Latest news with #NickFletcher
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
First home buyers beat six others to pay $1m for Richmond terrace
Seven buyers competed at auction for the right to call Richmond home on Saturday, and the Victorian terrace house sold for $1,007,000 under stiff competition. The two-bedroom house at 124 Coppin Street had a retro style and featured exposed brick and timber throughout the home. Fletchers selling agent Nick Fletcher listed the terrace with a quoted price range of $890,000 to $950,000. The property was one of 712 scheduled to go to auction in Melbourne this week. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 75.2 per cent from 545 reported results throughout the week, while 49 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. Fletchers auctioneer Jeremy Desmier began the contest with a vendor bid of $890,000, and he said the reserve was the top of the quoted price range. Seven bidders ducked in and out of the competition, and a late entrant won the day after sticking to $1000 bids. 'The auction was pretty dynamic; we had quite a number of bidders,' Desmier said. 'It took a little bit to get it started, but once we got some momentum, there was certainly some competitive bidding for it.' Fletcher said most bidders were looking for their first home, and a few were hoping to upgrade from apartments or townhouses. The winning bidders were first home buyers. Desmier said it had been rare to see so many bidders at auction. 'It's an entry-level price point and a property that's both liveable in the short term but also with enormous potential to add further value,' he said. In Brighton East, an aged home sold to a builder for $1.98 million.
Scotsman
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why it is time to support a Minister for Men
Gender differences in suicide and fundamental questions about masculinity are a serious conversation to be had Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In 2023, a public debate on whether the UK should have a Minister for Men gained modest traction and plenty of responses. Adolescence (photo: courtesy of Netflix) | (photo: courtesy of Netflix) Nick Fletcher, now a former Member of Parliament, was interviewed on Radio 4 Women's Hour. The BBC programme ran a long segment on the idea of a minister for men, featuring Fletcher, followed by an extended listener call-in show. The MP also appeared on Good Morning Britain. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fletcher doubled down that there should be a dedicated minister for men's issues; there was modest press interest that delved a little deeper beyond the predictable backlash that it was some fantastical, misogynistic exercise in reactionary masculism. Ultimately, the discussion evaporated, precisely as the conversation around Netflix's TV show Adolescence is dying a death. Many puffed-up promises were made to address the epidemic of toxic masculinity. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, even backed a campaign for the programme to be played in schools. Gender differences in suicide and fundamental questions about masculinity, the rise of antifeminism, misogyny, far-right extremism and the lazy conflation with questions of men's rights are a serious conversation to be had. Why waste time on performative box-ticking, like showing a Netflix about kids to kids in schools? Why waste time and resources showing children what they already know? Adolescence is a screaming demand for help from kids: They already know the vernacular, the culture, the signs, the word plays, and methods for making each other's lives hellish in the social media-addled age. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The solution that cements the issue across a parliamentary term's life cycle, beyond a flash-in-the-pan interest in a Netflix show, is to appoint a minister for men in the Scottish and UK Governments. The chronic woes of male educational attainment, mental health, suicide rates, and crime rates, to say nothing of established health issues, mandate such an appointment. Many issues affecting women and girls also require specific attention. This is why the minister for women's role was created in 1997 and expanded to minister for women and equalities by David Cameron, who added responsibility for the Government Equalities Office to the portfolio. In Scotland, the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health is a junior ministerial post, is not a member of the Scottish Cabinet, and reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A dedicated minister feels long overdue, particularly given the cross-section of policy issues affecting men. We already have a Minister for Children, Young People, and the Promise, but given the unregulated flood of radicalising material that is exposing young men to sexualised, misogynistic and damaging content online, a specific minister for men's issues feels apropos. The role would span multiple portfolios, including education, equities, digital security, and law enforcement. Socioeconomic inequalities are the primary driver of health inequalities for men and should be viewed as a single-stream public health issue. There are not enough column inches for the raft of health concerns affecting men, not least of all suicide, which the National Records of Scotland confirm is over three times as high for men as the rate for females. The genius of Adolescence is that it shows how the Internet, social media, and video game chats work on another level, squirrelled away from parents. It highlights how online algorithms make encountering Incel culture, sexualised content and misogyny an inevitability. There is a sea of barely controlled content disguised as fair commentary, which has a corrosive, cumulative, and catastrophic impact on young men. The fresh hell of what AI and chatbots can now accomplish, bound only by the limits of a teenage mind, is staggering if there is no appropriate policy and legal infrastructure in place that is adaptive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That needs government representation, just as sure as ministers for women and equalities can examine specific issues affecting women to deliver policy and attitudinal change through