Reform UK will declare victory on the lowest council tax rise in 12 years - but opposition councillors will point out that they didn’t campaign on 3.8% increases. They campaigned on freezing, or even cutting, council tax.

That particular promise hasn’t gone well anywhere.

Each Wednesday and Sunday our award-winning editions of The Lead North are published, as we go beyond the headlines to provide vital rigorous independent local journalism in towns and regions in the North of England.

Begun in early 2024, the Lead North publishes in Blackpool, Lancashire, Calderdale, Teesside and Southport. Each week our senior editor for The Lead North, Luke Beardsworth, highlight some of the stories we’ve been breaking exclusively, covering extensively and staying the course on to ensure communities have access to verified independent journalism. If you have any stories you think we should be covering, or tip-offs, you can contact luke@thelead.uk

Reform UK-led Lancashire County Council proposes increasing council tax by 3.8%

Reform UK leaders at Lancashire County Council plan to increase council tax by 3.8% if the draft budget is approved at a meeting of the full council next month.

The move will likely see Reform UK heavily criticised by an opposition who feel that the party overpromised on the campaign trail.

The draft budget for 2026/27, which will be presented to full council on 26 February, sees council tax increase with the view that it will allow the council to secure improvement to SEND services and manage the increased costs associated with that, manage to consequences of investing in government and commercial bonds and further invest in frontline services.

In addition, Reform UK will present savings worth £62m to be delivered in 2026/27 as part of an ‘ongoing efficiency review’ against a net budget of £1.324bn, which are hardly the DOGE-level savings that were promised.

The Lancashire Lead

Reform UK-led Lancashire County Council proposes increasing council tax by 3.8%

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3 months ago · 2 likes · Luke Beardsworth and The Lancashire Lead

No heating or hot water for residents at HMO in illegally converted hotel

A former hotel which was turned into an unlicensed HMO where residents did not have adequate heating or hot water was hit with a prohibition order.

The Nile Hotel, which sits next to the historic Cheshire Lines pub on King Street, closed down in 2017 and was later converted into bedsits without permission and became a frequent source of complaints over drug use and other criminal activity.

Most seriously, a man was arrested after a woman reported being raped inside the property in December 2023.

The buildings, which span 69-73 King Street, were first erected as three separate houses but converted into a hotel in 2001 and was most commonly known as The Nile Hotel. While its name seemingly alludes to the river which once ran through what is now the town centre and Birkdale, the hotel instead had a very different theme. Among its offerings were an Egyptian style lounge with adjoining cocktail bar, what was described as an “elegant walled garden with Moroccan mosaic fountain”.

The Southport Lead

No heating or hot water for residents at HMO in illegally converted hotel

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3 months ago · Jamie Lopez

Teesside politician wants MPs lying to become criminal offence

A Teesside MP has tabled an amendment to legislation in Parliament which would make it a criminal offence for MPs or members of the House of Lords to lie to the public.

Labour’s Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Luke Myer, has made an amendment to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also known as the Hillsborough Law.

The bill was due to be voted on in Parliament on Wednesday (14 January), but a last minute change to the schedule yesterday means it will now be debated on Monday. As it stands would make it an offence for senior politicians like the Prime Minister or cabinet ministers to deliberately mislead the public.

The Teesside Lead

Teesside politician wants MPs lying to become criminal offence

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3 months ago · 1 like · 2 comments · Leigh Jones and The Teesside Lead

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It was an early edition of The Teesside Lead this week as Leigh Jones went head-first into the latest accounts for 2024-25.

It showed dividends up to £30m despite revenue for the year dropping to around £6m - numbers which don’t survive even passing-glance scrutiny.

For context, Teesworks Ltd company was set up as a 50-50 joint venture between the public South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) and local businessmen Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney to redevelop the site of the former Redcar steelworks. However, the businessmen were controversially given 90 per cent of the company for free in 2021.

In Lancashire in December, there was a police visit to County Hall to ensure a return to respectful conduct among politicians - especially on social media. That, somewhat predictably, didn’t survive the month.

And in Blackpool people saw the word ‘explosives’ and started sharing information about asylum seekers. A white British boy from Blackpool was later detained.

