Candidates to lead Labour on Glasgow council revealed as party veteran stands down
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Former North Tyneside Mayor Dame Norma Redfearn granted Freedom of Borough
The former three-time mayor of North Tyneside has been granted the council's highest Norma Redfearn was nominated for the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of her "extraordinary leadership" and the "transformative change" brought to the area during her Karen Clark put forward the Labour veteran's nomination, which was unanimously agreed said: "Through her passion, dedication, and tireless efforts, Dame Norma Redfearn has left an indelible mark on North Tyneside." She said the former mayor "really did make North Tyneside a great place to live, work, and visit."The position of mayor is an elected role and is effectively the leader of the Norma announced her decision last year not to seek re-election, marking the beginning of the end of her 12 years in narrowly retained the mayoralty for Labour in May after beating Reform UK by a thin margin. Dame Norma's administration saw the regeneration of large parts of Whitley Bay including the re-opening of the long-disused Spanish City Dome. She also played a key role in regional devolution, which saw the creation of the North East Combined Authority and the North East elected to North Tyneside Council as a councillor for the Riverside ward in 2004, Dame Norma joined the cabinet and was responsible for the children and young people portfolio in was first elected as mayor in 2013, defeating the then Conservative incumbent Linda to her 20-year career in local politics, she spent 30 years as an educator, culminating as the head teacher of West Walker Primary the Conservative opposition supported the nomination, Tory councillor John Johnson lamented that the same honour was not bestowed to her late following clarification from the council's legal officer, it was determined the Freedom of the Borough could not be handed over posthumously, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Sir Bob Geldof shouts 'shut up' on Sky News in passionate plea for Gaza children
The Band Aid organiser accused the Israeli government of 'lying' about there being "no famine caused by Israel". Furious Bob Geldof speaks about starvation in Gaza Sir Bob Geldof has slammed the UK Government for not doing enough in Gaza, saying images of starving children 'enrages' him. The Band Aid organiser accused the Israeli government of 'lying' about there being "no famine caused by Israel". "They're dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers," he said. A furious Sir Bob questioned how a powerful supercomputer could be developed in the UK earlier this month at the same time as babies were being forced to survive on a teaspoon of salt and as much water as possible in Gaza. During a passionate interview with Sky News, he said: "Shut up. What have we become that we can do this miracle and perpetuate this agony?' He was also critical of the UK government, which he said had done "not enough" and suggested recognising Palestinian statehood - as Keir Starmer has been under pressure to do - would not make a "difference" to the humanitarian emergency. He told Labour MPs to stop signing their letters calling for it and said it was a kind of "virtue signalling" at this point, adding: "Enough. Guys, focus on the issue to hand." As reported by the Mirror, the political activist said the absolute priority is stopping starving mothers and infants being used as 'instruments of war'. On the Israel-Hamas conflict, he said: "I'm really not interested in what either of these sides are saying. When you target infants and children, when their wounds are no longer capable of healing, when breastfeeding mothers can no longer do this, then everything goes out the window." When asked if it was "unfair" to criticise Israelis, many of whom were protesting against their PM Benjamin Netanyahu's offensive in Gaza, Sir Bob said they should drive to the border to drop off aid. He said: "What's unfair is what's happening to these babies.... What's unfair is that one hour from the hunger, people are sitting down to their unthreatened dinners to turn on the next Netflix show. "So if Israelis want to protest, get in your cars. This is very bold stuff, I know, sorry about that. Get in your car, stuff your cars full of food and drive through that border and let your own army stop you." The UK is working with the Jordanian authorities to get aid in through airdrops into Gaza. Treasury minister James Murray said: 'We need to be doing everything we possibly can to help.' But he admitted "there are real limits and drawbacks with airdrops when it comes to aid". Elsewhere, the PM has been under pressure to recognise Palestine immediately after French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would do so in September. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents have signed a letter pressuring the Government to follow suit at a UN meeting next week. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs. Mr Murray said on Sunday: "As a Government, we're committed to the recognition of Palestine, but we need to work with international partners and we need to use that moment to galvanise change. It needs to be part of a pathway to peace." He added: "140 countries have already recognised Palestine. The suffering is still continuing." Meanwhile Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said pictures of children starving in Gaza have not changed her support for Israel. "War is a difficult situation and what I see when I see Israel is a country that is trying to defend itself, mostly from Iran and a lot of its proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis. I think they are in a very difficult situation. "What worries me is that the length of time that this war has been going on is making it very difficult for the people in the Palestinian territories and also for Israel. We need to bring things to an end."
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Labour's 'nuclear tax' to cost Scots £300m to fund Sizewell C
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has imposed a new levy on energy bills to fund the spiralling costs of the Sizewell C power station in Suffolk. Billpayers will be charged an extra £12 per year to fund the project, which has almost doubled in price to £38 billion. The UK Government has also committed to a loan facility worth £36.6bn, which means the total cost could top £47.7bn. That is more than the final cost of Hinkley Point C, which Greenpeace once dubbed "the most expensive object on Earth". READ MORE: Quarter of Keir Starmer's Cabinet blasted Donald Trump's last UK trip It comes despite Labour's election pledge to cut energy bills, with the energy price cap rising consistently since October. Graham Leadbitter (below, left), the SNP's energy spokesperson, said 'This toxic overspend now totals £48bn and Anas Sarwar has serious questions to answer as to whether he thinks it's acceptable for Scots to foot the bill through higher energy bills – it is an absolute disgrace that energy rich Scotland will see Scots face higher energy bills because of a nuclear plant running over budget in Labour-run England. (Image: Jeff) 'The Labour Party promised they'd cut energy bills by £300 yet they've soared on their watch – now we have the absurd situation where they've chosen to pile money into extortionate nuclear energy and are asking Scots to pick up the tab. 'Independent analysis shows this will cost Scottish households £300m in higher bills through a decade-long 'nuclear tax' all the while Scottish Labour refuse to acknowledge the white elephant in the room that they support these disastrous plans.' Leadbitter said that Scotland 'produces far more electricity that we can hope to use and our future is in renewables' and so had no interest in nuclear power. READ MORE: Trans toilet rules 'may force Scottish museums to close' He added: 'We were told Grangemouth refinery in Scotland couldn't be saved, yet we see a refinery in England protected, a steel works in Scunthorpe bailed out and now a nuclear power plant running twice over budget – it's no wonder Scots are increasingly asking how long we stay tied to this so called 'Union of Equals'?' The UK Government was approached for comment.
