| It's a fairly fundamental issue for a Northern politics newsletter: where does the North of England actually start and end? Northumbrian actor Michelle Bayly started a fierce debate on social media this week after posting her view on the North's boundaries which starts in Leeds and excludes Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Hull. Explaining her definition she added: "It's really annoying seeing The North such and such company or something artsy North and for it to be in Birmingham etc. There's also a middle… the midlands. Be the midlands. North of London doesn't mean North." But HullLive writer Debbie Hall was among those taking umbrage, writing that "Hull, Goole, Doncaster, and even across the Humber Bridge, this is definitely NOT the midlands". She writes: When we stray south there is always something reassuring about following signs for 'The North' on our motorway journeys homewards. So it's not really about science or economics. It's about an instinct and your heart." For what it's worth, your Northern Agenda writer considers the North to include Sheffield, Grimsby and Crewe at its southern edge but not Chesterfield, Lincoln or Stoke-on-Trent. But others may disagree - get in touch with your view... 
Minister's 'frank' talks with under-pressure rail boss  Transport Secretary Mark Harper (middle of three) in Northumberland
Up in the North East for the Transport for the North conference in Newcastle, Transport Secretary Mark Harper told how he'd hauled in the boss of struggling train operator TransPennine Express for a "frank conversation". Amid pressure for the firm to be stripped of its contract to run rail services in the North after widespread delays and cancellations over the past year, the Tory Cabinet Minister met Managing Director Matthew Golton. He told the Press Association news agency: "The Rail Minister [Huw Merriman] and I are looking very closely at the level of performance and we'll have to make a decision about that in due course, but my guiding light will be about the services that get delivered for passengers." The row over TPE's performance has in recent weeks focused on its lack of rest-day working agreement allowing its staff to work on their days off to fill holes in the roster. Mr Golton said this weekend he'd offered union Aslef "time-and-a-half" to work overtime in a deal worth at least £480 to a driver per shift. But this newsletter understands that Aslef officials rejected this offer as it falls short of what drivers got before the rest-day working agreement was cancelled in 2021. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said: "TPE does not have enough drivers. Because, if it did, it would not need rest day working. But it doesn't. TPE has consistently failed to recruit and retain the drivers it needs to run the services it should."
Can Sheffield turn over a new leaf after trees report? 
The dust's still settling on yesterday's 100,000 word inquiry report into the Sheffield street trees controversy, whose author concluded that the city council's behaviour "amounted to a serious and sustained failure of strategic leadership". Veterans of the campaign against the felling of thousands of street trees in the city said they felt "relieved and vindicated" by Sir Mark Lowcock's analysis of how the operation resulted in daily confrontations in some of the city's leafiest suburbs. And with some of the Labour councillors involved in the years-long saga still active on the council today, the opposition Liberal Democrats group last night called on them to step down, writes Local Democracy Reporter Julia Armstrong. Current council leader Terry Fox set up the Independent Tree Panel, which yesterday's report said was misled and ignored by the council. And the Lib Dems say Bryan Lodge, Co-Chair of the Finance Sub-Committee, oversaw a 'dawn raid' against protesters where police were used. Shaffaq Mohammed, Sheffield Lib Dem leader, said: "Questions now hang over the future of council leader Terry Fox and senior Labour Coun Bryan Lodge after Sir Mark's damning report into Sheffield's street tree debacle. Do they command the public confidence to change direction and bring the city together?" Cllr Fox and council chief executive Kate Josephs said they would need more time to fully digest the report. But they added: "We have taken huge steps already to ensure past mistakes are not repeated and we hope the release of this report will further help us to learn lessons as we move forward from the dispute."
MP 'not fighting culture war' in drag queen story row  Aida H Dee founded Drag Queen Story Hour UK in 2019
Controversy has been following Sab Samuel, who performs as Aida H Dee, as he takes his Drag Queen Story Hour UK storytelling sessions for children on tour. About 30 far-right protesters turned up outside a recent reading at London's Tate Britain. And now Sara Britcliffe, Conservative MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, has criticised plans for a drag queen storytelling event in her Lancashire patch, calling it 'wholly inappropriate' in a social media post. Last August, Blackpool's Central Library had to be locked down by private security staff after protestors got inside the building to hurl abuse at the drag queen, who says his readings can act as a "catalyst" for children to begin "living their true selves". Ms Britcliffe told Alice Suffield of LancsLive the point she was trying to make had been "completely misconstrued", adding: "My concern is primarily due to previous statements by this act and its impact on children in Hyndburn. My post was never an attempt to fight some sort of 'culture war' - but a genuine response to concerned residents. "I have no 'hidden agenda' and reject in the strongest terms any accusation that I am transphobic or anti-LGBT. The concerns I raised on social media, and those my constituents raised, are in response to specific comments by the act performing in Hyndburn, which anyone can find by looking online. "What I do not endorse is people from outside our area using this specific event, in which they have little interest, to push their wider agenda."