Each Wednesday and Sunday our award-winning editions of The Lead North are published, as we go beyond the headlines to provide vital rigorous independent local journalism in towns and regions in the North of England.

Begun in early 2024, the Lead North publishes in Blackpool, Lancashire, Calderdale, Teesside and Southport. Each week our senior editor for The Lead North, Luke Beardsworth, highlight some of the stories we’ve been breaking exclusively, covering extensively and staying the course on to ensure communities have access to verified independent journalism. If you have any stories you think we should be covering, or tip-offs, you can contact luke@thelead.uk

Teesworks: Dividends increased to £30m despite plummeting income

The latest published accounts for Teesworks Ltd show an increase in dividends paid to shareholders - up to £30m, despite revenue for the year dropping to only £6m.

Turnover for 2024-25 dropped to £6m from £22m the previous year, but dividends increased from £20,250,000 to £29,700,000. Elsewhere in the accounts, it’s revealed the private businessmen in charge of the company paid a company they own £2.5m, although that’s less than the £8m they paid the same company the previous year.

Teesworks Ltd company was set up as a 50-50 joint venture between the public South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) and local businessmen Chris Musgrave and Martin Corney to redevelop the site of the former Redcar steelworks. However, the businessmen were controversially given 90 per cent of the company for free in 2021.

The Teesside Lead

Teesworks: Dividends increased to £30m despite plummeting income

Sooner than expected this week, it’s the latest edition of The Teesside Lead, and it’s thanks to our friends at Teesworks Ltd, who have published their accounts for 2024-25…

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3 months ago · 6 likes · Leigh Jones and The Teesside Lead

Calls for respectful conduct at County Hall fall over within a month

Calls for a return to respectful dialogue at County Hall almost lasted a full month.

Political leaders at Lancashire County Council met with Lancashire Constabulary on 1 December to discuss concerns including over how councillors use social media.

County Hall said the meeting was ‘productive’ and designed to encourage ‘high standards’ but Labour claimed that the previously cordial atmosphere had changed since Reform UK took control in May 2025.

Reform UK dismissed that allegation, and others like it, as ‘vexatious’ and part of a pattern seen across the country.

But any progress was dealt a blow over Christmas by a number of posts by Cllr Luke Parker, who represents Preston East at Lancashire County Council for Reform UK.

The Lancashire Lead

Calls for respectful conduct at County Hall fall over within a month

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3 months ago · Luke Beardsworth and The Lancashire Lead

New Year’s Eve incident in Blackpool paints a bleak picture of online discourse

Two incidents in Blackpool over the New Year period left police and politicians exasperated due to the hate and false claims expressed.

Homes were evacuated on New Year’s Eve after a number of improvised fireworks were discovered at a property in Gloucester Avenue at around 11.30am.

At the time of the incident, it was confirmed that a 16-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and disposal teams were in attendance. It was only later confirmed as likely modified fireworks.

At that point, it was predictable that people would speculate and it was quickly shared that the person arrested was an asylum seeker or an illegal immigrant.

But The Blackpool Lead has learned, and verified, that the boy is White British and from Blackpool.

News provider GB News covered the initial story when potential explosives were discovered and homes evacuated but have not followed up the story when further facts became available.

The Blackpool Lead

New Year's Eve incident in Blackpool paints a bleak picture of online discourse

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3 months ago · 1 like · Luke Beardsworth and The Blackpool Lead

At The Lead we have dedicated journalists and titles in Blackpool, Lancashire, Calderdale, Teesside and Southport bringing in-depth news and features twice-a-week to those communities. Do consider subscribing to support our vital, award-winning local journalism – either by becoming a supporter of The Lead or subscribing to an individual title (or all of them if you wish).

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Angela Rayner will aim to reaffirm her vision for a Northern rebirth at a keynote Convention of the North speech in Preston today (28 February).

