Robert MacNeil Wilson, author of a fictional account of the miners strike, has backed calls for an enquiry into the Battle of Orgreave. Wilson’s novel, The Enemy Within, is based on the author’s first hand experience of the miners’ strike of 1984 to 1985. Orgreave justice campaigners met recently with Home Secretary Amber Rudd. Government is expected to make an announcement on the matter in October. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Robert MacNeil Wilson.
Government proposals to reduce the number of parliamentary constituencies by 50 seats have been criticized by the Labour Party. The plans are part of reforms which would see the House of Commons reduce from 650 to 600 MPs. A public consultation is under way and final decisions will not be made until 2018. Labour MPs are among those hardest hit, potentially loosing 25 or more seats in the shake up if the proposals go ahead. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central.
A recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicates men still get paid significantly more than women, with the difference increasing for women with children. New rules requiring companies with over 250 employees to report gender pay differences will come into effect in 2017. Equality campaigners argue more needs to be done. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Carol Keen of the Women’s Equality Party.
Olympic trampolining medalist Bryony Page was greeted by fans at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on her return from the Rio 2016 Olympics. Page made history with her silver medal, the first ever Olympic medal in trampolining for a British athlete. The Sheffield-based Olympic athlete, who trains at Hillsborough Leisure Centre, narrowly missed out on the gold medal after finishing 0.425 points behind Canada’s Rosannagh MacLennan. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
The last BHS stores closed their doors at the weekend after a presence on the high street for nearly a century. The closure of the remaining 22 shops, including one in Doncaster, came after the retailer was placed into administration in March this year but failed to find a buyer. Previous owners Dominic Chappell and Sir Philip Green have been criticised for mismanaging the chain and failing to protect the company’s pension scheme. Over the last few weeks administrators had already made 141 store closures which included stories previously located at Meadowhall and at the Moor in Sheffield. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Created in 1998 by safety and justice campaign, RoadPeace, National Road Victim Month aims to remember those killed or seriously injured by road traffic collisions as well as raising awareness of the impact on individuals and their families. August has historically seen an increase in road collisions due to high levels of summer traffic. Sheffield Live! reporter, Baillor Jalloh spoke to Joanne Wehrl of South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership which bring together councils and other public bodies to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured across the county’s roads. South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership consists of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Councils, The Highways Agency, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Public Health Bodies, University of Sheffield, Peak District National Park Authority, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
Thousands turned out for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership election campaign rally in Sheffield. Corbyn, who is being challenged for the leadership by Pontyprydd MP Owen Smith, addressed around 2500 supporters from the steps of Sheffield City Hall. Issues he spoke to included the housing crisis, saving the NHS, and calls for an inquiry into Orgreave.
No dog should be left alone with a child, according Mavis Goodrich, founder of Sheffield Dog Rescue, following recent deaths from dog attacks in Huddersfield and Essex. Three year old Dexter Neal of Essex was attacked by an American bulldog on Thursday afternoon and died from his injuries. Dexter Neal’s death comes just days after fifty two year old David Ellam was attacked and killed by a dog in Huddersfield.The Dangerous Dog Acts of 2001 highlighted four banned breeds of dog including the Pit Bull Terrier, the Fila Brasiliero, the Dogo Argentino and the Japanese Tosa. Goodrich who founded the Sheffield Dog Rescue charity over thirty years ago believes more needs to be done to ensure that all dogs are provided with loving and caring owners and that no breed of dog should be assumed to safe to be left with a child alone. Interview by Sheffield Live! report Simon Thake.
Cyclist from Sheffield, London, Bristol and Edinburgh have been taking part in the big ride for Palestine. Riders from our city left on Saturday and arrived at Elbit factory in Shenstone on Monday afternoon where they protested against the manufacturing of drones which they claimed are sent to Israel and are use against civilians. ‘The Big Ride’ is an initiative by supporters of the Palestinian people which combines a love of cycling with practical solidarity and awareness raising, especially around the plight of children in Gaza. Musheir Elfara is the chair for the Sheffield Palestine solidarity.
After three weeks of amnesty in South Yorkshire, more than 50 weapons and 200 ammunition have been handed to the police across the region. The amnesty was launched to provide a method for people to dispose of any firearm or knife safely and quickly, with no fear of being prosecuted for possession. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Whittaker Lead the surrender your knife or fire arm campaign and he told our reporter Baillor Jalloh why it has been successful.