Why Manchester's curry mile now leaves a bad taste 
Up there with Brick Lane in London and Birmingham's Balti Triangle, Manchester's Curry Mile (a stretch of Wilmslow Road connecting the city centre to Fallowfield and beyond) is among the most famous places to get a curry in the country and attracts visitors from across the North. But in recent days the owners of two businesses that have stood for decades on the Rusholme street, known for its historic selection of authentic curry houses, sweet shops and cafes, told the Manchester Evening News that the Curry Mile was no longer living up to its famous reputation. They spoke of increased visible crime, from drug dealing to muggings, aggressive begging, rats, litter and anti-social driving, which they say is discouraging people from visiting and severely affecting business. Instead of being the city's brightest illustration of spirit of enterprise and diversity it has gone "downhill," said Abdullah Albaydar, whose family have run restaurant Al Jazeera for more than 30 years. He added: "People come expecting to see a really good atmosphere. Families come from all over the North and the rest of the world, Dubai, Singapore, at the weekend because they've heard it's a good place for them without the usual pubs and alcohol. But they don't come back because of these kinds of problems." Many M.E.N. readers agreed, with one called Inaya writing on Facebook: "It has definitely gone downhill. I remember going here as a child and growing up with some really good places to eat. But I think the demographic has changed now, it's no longer good for curry, and the desi places that are there are way below par." 
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Northern Stories  A "Real Life Roomset" at an IKEA branch in Warrington
- Temporary accommodation setups described as "cramped, dangerous and grotty" have gone on display in Ikea stores across the UK to highlight the conditions homeless people are facing. Charity Shelter said hostels and bed and breakfasts are the reality for too many families currently "stuck" in temporary accommodation. The so-called Real Life Roomsets, which have gone on display at Ikea's Birmingham, Warrington, Bristol and Hammersmith stores, tell the story of four people in the UK who have found themselves in temporary accommodation.
- Eurovision 2023 tickets for nine live shows in Liverpool will go on sale today, with fans already having spent thousands on hotel stays. Fans hoping to see one of six previews and three televised shows in Liverpool's arena on the banks of the River Mersey will need to head to Ticketmaster's website from midday today. Tickets range from £30 to £290 for the semi-final shows and from £80 to £380 for the grand final shows, which are being hosted in the city after the UK was chosen to host the competition on behalf of 2022 winner Ukraine.
- Chris Kamara, one of football's most popular figures, was due to receive an honour at Windsor Castle today. The Middlesbrough-born 65-year-old, known for his catchphrase "Unbelievable Jeff", played for nine English professional clubs in a career spanning 20 years before going on to manage Bradford and Stoke. In more recent years he became best known for his work as a pundit and presenter on Sky Sports. Kamara is being made an MBE for services to Association Football, to anti-racism and to charity.
- Labour has announced two more of its candidates to fight Northern seats in the next General Election. Chemical engineer and Materials Processing Institute CEO Chris McDonald has been chosen as Labour's candidate in Stockton North, where the incumbent Alex Cunningham is standing down. And Elsie Blundell has been selected as the Labour Party candidate for Heywood and Middleton, where Tory Chris Clarkson is defending a 663-vote majority.
- Harrogate households would be asked to pay between £40 and £60 on top of their council tax each year if a Harrogate Town Council was created. North Yorkshire County Council has launched a second public consultation on whether a town council should be created and it's said how much residents in band D properties are likely to pay to cover services. It follows an initial consultation held over the summer where 75% of respondents backed setting a new council up — but questions were raised over its low turnout rate and how much the new council would cost tax payers in Harrogate. If created, Harrogate Town Council would come into effect from April 1 2024, which will be a year and one day after Harrogate Borough Council has been abolished.
- Plans for a huge new water tunnel system through the Forest of Bowland, affecting villages, roads, footpaths and land across Lancashire and edges of North Yorkshire, are to go before Ribble Valley councillors on Thursday. The scheme has been described by a councillor this week as the biggest civil engineering project in Lancashire since Heysham nuclear power station. United Utilities has submitted a massive planning application to replace the Haweswater Aqueduct system, which runs from the Lake District through Lancashire to Greater Manchester. The water system was originally built between the 1930s and 1950s, but needs to be updated.
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