legislation and protection. In 2015, when the UK parliament held its first debate to mark International Men's Day on 19 November, the media mocked it widely. Labour MP Jess Phillips likened a day for men to a "white history month," in other words, a reactionary, unnecessary pastiche and a territory-marking waste of time. In the decade since, the manosphere has exploded and twisted issues about male equality, male health and antifeminism into one confused melting pot. There is too much noise around faux masculinist intellectuals who deserve neither airtime nor attention but remain a significant draw for men. But men's health and the protection of boys must be the cornerstone of government. It would allow us to focus and effect real change around issues men are appallingly responsible for. Everyone gains from this. Rights go with responsibilities, and a new portfolio would allow a renewed focus on tackling the sources of domestic and sexual violence, harassment and bullying. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As Women's Aid notes, "Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, there are important differences between male violence against women and female violence against men, namely the amount, severity and impact." At the very least, Scotland needs a minister for young men, but preferably a minister for men who will consider the whole life cycle and its impact on outcomes and health equality, as well as the impact unregulated male behaviour has on society. First Minister John Swinney has moved the announcement of his Programme for Government to 6 May to "enable a full year to delivery" before the Holyrood elections in spring 2026. This should form part of that strategy.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The candidates vying to be Mayor of Doncaster
The campaign to become the next directly-elected Mayor of Doncaster is under way and parties have announced their candidates. Twelve hopefuls are standing in the election on Thursday, 1 May, when there will also be council elections for all wards, plus town and parish council elections for all areas. The Mayor is chosen every four years and is elected by voters, unlike traditional council leaders who are chosen by councillors. They lead the council and have a cabinet of councillors to support them. The candidates who are standing are listed in alphabetical order and you can find a summary of each of their key pledges. Frank Calladine was born and bred in Doncaster. The 42-year-old works for his family-run business in Mexborough. "I have lived in Doncaster my entire life; this city is my heart and soul. Local housing should prioritise Doncaster residents and veterans over migrants. "No more buildings on the Green Belt or flood plains, new developments should only occur on brownfield sites. We should protect agricultural and ancient woodland. "I call for a public inquiry into grooming gangs. "We must stop outsourcing council services and bring them in-house. I oppose Conisbrough and Moss solar panel farms and Thorpe Mars battery storage. "The Mayor's cabinet should be talent-based and reduced from nine to five members." Nick Fletcher, 52, is a former Doncaster MP and local businessman. "I'm standing for Mayor to stop the spiral of decline, especially in the town centre where beggars and anti-social behaviour are rife. "I campaigned hard to save the airport and will always put Doncaster first, fighting for local issues. "The Mayor of Doncaster can't stop the boats, but the Mayor can stop the rot. "For too long, people here have been forgotten. "I am determined to make Doncaster safe again and also to make Doncaster great again. It's time for a change." Alexander Jones, 30, is self-employed at the company WitnessInvest Ltd and is an occasional model. "Doncaster requires a Mayor that prioritises the needs of its residents who want safer streets, jobs and upskilling opportunities, financial prosperity, and wellbeing. "I want to lead the future of Doncaster by improving infrastructure and housing, protecting existing businesses whilst also attracting emerging sectors such as AI. "The Labour-led council is broken; spending money on bureaucracy and unnecessary projects whilst not investing sufficiently in vital services, and facing interest payments on debt of £48,000 daily. "This isn't good enough and must change. The people of Doncaster matter, they deserve a smarter, leaner council that works for everybody. Doncaster needs Reform." Ros Jones, 75, was first elected as Mayor in May 2013 and was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. "Being your Mayor has been the greatest privilege of my life. "Doncaster is such a special place, and it deserves an experienced Mayor who will deliver for local people. "We have already achieved so much together, but there is still work to be done. "At this election, only a Labour Mayor can give Doncaster a seat at the table and deliver for our city and our communities." Andrew Walmsley, 35, works as a design engineer in vehicle conversions. "I joined the Yorkshire Party because I believe in stronger local powers and fairer funding. "The devolution bill gives councils more powers over adult skills training. A key focus must be on having training providers for the reopening airport. "I also want to see more adult and 16-19 technical training - it forms a great foundation for many career paths. "I'm a worker in Doncaster just like you. I want decisions to be made here and I will use my powers and influence as mayor to fight for stronger devolution and fairer funding for Doncaster." Also standing are: David Bettney - Social Democratic Party Julie Buckley - Green Party Andy Hiles - Trade Union and Socialist Coalition Ahsan Jamil – Workers Party of Britain Mihai Melenciuc – Liberal Democrats Richie Vallance - Independent Doug Wright – Independent The full list of all the candidates, including those standing for the council and parish elections, can be found at Doncaster Council. This story will include details for more candidates when they are received. Information and inquiries can be submitted to Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North When and where are the May local elections and who can vote? Local elections 2025: Is there an election in my area?
