| They're considered a vital transport link between Merseyside communities but also - in part thanks to the classic Gerry and the Pacemakers song - an important part of local identity. And Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotherham announced today that a new Mersey Ferry is to be built for the first time in 60 years. The mayor has commissioned the multimillion project to "ensure that the iconic Ferry Cross the Mersey will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come." It is expected the state-of-the-art new vessel will be constructed at the historic Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, supporting jobs, apprenticeships and local development opportunities. Extensive upgrade works will also be carried out to one of the existing ferries, writes Liam Thorp for the Liverpool Echo. Mayor Rotheram said of the current ferries: "They're well-loved by both residents and tourists alike, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to our area each year. But, as the current vessels are older than the Gerry and the Pacemakers song that helped make them world famous, they are becoming harder and harder to maintain and definitely in need of an upgrade." 
'The streets are dead in Wigan and only young men are drinking'  Paul Mason during speech at a conference in September 2021 (Image: Youtube)
He's hoping to be Labour's next candidate for Sheffield Central. But former BBC Newsnight presenter Paul Mason has come under fire for 'bizarre' claims made about the Lancashire town of Wigan after an old clip resurfaced on social media. Mr Mason, born in neighbouring Leigh, described Wigan as having 'dead streets' and 'no vibrant retail' in comments made at a conference in September 2021, shared on Twitter by political writer Aaron Bastani this week. In the clip he said local MP Lisa Nandy 'tries to put a great face on it' but it would be a place where students would not want to go. He said this was because there are no black people or migrants in the town. "When you get off the train in Wigan the streets are dead and the only drinking places are standing places and the only people drinking are young men," he adds. "This is utterly bizarre," Ms Nandy, Labour's Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, said. "We have a diverse community, thousands of students who come to study at three of the best colleges in the country, and I can personally vouch for the fact that there are women drinking in our pubs." Mr Mason later explained to Local Democracy Reporter George Lythgoe that these comments were made in the aftermath of the pandemic and that some of them were 'in the heat of the moment'. He added: "I was making a comparison between Camden, where retail and demographics all boost growth – and the ex-industrial North where everything seems stacked against us."
Ironically Lisa Nandy is in Sheffield this afternoon speaking at Locality Convention 22, described by organisers as the biggest community sector event of the year. She'll be talking about how "the contribution of most people and most places has been written off" over many years and how Labour's plans involve "giving every community in this country the power, the resources and the backing to make the contribution they know they can make".
Supermarkets given 10-point plan to help their hard-up customers  Which? calls on supermarkets to sign up to a 10-point plan to help customers through the cost-of-living crisis
It's recently been identified as the country's child poverty hotspot, so it's perhaps no surprise that a Which? report out today has identified the North East as being the area with the most people needing help during the cost-of-living crisis. The consumer group has called on supermarkets to sign up to a 10-point plan to help hard-up customers by ensuring shelf prices are easy to understand, making healthy budget lines widely available and providing targeted promotions to support people in struggling areas. Factors such as low income, poor access to affordable food, having no large supermarkets nearby and a lack of online shopping deliveries contributed to making it difficult for people to find healthy and affordable food, the watchdog warned. It's drawn up a 'Priority Places for Food Index' with Leeds University ranking areas on the likelihood of people needing support to get affordable and healthy food. According to the index, England's North East is the worst impacted, with 45% of local areas "in dire need of extra support". Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West have about a third of local areas in the region especially in need of extra help. Knowsley in Merseyside - where new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan grew up - is the second highest-ranking constituency, with low income, fuel poverty and an "exceptionally high need" for family food support in 96% of its local areas. Michelle Morris of the University of Leeds said: "With so many people in the UK already suffering from food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis making that much worse, we need to do all that we can to support those most in need to access affordable, healthy and sustainable foods."
Nurses across the North could be joining the biggest-ever national action over a pay dispute. Although votes are still being counted, Royal College of Nursing officials believe there are enough members backing winter industrial action. A possible vote to strike has been met with support from both the public and political leaders, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who said 'the people of Greater Manchester are right behind' nurses. Helena Vesty of the Manchester Evening News has this great explainer about the issues at play.
