A YouGov poll of 50,000 people estimates 63 per cent of voters aged between 18 and 29 supported Labour in the General Election compared to just 22 per cent for the Tories. Earlier this week Sheffield Young Labour held a rally to protest Tory proposals to negotiate with the Democratic Unionist Party to support a minority government. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Sheffield Hallam Conservatives for their perspective on the election.
Local charity Sheffield Young Carers took to the streets with a beat bonanza to mark Carers Week 2017 and to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The organisation ‘Fun Drum’ provided rhythm and movement mayhem with passers-by invited to grab a drum and get involved. Sheffield has an estimated 7,300 young carers. Carers Week is a national campaign which aims to raise awareness of caring, the challenges carers face and the contribution they make. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Over five hundred people took part in a rally at Barker’s Pool called to oppose the proposed pact between the Tory party and the DUP. The rally was one of many organised around the UK by Young Labour in response to Theresa’s May’s decision to negotiate a deal with the DUP to prop up her minority government. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Councillor Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing on Sheffield City Council, is asking the government to give local authorities more money to help refugees. Her plea comes after more than a hundred refugee children arrived in the UK last week from the Calais camp known as the “Jungle.” On Wednesday, French authorities in Calais announced completion of the operation to move thousands of migrants out of the camp. The announcement came as parts of the Jungle continued to burn after fires were set overnight and in the morning. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett is set to challenge Labour MP Paul Blomfield in Sheffield Central. Bennett will take over from Jillian Creasy, who finished second in the 2015 General Election, the third best result for the party across England and Wales. Sheffield Greens increased their average share of the constituency vote by 5 per cent in the May 2016 council elections and have councillors in three of the five wards. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Natalie Bennett after the announcement.
Labour MP Paul Blomfield has condemned Theresa May’s education plans including proposals to reinstate grammar schools as ‘harking back to the 1950’s’. Speaking at a rally outside Sheffield Town Hall, Blomfield and his fellow Labour supporters called for ‘education not segregation’ and vowed to campaign against a reintroduction of grammar schools.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a focus on the next general election in his closing address to the Labour party conference. Corbyn was re-elected on Saturday for the second time as Labour leader with a majority of 61.8 percent. He said Labour should build support by focusing on the “needs and aspirations of middle and lower income voters”.
The Sheffield branch of Momentum were in buoyant mood as they made their way to Liverpool to celebrate Jeremy Corbyn’s expected victory in the Labour leadership contest. Corbyn has since been returned as Labour leader after comfortably beating challenger Owen Smith. Corbyn won 61.8 per cent of the vote, a larger majority than last year and vowed to bring the party back together. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with members of Sheffield Momentum.
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.
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.