Politics of Peterborough

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Council Chief Executive Matt Gladstone. We discussed: The role of Chief Executive The relationship between Councillors and Officers Council finances Public trust and Council standards Local Government Reorganisation Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you can email them to politics.peterborou...

My guests on this episode of the podcast are Independent councillor for Orton Waterville ward, Cllr Julie Stevenson; Independent councillor for Eye, Thorney & Newborough ward, Cllr Mark Ormston; and Vice Chairman of the Peterborough Civic Society, Toby Wood. In this second part, we discussed: The situation each of the groups finds themselves going into this election Could independents have an...

My guests on this episode of the podcast are Independent councillor for Orton Waterville ward, Cllr Julie Stevenson; Independent councillor for Eye, Thorney & Newborough ward, Cllr Mark Ormston; and Vice Chairman of the Peterborough Civic Society, Toby Wood. In this first part, we discussed: The last couple of years for the Council, and the constant change The lack of women candidates and what...

In this mini-series of episodes, I speak with representatives from each of the political parties currently represented on Peterborough City Council to understand their priorities, their ideas for the city, and how they believe the council should be run.   Each representative in this series is being asked the same core set of questions on: Their party’s vision and priorities Local Government R...

In this mini-series of episodes, I speak with representatives from each of the political parties currently represented on Peterborough City Council to understand their priorities, their ideas for the city, and how they believe the council should be run.   Each representative in this series is being asked the same core set of questions on: Their party’s vision and priorities Local Government R...

In this mini-series of episodes, I speak with representatives from each of the political parties currently represented on Peterborough City Council to understand their priorities, their ideas for the city, and how they believe the council should be run.   Each representative in this series is being asked the same core set of questions on: Their party’s vision and priorities Local Government R...

In this mini-series of episodes, I speak with representatives from each of the political parties currently represented on Peterborough City Council to understand their priorities, their ideas for the city, and how they believe the council should be run.   Each representative in this series is being asked the same core set of questions on: Their party’s vision and priorities Local Government R...

In this mini-series of episodes, I speak with representatives from each of the political parties currently represented on Peterborough City Council to understand their priorities, their ideas for the city, and how they believe the council should be run.   Each representative in this series is being asked the same core set of questions on: Their party’s vision and priorities Local Government R...

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Council Leader, Councillor Dr Shabina Qayyum. We discussed: What's happened in the 2 years since she was last on the podcast The Hilton Hotel The Regional Pool replacement Local Government Reorganisation The 2026 local elections Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you can email them to politi...

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Councillor Steve Allen. We discussed: His political journey to the Conservatives His time as part of the Conservative administration in power Council debt The Hilton Hotel The 2026 local elections Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you can email them to politics.peterborough@hotmail.com. You...

My guest on this episode of the podcast is Councillor Daisy Blakemore-Creedon. We discussed: Her early route into politics Her resignation from the Labour group Using Tommy Robinson on her social media Her role in the resignation of Councillor Dennis Jones as Council Leader Her role in the Women's Safety Initiative Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions yo...

My guest on this episode of the podcast is The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough Cathedral. We discussed: How he got into a life of ministry Religion in the UK Religion and Politics Peterborough Cathedral's place in the city Its financial issues Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you can email them to politics.peter...

My guest on this episode of the podcast is the MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Sam Carling. We discussed: How he got into politics and becoming an MP Whether he feels a responsibility to be a voice for young people His vote on the welfare bill His vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill The Local Government review The proposed Sports Quarter Plus much more. If you have any suggestio...

In this general election special, I speak to 4 of the North West Cambridgeshire candidates who hope to gain your votes at the General Election on the 4th July. If you want to listen to any of the candidates' interviews in full, they can be found over on the new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@PoliticsPboro If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you...

In this general election special, I speak to 4 of the North West Cambridgeshire candidates who hope to gain your votes at the General Election on the 4th July. If you want to listen to any of the candidates' interviews in full, they can be found over on the new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@PoliticsPboro If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you...

In this general election special, I speak to 2 of the Peterborough candidates who hope to gain your votes at the General Election on the 4th July. If you want to listen to any of the candidates' interviews in full, they can be found over on the new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@PoliticsPboro If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have questions you'd like asking, you can email the...

My guests on this episode of the podcast are former BBC Radio Cambridgeshire breakfast presenter and current Director of Marketing and Communications at Peterborough Cathedral, Paul Stainton; Independent councillor for Orton Waterville ward, Cllr Julie Stevenson; and Local Democracy Reporter, Joanna Taylor. In this second part, we discussed: The state of each of the local parties going into the lo...

My guests on this episode of the podcast are former BBC Radio Cambridgeshire breakfast presenter and current Director of Marketing and Communications at Peterborough Cathedral, Paul Stainton; Independent councillor for Orton Waterville ward, Cllr Julie Stevenson; and Local Democracy Reporter, Joanna Taylor. In this first part, we discussed: The events of the last full council meeting Turnout at lo...

My guests on this episode of the podcast are the current leadership of the Council - Leader Councillor Mohammed Farooq and Deputy Leader Councillor John Howard. We discussed: How Councillor Farooq got into politics, and his departure from the Conservatives How Peterborough First took control of the Council The Hilton Hotel The closure of the Regional Pool and potential replacement details The Stat...

My guest for this episode is Peterborough Liberal Democrats group leader Councillor Christian Hogg. We discussed: The Lib Dems aims for the 2024 local elections What changes there have been since Peterborough First took on the leadership of the Council. The Council's net zero target The Regional pool Youth engagement within the city Plus much more. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or...

My guest for this episode is Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor, Dr Nik Johnson. We discussed: What brought him to Cambridgeshire from Northumberland What made him want to go into politics His apology following the recently released report into his conduct during his first year in office The changes in leadership at Peterborough City Council, and how that has changed the rela...

On this month's episode, I sat down with North-West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara. We discussed: His upbringing and route into politics The racism he has faced along with the current dangers of being an MP His reaction to the double by-election defeats suffered by the Conservatives The resignation of 7 Conservative councillors and likely imminent change of leadership of the Council The Showgroun...

This month, I sat down with Conservative councillor and Cabinet Member for Legal, Finance and Corporate Services, Councillor Andy Coles. He gives his response to the accusations made by the 7 councillors that departed the Conservative group after May's local elections; discusses the financial situation of the Council, including how close it came to having to issue a Section 114 notice; as well as...

My guest this month is Peterborough First Councillor John Howard. As well as chatting about how he got into politics, his time as a cabinet member, and some of the issues facing Peterborough today, we took a deep dive into his departure from the Conservative group as he talks about the events for the first time. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or have any questions that you'd like a...

This month, our guest is Peterborough's member of the Youth Parliament, Eva Woods. We discussed what the role entails, what got her interested in politics from a young age, why youth turnout is much lower than other age groups, what Peterborough is like as a city for young people, her interactions with the City's MPs, and much more beside. If you have any suggestions for future guests, or would li...