The Lead North

On the streets of St Helens, would Reform win?

Polls show support surging. St Helens should bleed the red of Labour. But if a general election were called tomorrow, would it?

Sep 13 •

and

The Lead North wins national journalism award

Original reporting by The Lead praised by judges as we scoop newsletter prize at Press Gazette's Future of Media Awards

Sep 12 •

Whistleblower reveals horrifying reality of Blackpool asylum hotel – from collapsing ceilings to raw sewage

Plus: Remembering Alice, Bebe and Elsie one year on.

Jul 29 •

and

Luke Beardsworth

The Lead North shortlisted in national journalism awards

Our newsletters, read by thousands of subscribers in towns and regions beyond the bright lights in the North of England, receive recognition

Jul 15 •

The Lead Editors

and

Inside the Labour welfare rebellion – who is fighting back?

Plus: Worrying polling in ReformWatch, everything we're reading, watching and listening to in The Lead Digest, and your chance to have your say on…

Jun 26 •

Luke Beardsworth

and

Manchester is winning awards for its smoke-free agenda but toxic air still plagues the city

Car emissions still make Manchester one of the UK's most polluted cities – are Clean Air Zones the answer?

Jun 10 •

REBECCA. L. ROOT

and

How we revealed the First Reform UK pub has ‘long history of supporting neo-Nazi music gigs’

“I’m not racist... but I have to make money somehow”: Inside the rebranded pub and revealing its dark past.

May 22 •

,

The Blackpool Lead

, and

Years of austerity has left the Environment Agency unable to protect residents from landfills in the way it would like

Local authorities believe the Environment Agency is best-placed to tackle landfills. But years of austerity means they can't necessarily provide the…

May 6 •

Luke Beardsworth

and

A river is keeping a local school's lights on – is this a community solution to Britain's energy crisis?

Labour’s wants to make Britain a "clean energy superpower", Whalley Community Hydro scheme and others like it could set them on the right track.

Apr 24 •

and

The community at the heart of Scunthorpe’s British Steel saga

While views on the steelwork’s future are divisive, the town’s community spirit is indisputable.

Apr 17 •

Hannah Sargeant

and

Inside the Reform circus at British Steel in Scunthorpe

Whether Farage’s sudden nationalisation move is simply a ploy to gain support from those desperate to keep their livelihoods or not, uncertainty around…

Apr 9 •

and

Hannah Sargeant

Spring Statement - a view from the North: Taking the hardest hit and delaying inevitable bad news

The Teesside Lead editor and political journalist Leigh Jones digs into what the Chancellor had to say and what it really means for the northern…

Mar 27 •

and

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