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who can I vote for in Doncaster Mayoral election?
The campaign to become the next directly-elected Mayor of Doncaster is under way and parties have announced their hopefuls are standing in the election on Thursday, 1 May, when there will also be council elections for all wards, plus town and parish council elections for all Mayor is chosen every four years and is elected by voters, unlike traditional council leaders who are chosen by lead the council and have a cabinet of councillors to support candidates who are standing are listed in alphabetical order and you can find a summary of each of their key pledges. Frank Calladine - British Democratic Party Frank Calladine was born and bred in Doncaster. The 42-year-old works for his family-run business in Mexborough."I have lived in Doncaster my entire life; this city is my heart and soul. Local housing should prioritise Doncaster residents and veterans over migrants."No more buildings on the Green Belt or flood plains, new developments should only occur on brownfield sites. We should protect agricultural and ancient woodland."I call for a public inquiry into grooming gangs."We must stop outsourcing council services and bring them in-house. I oppose Conisbrough and Moss solar panel farms and Thorpe Mars battery storage."The Mayor's cabinet should be talent-based and reduced from nine to five members." Nick Fletcher – Conservative Party Nick Fletcher, 52, is a former Doncaster MP and local businessman."I'm standing for Mayor to stop the spiral of decline, especially in the town centre where beggars and anti-social behaviour are rife."I campaigned hard to save the airport and will always put Doncaster first, fighting for local issues. "The Mayor of Doncaster can't stop the boats, but the Mayor can stop the rot."For too long, people here have been forgotten. "I am determined to make Doncaster safe again and also to make Doncaster great again. It's time for a change." Alexander Jones – Reform UK Alexander Jones, 30, is self-employed at the company WitnessInvest Ltd and is an occasional model."Doncaster requires a Mayor that prioritises the needs of its residents who want safer streets, jobs and upskilling opportunities, financial prosperity, and wellbeing."I want to lead the future of Doncaster by improving infrastructure and housing, protecting existing businesses whilst also attracting emerging sectors such as AI."The Labour-led council is broken; spending money on bureaucracy and unnecessary projects whilst not investing sufficiently in vital services, and facing interest payments on debt of £48,000 daily."This isn't good enough and must change. The people of Doncaster matter, they deserve a smarter, leaner council that works for everybody. Doncaster needs Reform." Ros Jones – Labour Party Ros Jones, 75, was first elected as Mayor in May 2013 and was re-elected in 2017 and 2021. "Being your Mayor has been the greatest privilege of my life. "Doncaster is such a special place, and it deserves an experienced Mayor who will deliver for local people."We have already achieved so much together, but there is still work to be done. "At this election, only a Labour Mayor can give Doncaster a seat at the table and deliver for our city and our communities." Andrew Walmsley – Yorkshire Party Andrew Walmsley, 35, works as a design engineer in vehicle conversions."I joined the Yorkshire Party because I believe in stronger local powers and fairer funding."The devolution bill gives councils more powers over adult skills training. A key focus must be on having training providers for the reopening airport. "I also want to see more adult and 16-19 technical training - it forms a great foundation for many career paths."I'm a worker in Doncaster just like you. I want decisions to be made here and I will use my powers and influence as mayor to fight for stronger devolution and fairer funding for Doncaster." Also standing are:David Bettney - Social Democratic PartyJulie Buckley - Green PartyAndy Hiles - Trade Union and Socialist CoalitionAhsan Jamil – Workers Party of BritainMihai Melenciuc – Liberal DemocratsRichie Vallance - IndependentDoug Wright – IndependentThe full list of all the candidates, including those standing for the council and parish elections, can be found at Doncaster story will include details for more candidates when they are received. Information and inquiries can be submitted to Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