Why the people of the North are its true powerhouse  The People's Powerhouse are holding their sixth annual convention
Anyone interested in the future of the North will find plenty of like-minded companions at the Friends' Meeting House in Manchester on November 30 when the People's Powerhouse holds its annual convention This Is The North at the venue. The event, where The Northern Agenda will be a media partner, offers people in our region a chance to "celebrate our successes, challenge those in power, and work together towards a fairer and brighter future for the North". Find out more and sign up here. The confirmed line-up so far includes University of Manchester Chancellor Nazir Afzal, metro mayors Tracy Brabin, Jamie Driscoll and Oliver Coppard, Manchester city council leader Bev Craig and Sarah Longlands, CEO for Centre for Local Economic Strategies. People's Powerhouse Board Director Tracy Fishwick said: "This sixth annual convention builds on our tradition of showing how it's the people of the North who are its true powerhouse. It's become a true movement for change where good ideas take root, are shared and celebrated. "And as it's more important now than ever before, with more volatility and uncertainty, that we support each other through genuine pan-Northern connections, so that we can challenge what's broken and what doesn't work for people anymore."
Expect to see plenty of pictures from excited Yorkshire folk today as the King begins a two-day visit to the region which will see him unveil a statue of his late mother as well as congratulate Doncaster, the UK's newest city. The visit was due to begin in Bradford today at the headquarters of the Morrisons supermarket chain. Charles will be shown the firm's farming, sustainability and retail initiatives including their rare breed programme and carbon-neutral eggs. The King will then move on to a reception for young leaders at Bradford City Hall after seeing a performance from The City of Bradford Brass Band and students from the Punjabi Roots Academy playing the dhol, a double-headed drum. Later the King will go to Leeds before heading to York and Doncaster tomorrow - see his full schedule here.
Defence Secretary's Lancashire seat 'now a super-marginal'  Defence Secretary Ben Wallace with a poppy collection box and poppies to sell to members of the media in Downing Street, London. Pic by PA
He's the darling of Tory members and consistently ranks near the top of most popular Ministers with his party's grass roots. But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace faces a more challenging task getting re-elected as an MP in Lancashire after the Boundary Commission published its revised plans to ensure seats broadly have a similar number of voters, by redrawing boundary lines as people move around the nation. Mr Wallace would see his Wyre Valley and Preston North constituency abolished and the seat would essentially revert to the Lancashire and Wyre seat he won in 2005. According to Politico's London Playbook the seat now "becomes a super-marginal, based on the past voting habits within its borders". Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak's constituency is renamed Richmond and Northallerton, but Tony Blair's former Sedgefield constituency is abolished, The Times reports. And New Statesman journalist Ben Walker has this Twitter thread of eye-catching changes here, including Mid Cheshire now becoming "a battleground constituency". But unless it is an "utter wipeout" for the Tories at the next election, Conservative peer and elections expert Lord Hayward said the party are the main beneficiary of the changes. "Broadly the Tories will gain five to 10 seats net because the new seats are in overwhelmingly Tory areas," he said.
Over on Teesside, could Ben Houchen soon be donning the ermine robes of the House of Lords? The Times reports the Tory mayor is on the list of nominations for peerages by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a few days after backing him over Rishi Sunak in his short-lived leadership bid. Mr Houchen told The Northern Agenda: "This is news to me, as my focus - as ever - is on doing what I can to help the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and I look forward to standing for re-election as Tees Valley Mayor in 2024." The nomination, one of 20 reportedly made by Mr Johnson, would have to go through the House of Lords Appointment Committee. Other nominees include Selby MP Nigel Adams and Liverpool-born Nadine Dorries, both of whom have agreed to delay taking peerages until the end of this parliament to avoid triggering by-elections at Mr Johnson's request.
