Pompey Politics Podcast

So, the General Election is ON! Why call it now? What difference will this make in Portsmouth? We share our views in full expectation that views shared on day two of a general election campaign will roundly be disproven by the end of it.

Looking at the results from Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham & Gosport we're joined live by Cllr Steve Pitt - Lib Dem Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllrs Paul Gray (Lib Dem), Mark Coates (Labour), Sharon Collings (Reform), Grainne Rason (Green) with recorded interviews from Cllr Charlotte Gerada (Labour group Leader on Portsmouth City Council), Cllr George Madgwick (Portsmouth Independent Part...

We make our (usually wrong) predictions as to how the votes will go in tomorrow's local elections. Last year we both got 9 wards right and 5 wrong (but different wards). This year, how wrong will we be? Share your predictions: https://forms.gle/qHuLUh5yaTFa8n9c7 (open until ballots close 02/05/24) View the voting history for each of the 14 wards in Portsmouth & this year's candidates: https://...

We're joined by two of the candidates standing in St Thomas ward in this year's local elections - Elliot Lee (Greens) & Mark Zimmer (Reform). Unfortunately Ian Holder (Lib Dem) was unable to make the hustings due to prior work commitments. At time of recording we had not heard from the other candidates: Julian Lewis (Labour), David Chandler (Conservative) & John Burrows (TUSC). 1. Tell us...

Our 2024 local election ward hustings for St Jude ward in Portsmouth. We're joined by candidates: Hugh Mason (Lib Dems), Josh Allen (Labour) & John Hill (Portsmouth Independents Party). Although invites were sent we did not receive a response from Lee Kewell (Conservative) or Harry Mallinder (Greens)

In a change to our planned hustings, unfortunately the Green candidate Ian McCulloch was taken ill and not able to attend. We'd not heard from the Labour, Liberal Democrat or Conservative candidate so put our questions to George Madgwick standing in Paulsgrove for the Portsmouth Independents Party. 1. Tell us about yourself, your history, why you're standing for the party you are? 2. What are the...

Ian & Simon take a look at the 7 hour, full council meeting Tuesday March 19th - the last before the 2024 local elections in May. We take a look at the last PCC Full Council Meeting ahead of May's local elections with a packed agenda of no less than eleven notices of motion, five deputations & two questions from the public. Was Lord Mayor Tom Coles' last time Chairing a Full Council seven...

We welcome to the show the Reform Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) for Portsmouth North & Portsmouth South - Mark Zimmer & Mel Todd. Will their current poll numbers translate into MPs come election time? From where are Reform getting their support? What are their key policies?

Ian & Simon take a look at Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's 2024 budget statement. Who are the winners & losers? Did it excite or alarm? Does it fix the problems facing tax payers? Will it help the economy? What could it mean for the timing of the General Election?

This week we take a look at some recent political events: Rochdale by-election result where three of the candidates were ex-members of the Labour party. Suspended Conservative MP Lee Anderson's words on GB News and the response to them. Ex Prime Minister Liz Truss' words at CPAC to Steve Bannon attributing her ousting as PM to the efforts of 'the big state'. The debacle of the House of Commons deb...

We bring you the news from Tuesday's Full Council meeting at which Portsmouth City Council's budget was focus of the agenda. Was it all plain sailing or was there drama and disagreement? Tell us what you think about Portsmouth City Council's budget, the fight to protect services and the planned increase in Council Tax? Full Documents available on PCC's website https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/i...

Cllr Dan Wemyss joins us to share the campaign to save a local Pharmacy in Hilsea as well as the controversial redevelopment of the form News Centre. Simon & Ian then take a look at the agenda for Tuesday's Full Council meeting which focuses on Portsmouth City Council's budget for 2024, 25 - Which we'll also cover in full next week.

We take a look at Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). Why are there so many in Portsmouth? What need are they filling? What problems do they cause? Who's winning? We interview Cabinet Member for Planning Policy Cllr Hugh Mason & Cllr Ben Swann. Portsmouth City Council's planning page. See new applications here and make comments: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/development-and-planning/...

We invite Paulsgrove Councillor George Madgwick to talk to us about the recent theft from a local small business and how his comments on social media became the story. Then, we'll have a look at the Government's battle to gain votes and pass this week's Rwanda bill. Can it ever work? We'll finally take a look at UK expats regaining eligibility to vote in UK General Elections. Should people no long...

Ward Report: Charles Dickens We're joined by two of the three ward Councillors in a ward at the very heart of Portsmouth with a strong place in the city's history, what is there for the ward's future? We ask Cllrs Cal Corkery & Yinka Adeniran what the issues are that residents are bringing to them, has the clean-air-zone that covers most of the ward made life better, and what should be done to...

Rounding off their 2023, Ian & Simon take a look at their highs and lows of past (2019-2022), present (2023) and hopes for 2024 before making their guesses for when the General Election will be. Let us know when you think it will be in the comments or on our two question survey - https://forms.gle/tWypVyRZTPLtcc3G6

We invite Clls Matthew Atkins, Asghar Shah & Mary Vallely to use the episode to update their residents on what's happening in Cosham Ward. AI transcript available on our website www.pppodcast.uk Please remember to like / follow / subscribe and leave a review wherever you enjoy our podcasts.

We welcome Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Social Care Cllr Matthew Winnington onto the show to talk about this week's Pharmacy Summit in Portsmouth. Is this the right prescription or just a sticking plaster on a more serious ailment?

With the first King's speech in 72 years delivered this week, and Portsmouth's Full Council meeting next week, we take a look at what was said in Parliament by the King, and what's on the agenda in the Council chamber. Links to both on our website. www.pppodcast.uk

We invite Robert Whitfield, Chair of the One World Trust to talk to us about Artificial Intelligence, the opportunities and the dangers it brings and how we might hope to mitigate its the risks with a global approach to regulation.

We take a look at the Full Council of Portsmouth City Council that took place 17th October 2023. For a packed agenda with 11 notices of motion, how long was the meeting? were tempers frayed? was there more division or more agreement amongst the Councillors?

Simon & Ian are joined by The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Portsmouth - Cllr Tom Coles - we ask him what a Lord Mayor does and what freedoms and powers they have. The Lord Mayor shares some amazing stories of his first six months in office and lets us know some of the history surrounding the robes, chain and mace that signifies the position. Lord Mayor’s Charities 2023/24 Portsmouth Hospital...

In the first of our Ward Reports, we ask the three Councillors in the Portsmouth ward of Paulsgrove, what the big issues are there for their residents, how they operate as a party of independents, and what they'd change about how the council works.

With last week's roll-back of the UK ban on sales of new cars with petrol or diesel engines we ask if this announcement is good, bad, or not what it appears? Why make the change now? PM's speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/what-the-pms-new-approach-to-net-zero-means-for-you 20/09/23 Slides used by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/650b10d852e...

Is the sea of Conservative blue in Havant Borough Council an ebbing tide? We welcome Labour's, Mark Coates (Hayling East), Amy Redsull (Warren Park), Gillian Harris (St Faith's), Lib Dems Philippa Gray (Bedhampton), Paul Gray (Hayling West) & Green Grainne Rason (Emsworth) onto the show to talk about the key issues in their wards, and ask if their 'rebel alliance' can make a difference on a co...