Sheffield Politics festival aims for 'sense of hope'
Ms Burton said: "We've got a really diverse programme this year, ranging from big names in economics, politics and culture, to brilliant grassroots activists working tirelessly to make Sheffield a fairer and more equal city."
As part of the festival, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram are expected to talk about their new book, Head North, on 19 May at the University of Sheffield Octagon Centre. According to the Local Democracy Service, the book discusses how the pair believe political and economic power can be spread throughout the UK in a push towards a fairer future.Meanwhile, on 17 May at The Leadmill, Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent MP, is expected to discuss the Monstrous Anger of the Guns, a book he has co-authored examining the global arms trade.An all-day session on 30 April involving senior Sheffield City Council officers and representatives from Sheffield Society of Architects, Friends of Sheffield Castle, Sheffield Civic Trust and Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust will look at the Heart of the City project and what lessons could be applied to the transformation of the city's Castlegate area.
Other speakers included in this year's line-up would be authors Kate Raworth, Jason Hickel, John Harris, Lanre Bakare and Shon Faye, as well as Sheffield writer Désirée Reynolds, organisers said.The festival would also feature panels, workshops and interactive sessions exploring alternative and emerging solutions to several big issues, with many of those events being free to attend.Ms Burton said: "We really hope people who attend this year's festival come away with a renewed sense of hope, as well as the tools to make change in their streets and in their neighbourhoods."
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Shock number of pubs closing EVERY week in Britain revealed – with crippling Labour tax hikes blamed
EIGHT pubs are closing down every week in Britain amid crippling running costs and tax hikes, figures show. Boozer bosses have blamed Labour policies for the 'heartbreaking' rate of closures. Government figures show 209 pubs were shut in the first half of the year. That brings the total number of pubs calling a permanent last orders in the past five years to 2,283. Industry chiefs said the employer National Insurance rise and increasing staff costs were responsible. Hospitality venues have also seen their business rates discount slashed, which has saddled the sector with an extra £215million of tax. Supported by The Sun's Save Our Sups campaign, pub bosses are asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves for relief in the autumn Budget. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the Government needs to act quickly to stop more closures. She said: 'Unfortunately, a lot of these pubs never come back. It's absolutely heartbreaking. 'There is a direct link between pubs closing for good and the huge jump in costs they have just endured. Pubs and brewers are important employers and are really valuable to local communities across the country. 'They have real social value. The Government needs to act at the Budget, with major reforms to business rates and beer duty.' Alex Probyn, practice leader at tax services firm Ryan, warned the squeeze on pubs is intensifying. Tiny English village that inspired the world's longest running soap opera is home to cosy historic pub and country walks He said: 'Slashing business rates relief for pubs from 75 per cent to 40 this year has landed the sector with an extra £215million in tax bills. 'For a small pub, that's a leap in the average bill from £3,938 to £9,451. 1
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
White pupils are the least likely group to get into a top university - with just one in 10 expected to land a spot
White pupils are the least likely group to get into a top university for the third year running, analysis suggests. Official data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows only 11.7 per cent of white pupils are attending the highest-ranking third of universities by age 19. This compares with 12.1 per cent of black pupils, 15.5 per cent of those who are mixed race and 18.6 per cent of Asians. The underperformance of white students is partly driven by British pupils from low-income families – one of the lowest-achieving sub-categories. Only 3 per cent of these pupils made it into 'high-tariff' universities – defined as the top for entry requirements. It comes after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson pledged last week to make raising standards for white working-class pupils a priority. She said it was a 'national disgrace' that so many were 'written off' at school and failed to achieve their potential in exams. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, said: 'It is striking how well young people from the ethnic minorities do in education in this country. The underperformance of white students is partly driven by British pupils from low-income families – one of the lowest-achieving sub-categories. Only 3 per cent of these pupils made it into 'high-tariff' universities – defined as the top for entry requirements (file image) 'Some of those who were born abroad come from countries where if you don't earn, you don't eat. 'They understand the crucial role that education plays in living the good life, whereas young people in this country have grown used to being supported by the state.' The rate of entering university was also lower for British-born pupils than for those who had a migrant background. Entry for native English-speakers was 42.8 per cent, while for those whose first language is not English it was 60.9 per cent. Professor Smithers said the data suggested universities were welcoming to ethnic minorities, following claims from some campaigners that they are institutionally racist. He added: 'The myth of university racism comes from the US and has been taken up by sociology departments in this country, which can become training grounds for activists who spend their years on campus seeking out every small sign that can be interpreted as racism.' The rate of entering university was also lower for British-born pupils than for those who had a migrant background. Entry for native English-speakers was 42.8 per cent, while for those whose first language is not English it was 60.9 per cent A DfE spokesman said: 'This Government is committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university – regardless of their background. 'We know baked-in inequalities remain in our education system, which is why universities must do more to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.' The analysis of 2023/24 data – the latest available – covers pupils who attended English state schools, not those in private schools or Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Fury as 'arch-hypocrite' Angela Rayner is selling off allotments... but not in her patch
has been branded an 'arch-hypocrite' after she campaigned for allotments in her own constituency but sanctioned their sell-off elsewhere. Before Labour came to power, Ms Rayner flagged up the work on community sites, describing one as a 'fantastic initiative'. But since the party has led the Government, the Deputy Prime Minister, who also runs the Ministry of Housing, has personally approved the sale of eight allotment plots across the country. The sites owned by councils are protected from development or sale under the Allotments Act 1925 but this can be allowed with a sign-off from the housing minister. Among the allotment plots sold under Ms Rayner's watch is one in Storrington, West Sussex, to make way for 78 homes. Two in Bolsover, Derbyshire, are also earmarked for closure. It comes as councils face a reported £8billion funding shortfall by the end of this Parliament. Earlier this month, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Ms Rayner had put the 'nail in the coffin' of allotments by allowing councils to sell off the land. An allotment holder himself, Mr Corbyn said it would 'fill many with deep dismay'. But just three years ago, Ms Rayner visited a community garden allotment in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, praising it as a 'fantastic initiative'. Writing on her website, she added: 'Those that work on the allotment say the initiative has also helped them through some tough times and reduced loneliness and isolation in the area. 'They hold regular open days where residents can turn up and take food for free. The fruit and veg bags are topped up with store cupboard essentials to help those struggling with the cost of living crisis.' She also hailed other projects in her Ashton- under-Lyne constituency and Curzon Ashton Football Club which runs an allotment programme for ex-servicemen and women suffering from loneliness. Tory housing spokesman Paul Holmes said: 'Ms Rayner has been exposed as an arch-hypocrite, the ultimate Nimby who thinks selling off everyone else's allotments is fine – just not in her back yard. 'By declaring war on Jeremy Corbyn's treasured allotments, she has sown the seeds for the next iteration of Labour's Left-wing civil war. Rather than trying to prune her rivals by any means necessary, perhaps she should grow up and focus on what the country really needs to cultivate.' But a Ministry of Housing spokesman said ministerial approvals for sales last year, half of which were under the previous Tory government and half under Labour, were lower than in previous years. He added: 'We know how important allotments are for communities and that is why strict legal criteria are in place to protect them. 'It is simply untrue to suggest there is any change in the policy. The rules have been in place since 2016 and have not changed.'
