22nd July 2026
Dear Readers
On 28th June 2026 I watched BBC NW’s Politics North West chaired by Annabel Tiffin. There was the assembled panel of Jim Mc Mahon, MP for Oldham West and Chadderton in Greater Manchester, Martin Cox, Tory Leader of Bolton Council and Gina Dowden, Green Councillor on Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council: There was a sense of excitement and positivity exuded from the assembled panel that the newly-elected Labour MP Andy Burnham, who won handsomely in the Makerfield by-election on 18th June against his Reform UK rival. He has now replaced Sir. Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
A BBC NW Political Programme gushing about the “King of The North”
There was much enthusiasm in this discussion about Andy Burnham: There was Mr. Burnham’s potential plan to revive the northern half of the High-Speed Railway Line (HS2) from London to Manchester; the bit north from Birmingham axed by the last Conservative Government. There was also enthusiasm for the likelihood that Andy Burnham would put more funds into Northern Powerhouse Rail, and the electrification of the main railway line running from Liverpool, through Warrington to Manchester then across the South Pennines to Leeds and York. Councillor Gina Dowden did point out that there is a lot more to North West England than Manchester, that the new HS2 would not go as far north as Lancaster, which is something that only got mentioned in passing.
There was also a discussion of the possibility that Andy Burnham, proclaimed as the “King of the North” by the Left, may devolve some tax-raising and spending powers to Regional Mayors, which was greeted with some enthusiasm. Again, this is something which is unlikely to benefit either Lancashire or Cumbria, which do not have Regional Mayors, and now in July it seems only selected Labour Mayoralties will have this privilege! It must also grate a little that BBC Politics North West struggles to find political representatives from North of the M62; though the one Green Councillor from Lancaster- able to make the point about more northerly parts of North West England not benefitting from HS2- is better than a sharp poke in the eye for viewers from North of the M62 Corridor!
The main issue, of course, with Regional TV broadcasts for NW England- whether from BBC NW, or from ITV Granada- is the fact that it is urban-centric, largely focussed on the main population-centres of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region. The output is, thus, slanted towards urban issues and urban interests, rather than those of more “provincial”, northerly parts of NW England. The Lancaster Green Councillor alluded, briefly, to the fact that the northern half of NW England benefits less from Andy Burnham’s proposed policies when these are aimed more at cities. This brings us neatly to the need for NW Regional TV broadcast coverage of what Andy Burnham’s premiership- and with it- revived Labour Party fortunes portend for Cumbria and Lancashire, and indeed for the whole North West of England.
Devolution, and More Power to the Regions- But Only the Big- City Labour Mayoralties
There was big excitement about Andy Burnham devolving power to the Regions so that local areas have Tax-raising powers over Income Tax over recent days. This was his big Unique Selling Point, that as the former Mayor of Greater Manchester he wants to give more folk strong local democratic choice in their communities – People would have more choice over how their areas are run, local accountability would be strengthened. But alas, only the Labour Mayoralties representing big city areas will get such powers – other areas such as Reform UK-run Lancashire County Council and the Liberal-Democrat run Westmorland and Furness Council won’t get a look in (see link to this article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/18/burnham-plans-to-hand-income-tax-powers-to-labour-mayors/). Apparently, under Andy Burnham’s Government some local areas deserve local representation and ability to govern themselves more than rural areas in the North West of England that don’t vote Labour!!
This is a big let-down for folk who live in Morecambe, Carnforth, Ulverston or Fleetwood. Their Council Taxes have been going through the roof whilst local services have been deteriorating, Yobs proliferate on street-corners but folk have little say over how many police there should be. The most radical defiant thing a local community could try and do is declare a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the UK, refuse to pay taxes but set up their own Police, laws, Education System, decide what should happen to thugs and yobs. However, if, for instance Morecambe or Carnforth decided to declare UDI from the UK it is unlikely that a Labour Government- even one run by Andy Burnham- would hold back from sending in the Police and Army to take back UK control and to restore order, whilst having local Council leaders arrested for sedition!
More northerly and rural parts of North West England will have imposed on them urban-centric, multicultural policies imposed on them whether they want it or not. The high tax and no-spending shafting of rural areas by the Labour Government is set to continue, and rural areas will have little say over the future for their communities. This is not something that is really covered in broadcast media.
