Sheffield Councillor, Ben Curran, has confirmed his intention to stand as Labour candidate for election as mayor of Sheffield City Region. Curran is one of three candidates in the party to stand, including former Sheffield Central MP, Richard Caborn and Dan Jarvis, the MP for Barnsley Central. Elections for the mayor’s position are scheduled for May as part of a £900m devolution deal. Labour is the first party to announce their candidates. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Iranians in Sheffield staged a demonstration outside Sheffield Town Hall at the weekend demanding freedom and democracy for Iran. According to campaigner Siama Zaad, the group called “Wanted Freedom for Iran” were protesting against the Iranian government’s persecution of democracy protestors who, they claim, have been subject to torture and imprisonment. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Former Sheffield MP, Richard Caborn, has announced his bid for selection by the Labour Party as their candidate for the mayoral position for the Sheffield City Region. The former sports minister is the first to formally announce his intention to stand. Sheffield Councillor Ben Curran also announced his candidacy before the Thursday deadline. Richard Caborn spoke to Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh.
Councillor for West Ecclesfield and UKIP party member, John Booker, has called on his party’s leader Henry Bolton to step down, telling Sheffield Live! that Bolton’s position “is untenable”. On Monday, a dozen senior UKIP members quit their roles, including Bolton’s deputy and assistant deputy over offensive texts sent by his ex-girlfriend. Bolton has insisted he will not quit as leader. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Vote counting has begun in the West African state of Liberia in the run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Opon Weah. Former chairman for the Liberian Association of Sheffield, Prince Taylor, told Sheffield Live! many Liberians in the diaspora are hopeful there will be a peaceful transition of power in the country. Turnout was low in the boxing day polls but the result is expected to lead to the first smooth transfer of power in 73 years. Mr Weah, 51, won the first round, but did not secure the required 50 per cent of the vote for an outright victory. Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is Africa’s first elected female president. Baillor Jalloh reports.
The chancellor Phillip Hammond announced an extra £2.8 billion for the NHS and a rise in the national living wage. Sheffield Live! Reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to University of Sheffield economics lecturer Dr Jonathan Perraton.
Nether Edge and Sharrow councillor, Alison Teal has received the most impressive Councillor achievement award at the Green Party conference in Harrogate. Teal has been a central organiser in the campaign to preserve Sheffield’s trees from Sheffield Council’s mass tree-felling programme and has faced suspension from the Council, arrest and a Council-backed court injunction. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Following the surprise decision of Tim Farron to step as Liberal Democrat leader, Sheffield Live! spoke to Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Lib Dem group at Sheffield Council. In a statement issued less than a week after the General Election, Farron said he was “torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader” and that he should have dealt “more wisely” with questions relating to his faith during the election campaign. Farron’s views on gay sex became a subject of growing media attention as he sought to deflect questioning on the matter. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Following the Turkish referendum granting sweeping new presidential powers, Sheffield Live! spoke to members of Sheffield’s Turkish community. The narrowly-won constitutional amendments replace the country’s parliamentary democracy with a presidential system and abolish the role of prime minister. International observers said the vote took place in a political environment where “fundamental freedoms essential to a genuinely democratic process were curtailed”. Simon Thake reports.
Members of Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign picketed the Staples store, Eyre Street, in a call to stop the sale of HP products, part of a wider boycott campaign to defend Palestinian rights. Campaigners claim HP is providing technologies to the Israeli government that are used in oppressive practices and in breach of international law. Invited to comment, an HP spokesperson said: “HP has been strongly committed to socially responsible business practices throughout its 75 year history. It is not our policy to take sides in political disputes between countries or regions. Instead, we focus on making the best products we can to help improve the lives of people around the world.” Sham Powell reports for Sheffield Live!