Sections

Vince Cable: Tuition fees promise was a bad mistake

Liberal Democrats leader, Sir Vince Cable, has told Sheffield Live! his party’s promise not to increase tuition fees during the campaign in the 2010 general election “was a bad mistake”. The former Business Secretary was in Sheffield to meet with Lib Dem activists to discuss party policies and to support the campaign to save from closure the NHS Walk-in Centre on Broad Lane and the Minor Injuries Unit at Hallamshire Hospital. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Councillor Magid prepares for Lord Mayor role

Green Party councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Magid Magid, due to take over in May the largely ceremonial role of Lord Mayor of Sheffield, spoke to Sheffield Live! on what he hopes to achieve. Magid chaired his first full Council meeting at the Town Hall this week, in which tree campaigners staged a sit-in protest against Amey’s tree felling programme. He has also been in the media spotlight as an undercover fugitive evading secret agents in the Channel 4 reality TV show Hunted. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Plaque to honour women’s suffrage campaigners

A new plaque to honour Sheffield women’s suffrage movement activists who campaigned for the right vote is to be installed at their former shop on Chapel Walk. Following a campaign to honour the women by Sheffield Young People’s Equality Group, and a successful crowd-funding appeal, approval has now been granted and the plaque will be installed on International Women’s Day on March 8. The plaque forms part of the celebrations to mark 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the Peoples Act 2018 which gave women over 30 and ‘of property’ the right to vote. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

New employment rights planned for gig economy workers

The government is planning to introduce new laws that could benefit millions of workers including rights to holiday and sick pay from day one in a job and the right of zero hours and agency workers to a stable contract. Martin Mayer, secretary of Sheffield Trade Union Council, welcomed the announcement but told Sheffield Live! that more needs to be done. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Endcliffe church launches life skills training project

Christ Church Endcliffe is pioneering a new eight week life skills training course to support people to live better on a low income including help with budgeting and decision making. The initiative is backed by the charity Christians Against Poverty which offers support to people regardless of age, gender, faith or background and provides services such as debt counselling and money management as well as life skills training. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to life skills coach Paul Gardner.

Voting system reform campaigners in 24 hour fast

Campaigners calling for a change in the voting system are fasting for twenty four hours to mark one hundred years since women won the right to vote. The Hungry4democracy campaign calling for a system of proportional representation has gathered cross party support. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to former green party leader Natalie Bennett.

Royal Hallamshire Hospital offers stem cell storage

The Royal Hallamshire Hospital is supporting a new initiative for parents to have their baby’s stem cells from umbilical cord blood stored for their own private use in the future. It’s the second health trust in the north to offer the service to its patients following success with the technique in Leeds. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Shamshad Ahmed, founder and chief executive officer of Smart Cells, the company behind the initiative.