Latest news with #TomHunt
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Handsworth campaigners protest to save Sheffield green belt land
Campaigners opposing the building of 1,600 houses on green belt land in the Handsworth area of Sheffield took to the streets on Saturday to stage a roadside Sheffield Council's local plan 3.6% of the city's green belt would be developed, including homes offices and industrial Sean Bean, who grew up in the area, previously objected to the Handsworth plans stating they would "practically obliterate the character and nature of our area".Handsworth resident and Save S13 Green Belt campaigner Debi Dent said Bean's assistance in raising the profile of the issue had been "amazing". "Sean is a local lad. He used to walk on those fields to school because his parents lived on this main road here," she said."We fully understand the government policy and the local authority's policy that we do need housing, but Sheffield has vast swathes of brownfield sites that can be reused." Fellow campaigner Sue Smelt said much of the area's green space would be destroyed."This is a lovely little oasis that's surrounded by housing estates already," she said."S13 is a densely populated area and whilst we're not disputing that people need somewhere to live, we don't think it's appropriate that 44% of all the new houses will be built on our green belt."Sheffield City Council leader Tom Hunt previously said the homes were needed to "tackle the housing crisis".The council added that greenbelt land would only be considered because there were no suitable brownfield consultation period on the plans has ended and a decision is expected later this year. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former Ipswich MP Tom Hunt expelled from Conservative Party
Former MP Tom Hunt has been asked to leave the Conservative was MP for Ipswich from December 2019 to July 2024, when he lost the seat to Labour's Jack Abbott. The Conservative Party said he had been "expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process", but did not provide further said he was "deeply disappointed" by the decision and "strongly refuted the complaint". Hunt was a Conservative district councillor in East Cambridgeshire and worked at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority before he won the Ipswich seat from Labour's Sandy Martin in the 2019 general losing to Abbott, Hunt has been actively campaigning against legalising assisted dying and as recently as 11 July was writing in Conservative Home about his predictions for the bill. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said the process relating to the complaint which led to the party asking Hunt to leave was "rightly confidential".In a statement, Hunt said: "I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision."I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so."I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It's a confidential process."Local Conservatives have described their "surprise" at the turn of Fisher, the Conservative Group leader at Ipswich Borough Council, said: "This has come as a complete surprise to us."He [Tom Hunt] had been in semi-regular contact with Conservatives in the county and they are equally surprised."He went on to say "there was no prior warning or knowledge about the proceedings taking place". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Former Kemi Badenoch ally expelled from Conservative Party
Former Conservative MP Tom Hunt has been expelled from the party after an investigation into a disciplinary matter. The party announced the decision after a long investigation into the former Ipswich MP, who lost his seat in last year's general election. A spokesman for the party said: 'Tom Hunt has been expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process. This process is rightly confidential.' However, Mr Hunt has said that he is 'disappointed' about the decision and indicated that he now intends to appeal. He told The Independent: 'I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision. I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so. I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It's a confidential process." During his time as an MP, Mr Hunt was deputy chairman of the influential right-wing Common Sense Group of Tory MPs. In his role, he had pushed for the Rwanda deportation scheme, greater immigration control, leaving the European Convention of Human Rights and a tougher stance on so called culture war issues. His name had been mentioned in speculation over defectors to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, but he had remained loyal to the Tories. He was a key supporter of Kemi Badenoch when she first ran for the party leadership in 2022. At the time he wrote for The Ipswich Star: 'I think she is genuinely courageous. Her delivery at the dispatch box is powerful. She speaks her mind, which is refreshing. She is passionate and patriotic, and I think she can excite and inspire the nation.' However, he since changed his mind and backed Ms Badenoch's main rival Robert Jenrick in the contest last year before she won last year.
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Former Tory MP expelled by party after complaints
A former Conservative MP has been expelled from the party following 'serious complaints' made against him, The Telegraph understands. Tom Hunt, who was MP for Ipswich from 2019 to 2024, lost his seat to Labour's Jack Abbott by a margin of 7,403 votes at the last election. A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Tom Hunt has been expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process. This process is rightly confidential.' The Telegraph understands that there was a 'substantial' amount of evidence of wrongdoing, hence the severity of the sanction carried out by a disciplinary panel. Mr Hunt, 37, faced accusations in 2020 of fuelling racism after claiming that a 'disproportionate number' of offences in Ipswich, the town for which he was the MP, were committed by 'individuals from certain communities'. At the time campaigners for a local racial equality group accused him of 'an ill judged piece of dogwhistling'. Mr Hunt stood by his comments. 'Deeply disappointed' Tom Hunt told The Telegraph: 'I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision. I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so. I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It's a confidential process.' Writing in the East Anglian Daily Times in 2020, he said: 'It is impossible to start thinking about remedies to these issues without also being ready to confront the possibility that a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by individuals from certain communities. This is something we should be open and honest about. Brushing it under the carpet will not get us closer to solving the issue. 'Unfortunately, calling things how they are has not been a quality which we have come to expect from many in positions of responsibility on these matters. People who should know better are too quick to spout to politically correct mantras and too slow to call out problems in certain communities, hindering our ability to get to the bottom of the issue and leaving many residents and victims feeling like they don't have a voice.' The former MP will be able to appeal his expulsion, directly to the Conservative Party.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Architects appointed for Sheffield Town Hall restoration
The restoration of a historic town hall has moved a step closer with the appointment of an architectural design Town Hall, one of only two Grade I listed buildings in the city centre, is set to undergo major refurbishment to secure its long-term future, the city council building, which was opened by Queen Victoria in 1897, is currently used for council meetings, civic events, sporting celebrations and Tuesday, it was announced Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, which is behind Grade II listed Leah's Yard, would lead the restoration project and "breathe new life" into the building. In 2022, urgent work had to be carried out after a council report found serious risks including fire safety, Legionella from water supplies, no ventilation in the council chamber and leaks from an old large diesel to the council, the restoration plan would address key issues such as accessibility, fire safety, structural repairs and the preservation of historical features. The firm chosen to lead the project is known for schemes such as the transformation of the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings and Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio leader Tom Hunt said he was delighted the project was moving forward so that the town hall could "continue to serve everyone" and be a "modern, accessible workplace".He said: "Our iconic and historic town hall is at the heart of Sheffield's democracy and public life."From weddings to citizenship ceremonies, council meetings and elections, this special building has a unique place in the lives of Sheffield residents." Geoff Rich, partner and director of heritage and creative reuse at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said the firm felt "hugely honoured" to have been said: "The project represents an exciting opportunity to complement the building's unique heritage with inclusive and sustainable design, and to ensure the town hall meets the future needs of Sheffield's communities."An initial feasibility study in 2022 outlined potential restoration costs and safety works could range from £20m to £ council said it aimed to secure funding through "innovative strategies", balancing the needs of heritage preservation with financial sustainability. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
