out a tune for us. And the team also talk Batley, Boundaries and surge testing.
Producer: Louise Wheeler
Batley and Spen will have a new MP this summer. People have just days to go to declare an interest in standing in the Batley and Spen By-Election. It’s after Tracy Brabin stood down after being elected as the new Mayor for West Yorkshire. Aisha and James profile the area – what are the challenges facing the candidates? And Tim talks about the Yorkshire MPs who are preparing to rebel against the government over foreign aid cuts. We hear from one charity in Yorkshire supporting those overseas.
Producer: Louise Wheeler
The team speak to Joeli Brearley from York who set up the campaign ‘Pregnant then Screwed’ – about the impact of the pandemic on families. And he’s just been made chair of Bassetlaw District Council at the age of 20. It should have happened last year but was delayed. Jack Bowker is a Labour Councillor who elected in 2019 while still doing his A-Levels.
Producer: Louise Wheeler Sound: Adam Campbell
As restrictions ease further from Monday – the team talk to a Yorkshire business owner about their hopes and fears going forward. And after Tracy Brabin was elected as the mayor of West Yorkshire – there will be a by-election in Batley and Spen. Gemma and Tim are joined by Dr Patrick English and Dr Victoria Honeyman to discuss the political parties chances of winning the seat.
Producer: Louise Wheeler Sound: Adam Campbell
James, Gemma, Tim, Liz and Kevin discuss the 2021 local election results for our region. From the West Yorkshire Mayor to PCC's to a No Overall Control Council in Sheffield. How did the pandemic impact voting and counting? What was turnout like? And what do these results mean for the parties?
Asta from East Yorkshire was given just one week to live when he was born. He's now 39. Asta has lived independently but is now back at home being cared for by his parents. He believes problems in the delivery of adult social care, especially for younger people, means many are unable to live on their own.
And with less than a week to go, James, Gemma and Tim discuss the local elections. They speak to a former Chief Executive of Doncaster City Council, now based in New Zealand, about the challenges of holding an election during a pandemic.
Producer: Louise Wheeler Sound: Adam Campbell Director: Elaine Peters
Musician and campaigner Bax Mundoba from Hull reflects on the BLM protests that took place across the world following the death of George Floyd in the US. How much change have those protests led to and what are his hopes for societal change regarding race?
In a few weeks we go to the polls for the local elections. For the first time people living in West Yorkshire will be able to vote for a Mayor. What is the Mayor and what powers do they have? James speaks to the political reporter for Bradford - Aisha Iqbal and the political reporter for Leeds - Kevin Larkin.
Tim speaks to Lord Timothy Kirkhope of Harrogate as he remembers the Duke. And as restrictions ease we hear from a bar owner in Yorkshire on how the last week has been. Martin Greenhow says that they need to keep their doors open and be able to trade or else it'll have a detrimental impact on the country's economy. And the team check in with the North Yorkshire town of Thirsk. Ionica Adriana and Gemma Taylor have made a video with independent businesses to encourage people to shop local. We also hear from one of the businesses that appears in the video - Lesley a beautician.
Director: Elaine Peters Producer: Louise Wheeler Sound: Adam Campbell
Gemma, Tim, James and Aisha mark a year since the PM announced the first national lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus. Gemma speaks to Look North’s Health Correspondent Jamie Coulson as he reflects on the last 12 months covering the pandemic. Plus they’ve roped in two Journalism students who put their concerns about their studies and their future direct to Universities Minister.
Producer : Louise Wheeler Sound: Adam Campbell
Gemma, Tim and James speak to Charlotte Butterick who organised an online vigil in Halifax in memory of Sarah Everard. Charlotte speaks openly about her own personal experience and reflects on what politicians need to do to end violence against women.
Sound: Adam Campbell Producer: Louise Wheeler Studio Director: Qendresa Zena
Labour has described money set aside by the government to fund town improvements as ‘pork barrel politics.’ The Government says the money has been allocated based on need to struggling communities. James, Gemma and Tim look in detail at the funding and what it means for Yorkshire. School is now longer out. As pupils prepare to return on Monday 8th March Gemma’s been to North Yorkshire to find out how staff and students are feeling. She also speaks Sir Martin Narey, who is based in Whitby, about the work being undertaken to make sure the gap doesn’t widen for the disadvantaged.
Sound: Adam Campbell Producer: Louise Wheeler
Self-catering owner Helen from North Yorkshire joins the team to reflect on the last year, her budget hopes and thoughts on the PM’s road map. Gemma speaks to a vaccination volunteer where they are doing 1,800 vaccinations a day. That’s one every 3 minutes. And Aisha Iqbal discusses Baroness Warsi taking to the stage for comedy and how the former Co-Chairwoman of the Conservative Party compares her colleagues to Games of Throne characters!
Sound: Adam Campbell Producer: Louise Wheeler
Tim and James speak to a language expert from Sheffield who says the Yorkshire accent is encouraging more people to take part in test and trace because they trust the accent! We also hear from former Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell and wife Linda who talk about life in Lockdown 3, having their vaccinations and the secret to a happy marriage when you’re both stuck inside the same four walls.
Sound: Adam Campbell
Producer: Louise Wheeler
The team speak to York born and former Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable. He discusses how he is coping in lockdown, how he would have handled the pandemic and what he misses about Yorkshire.
Sound: Adam Campbell Producer: Louise Wheeler
Gemma, James and Tim discuss May's local and mayoral elections in England which will be going ahead. They look at how they will work in a Covid-safe way. Aisha Iqbal speaks to the Prime Minister about the vaccination programme in Yorkshire after he visited Batley. We've heard a lot recently about mental health during the pandemic. Recent research shows that nearly all colleges in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have at least one student who's made an attempt on their own lives in the past 12 months. We hear from one school in North Yorkshires about what they are doing to support their pupils. More support on this issue can be found here on the BBC's Action Line page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/
If you have a question for the team and want to get in touch please email Look.North@bbc.co.uk and put ‘Yorkshirecast’ in the subject of the email.
Sound: Adam Campbell Producer: Louise Wheeler