What an Andy-Burnham led Labour Government Actually Means for all North West England
As I have discussed in recent articles on this very website, the current Labour government does not have defence of the British citizenry as a priority, and under Sir Keir Starmer it has presided over violent criminals being let out of jail to free up prison space. On the contrary, anyone who protests about high immigration or who expresses concern about Islam is liable to have their collar felt by the Police. The prospect of a Labour revival with Andy Burnham now Prime Minister has implications for the long-term security and safety of citizens in North West England.
Whilst this has been happening, the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage has been under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over a £5 million gift that he received just before he became an MP: If, as is likely, Nigel Farage is deemed “Guilty” he may be suspended from Parliament and may have to fight a by-election in his Constituency. The coverage in the Left-Wing Press about the £5 million gift has damaged Nigel Farage and Reform UK, making it less likely that Reform (even with help from the Tories) will win enough Seats to govern at the next Election. This is the National Political Situation, one which has profound implications for the English North West.
State Regulation of the Press and Curbs on Free Speech
There are already significant indications that an Andy Burnham run Labour Government would like strong State Regulation of the Press (link here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/28/hacked-off-hugh-grant-andy-burnham-curb-free-speech/ ), as Andy Burnham is sympathetic to Hugh Grant’s Hacked Off campaign for a strong Press Regulator to be set up. This will have a chilling impact on the Press, in its ability to hold Government to account without fear or favour. There are also indications that Andy Burnham has the same issues with Free Speech and right-wing protests as Sir Keir Starmer, as he threatened to get Greater Manchester Police to come down like a ton of bricks on protestors at a Right Wing March on 18th April 2026 (link here: https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterEveningNews/videos/andy-burnham-speaks-out-ahead-of-britain-first-march-through-manchester/967515619584531/). So, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press could be under threat.
Some Good Old Labour Gerrymandering
Andy Burnham also wants to change the British Electoral System from First Past The Post, to the Alternative Vote System whereby voters put down a second choice of candidate in a General Election, whereby if first preferences do not exceed 50% (or whichever percentage is deemed a cut off), then alternative candidates are counted. It is likely that that will help the Left cling onto power because the combined votes of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Scottish National Party will be higher than the combined votes of the Tories, Reform UK, and Restore Britain on the Right. That is even likely if Labour again becomes extremely unpopular under Andy Burnham.
Taken together, this represents a gerrymandering of the Electoral System in Labour’s favour, with social engineering to ensure millions of folk do not see news critical of the Labour Government but with broadcast media pressurised to toe the Party line. This alone is disconcerting.
Soft on Immigration and Law and Order
Of course, that would not matter too much if Andy Burnham promises to be tough on law and order, to properly control immigration, to take Defence of the Realm much more seriously, and to properly take into account of (and address concerns of) issues in communities in large rural areas like Cumbria. Alas, and again, the omens are not good. There are signs that Andy Burnham wants to water down the limited Immigration Reforms that the recent Labour Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood planned to implement (link here: https://www.gbnews.com/politics/migration-crisis-andy-burnham-immigration-costs-labour).
It is true that Andy Burnham has got the Police to arrest more criminals as Mayor of Greater Manchester and has publicly stated that the Police should be seen to be equal and even-handed with all sections of a community (link: https://www.facebook.com/BBCQuestionTime/videos/people-should-be-treated-equally-in-front-of-the-police-and-the-lawlabours-andy-/984324354409428/). However, his strongest language was against the 18th April 2026 Right-Wing march in Manchester mentioned above. He got the Police to use Section 34 Dispersal Orders and Section 60 Stop and Search powers (see article here: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnham-speaks-out-ahead-33794894). However, when police were violently attacked in the process of arresting a violent man of Asian origin who had attacked a member of staff at a Starbucks café at Manchester Airport in 2024, then Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham hardly pressurised the Police into taking steps to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XApgb47_c7k). Instead, it took Reform UK to threaten to bring a private prosecution against the two perpetrators before Greater Manchester Police really acted (link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy94yz3p7xpo). Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.