She will aim to set out that ‘wholesale total rewiring of government power in England’ will ensure the North is able to drive its own growth agenda and s…

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The media’s focus has generally been on the new Labour government, but as the Conservative Party recalibrate …

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The government has announced that emergency winter funding to support people rough sleeping has tripled to deal with unprecedented numbers. This welcome increase, from £10 million to £30 million, shows a serious response to a serious crisis - especially as winter puts more pres…

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But appeals by four others among the so-called Manchester 10 were rejected in a Court of Appeal judgement las…

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When residents near a controversial North Staffordshire landfill heard the Environment Agency (EA) had issued a closure notice for the site, they hoped their battle against years of foul odours and health concerns might be nearing an end.

However, during Christmas week, families in Si…

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It is now nearly 13 years since five men were convicted of sexual offences against girls aged between 12 and 16 in Rotherham. These convictions led to the uncovering of a network of child sexual abusers in the town that has resonated ever since - not only in the UK but internationally.

In 2019, the town was rocked by the revelation that the far right gun…

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It’s Saturday. Yes, we’ve reached that point between Christmas and New Year where it’s hard to remember which day it actually is. Hopefully this email helps emerge blinking from between cheese and chocolate comas and gives you some intellectual indulgence for 10 minutes before the festivities resume during this Twixmas weekend.

For our weeke…

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Our commitment to bring our in-depth news and features to the North of England has seen us return to print for a new edition of The Blackpool Lead and The Lancashire Lead.

Going through thousands of doors in Blackpool and available to pick up in supermarkets across Lancashire the latest edi…

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By Antonia Charlesworth Stack, first published 05 February 2024

When Helen Bouchami’s mother first stepped into her new home on Convent Crescent, Grange Park, she danced in the living room. 

“There wasn’t a stick of furniture but she was overjoyed to have a house. It was heaven!” 

Bouchami was just two years old when her parents received the keys to their …

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By Antonia Charlesworth Stack, first published 22 February 2024

Sarah Petulengro’s booth on Blackpool Pleasure Beach may be the last vestige of Romany Gypsy heritage in South Shore. It’s a history that stretches back to the mid 1800s when her ancestors pitched their tent on sands no one else had deemed habitable. 

“It was a harsh life but it would have be…

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The Lead North’s titles have moved to Substack - and confirmed the launch of a brand new edition in Yorkshire. 

The Blackpool Lead has made the move to Substack after reaching 2,000 subscribers since launch in January. It will be joined by relaunched The Teesside Lead and the newly-launched Calderdale Lead in the coming weeks.

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The Teesside Lead will be ed…

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"When autumn comes and other seaside towns pull down their shutters, Blackpool shines with coloured twinkling lights reflected in rain-soaked pavements," reads a softly lit sign in Blackpool's new Showtown museum. The quote is from Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, the flamboyant interior designer who is known locally for his part in designing I…

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Bosses at Blackpool Victoria Hospital have launched an urgent review after a doctor was caught filling in post-op paperwork to say a patient was recovering well - despite her not even having the procedure yet.

The systematic “pre-populating" of medical documents came to light during an inquest into the death of 36-year-old Sabina Wood, w…

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As an…

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In naming her pub the Harcourt, Priscilla So has neatly summed up the mix of politics and ambition that has brought so many Hongkongers to Altrincham and Sale in the last three years.

Harcourt Road in Hong Kong was the centre of 2014’s Umbrella Movement, when protesters demanded more transparent elections after Beijing demanded to screen ca…

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By Antonia Charlesworth Stack

The owner of a Blackpool club due to host a two-day neo-Nazi gig in Blackpool says he is “let down” by its cancellation following an investigation by campaigners. 

The event dubbed the Real Rebellion was due to be held on 2-3 August, to coincide with the non-political Rebellion Festival, but was cancelled this month after cam…

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A woman from Blackpool claims she contracted pneumonia over Christmas as a result of her neglectful landlord allowing damp and mould to develop in her privately rented house.

Unlike many people who will have been tucking into their Christmas dinners and enjoying all the festive period has to offer, 47-year-old Michelle Bromley was laid up in B…

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The Fylde Coast sea water was a bracing seven degrees on Tuesday, but retiree Chris Pogson donned her wetsuit and fluorescent green swimming cap and waded in at Fleetwood all the same. 

Chris joined the Cleveleys Dippers in 2022. A group of likeminded women, many of them of a certain age, came together to reap the health and wellbeing be…

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