Which bright spark put a lamppost in the middle of this cycle lane?  The controversial cycleway stretch at King Cross, Halifax
New cycle lanes have been springing up in towns and cities across the North as civic leaders try to encourage active travel. But The Northern Agenda hopes they're better designed than this short stretch of cycle lane in Halifax which has been grabbing social media attention and councillor criticism after being created with a lamppost in the middle of it. The two-lane stretch at King Cross, Halifax, is part of the A58 Corridor Improvement Programme, aiming to improve the route from the M62 at Ryburn to Halifax via Sowerby Bridge, for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, writes Local Democracy Reporter John Greenwood. Calderdale's Liberal Democrat group leader James Baker cited the lamppost and proximity to a pedestrian crossing as clear safety issues. He said: "There are good examples of cycling infrastructure around the country, sadly this isn't one of them." Calderdale Council, partnering the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund scheme, say design errors are to blame. A spokesperson said: "We are currently working with our contractors to relocate the lamp column and remove the incorrect cycle lane markings." 
Sign up to The Northern Agenda Has a friend forwarded you this edition of The Northern Agenda? You can sign up to receive the latest email newsletter direct to your inbox every weekday by clicking on this link.
Northern Stories  Ferdinand has worked to tackle a range of issues from racism to a lack of social mobility for young people
- Former Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand was due to be made an OBE today for services to his sport and charity work during a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony. The ex-defender, who won 81 England caps, has worked to tackle a range of issues from racism to a lack of social mobility for young people through his foundation. He also won plaudits for appearing in a BBC documentary about bereavement, speaking candidly about coping with the loss of wife Rebecca to breast cancer in 2015.
- A planned solar farm the size of 900 football pitches in the Yorkshire countryside will have a "dramatic" impact on nearby villages, a councillor has warned. Mike Jordan said the cumulative impact of several major projects linked to Drax Power Station needed to be taken into account as Selby District Council's executive committee discussed the Helios Renewable Energy project. Enso Green Holdings D Limited wants to install thousands of panels on 1,873 acres of farmland between the villages Camblesforth and Hirst Courtney in North Yorkshire. Cllr Jordan said there were several separate energy projects being considered in and around Drax over the next few years.
- One of Preston's prime heritage assets will remain almost completely out of bounds to the public after plans to turn it into a gated housing development were given the go-ahead. A meeting of Preston City Council's planning committee approved the proposal for the former Harris Orphanage site which includes a now redundant cricket pitch on which ex-England star Freddie Flintoff practised as a youngster. The 10-strong cross-party group of councillors was split down the middle over the latest blueprint for the plot, which will see the site's Grade II-listed buildings converted for residential use, along with the creation of 16 brand new properties.
- The leader of Cumbria County Council has said he is 'dismayed' by the scheduled cuts to BBC local radio. Plans confirmed by the broadcaster last week will see job losses and a significant reduction in local news coverage. Cllr Stewart Young said: "BBC Radio Cumbria has been the voice of the county for 50 years, covering all sorts of events, featuring thousands of local people telling Cumbria's story. They are the 'go-to' source of information for local people when we have emergencies in the county. And, of course, they hold councils like us to account as well."
- Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne says he is considering legal action after allegations of multiple rule breaches during his reselection process. Mr Byrne is facing a fight to retain the Parliamentary seat that he won for Labour in 2019 after being triggered by local branches. A long-list of four other candidates has been drawn up who are now challenging him for the Labour nomination in what is a very safe seat for the party. That long-list will soon be whittled down before a shortlist of names - including the incumbent MP - will be voted on by West Derby Constituency Labour Party members. The winner will be Labour's candidate at the next General Election.
- Dozens of drivers were fined soon after Sheffield Council introduced a pavement parking ban in the city centre, it has emerged. The council made it illegal to stop at any time on a path or verge around city centre streets earlier this year. If a driver is caught breaking the rules they are forced to pay a fine of £70, or £35 if paid within 14 days. In total, 88 drivers were issued penalty charge notices since the ban came into force on September 2, according to details revealed at the latest full council meeting.
Thank you for reading - If you have been forwarded this email and would like to sign up, you can do that right here. Contact us: You can get in touch via email - rob.parsons@reachplc.com - or via our Twitter page. | 