Andy Burnham’s plans to tackle teenage thuggery and anti-social behaviour do not inspire confidence. His main idea for dealing with the gang of 17-year-old male thugs who terrorise the little autistic man in the community is to build more Youth Clubs (link: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/andy-burnhams-plan-stop-anti-33990730). Yes, that is right, more Youth Clubs: Not to put more resources into Policing and directing the Police to crack down on this increasingly serious blight on local communities in the North West of England. What teenage thugs who bash over the head folk that they do not like need is a new Youth Club- one they would have no compunction in smashing up- along with the Youth Club leader- if they fell out with him (or her). The violent Lawlessness, which is already a real problem in the cities (and Mancunians are not fooled by their out-going mayor saying he has got to grips on violent crime, still worse than London- link: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/crime-london-manchester-met-police-sadiq-khan-andy-burnham-b1225552.html) is only likely to worsen with policies like that!
Taxing Rural Areas to Spend in the Cities
In terms of fiscal policy, there seems to be plenty of evidence that Andy Burnham will find money to upgrade inter-city rail and infrastructure, along with plans to nationalise essential Utility Companies like water. This will be paid for by introducing a new Land Value Tax and higher taxes on second home-owners. Farmers will pay through the nose, despite the fact that, in upland areas of Cumbria and North Lancashire, hill-farmers seldom make a profit on their trade. Andy Burnham’s pronouncements on things of benefit for folk living in the two-thirds of North West England extending north of Preston seem to be non-existent.
Nonetheless, there is little sign of the BBC in NW England, or ITV Granada Reports picking up on these underlying developments to get at the full picture of what an Andy Burnham-run Labour Government means for the whole of North West England. They are almost gushing that the proclaimed “King of the North” is Prime Minister. Both BBC NW Tonight and ITV Granada Reports are the default Regional TV programmes as far north as Millom in coastal south-west Cumbria and Kirkby Lonsdale in the south-east corner of the county. These towns are surrounded by rural areas with hill-farms, local hotels, village shops and elderly folk who cannot drive who need to get to shops and doctor’s surgeries. There is nothing in Andy Burnham’s utterances to suggest he is either understanding of, or sympathetic to, these folk living in rural communities, some of whom are now starting to get menaced by groups of teenagers creating trouble and hassle locally.
Despite appearances, Andy Burnham is not really a Christian
And, despite his Catholic up-bringing and sending his children to a Catholic school in Ashton-in-Makerfield, south of Wigan, Andy Burnham has made clear that he follows an “a la carte” Catholicism- which does not proscribe to Biblical positions against homosexuality or LGBTQ+, but he follows just the social justice and helping the poor aspect. And, he adds, that he is not really “religious”, which really means that he is not a committed Christian at all (link to article about this here: https://ewtn.co.uk/article-andy-burnhams-catholic-identity-in-spotlight-in-uk-prime-minister-race/). He is unlikely to be passing legislation to strengthen marriage or to encourage folk to be kind, forgiving and charitable. The loss of the influence of Christianity in the English North West over the last sixty years is directly linked to the decline of communities, the loss of the warmth and friendliness which characterised many communities North of the M62 Corridor- and even in Manchester and Liverpool. Don’t expect Andy Burnham to take inspiration from the Holy Bible, and to encourage folk to be kind, forgiving and charitable in their communities- far less to ever consider pushing through policies that would return Britain to Biblical or Torah-based precepts: He won’t!
Andy Burnham will Not be Good for Rural Cumbria and Lancashire
Instead, a good measure of what Andy Burnham has already indicated, in word (or deed, as Manchester’s Mayor) would fill those living in rural communities with alarm: Taxes on their land and property will go up, he is sympathetic towards those who come into the UK who might be hostile to the interests of those living rural Cumbria or northern Lancashire, and Andy Burnham is minded to police what people say or protest about. He also proposes a major change to Britain’s Electoral System and he wants further Press regulation, presumably so that his Labour Government can control what newspapers print and say about his Government- all to help keep Labour (or at least the Left generally) in power.
British Labour Governments have historically (and including the current Government) treated rural areas and their interests with a measure of disdain: They have done this through- Bans on Foxhunting, Taxing Farmers more, Cutting funding for rural Community Projects, Starving rural Tory-voting Constituencies of funding, Cutting funding for infrastructure that benefit rural areas, Taxing Second Homes in the country, Walloping rural businesses with higher Minimum Wages and Employers National Insurance bills, Being soft on crime so that anti-social behaviour spreads into such rural areas. And all the indications are, New Prime Minister Andy Burnham will be quite happy to carry-on shafting remote Northern rural communities as Sir Keir Starmer has.
It follows that all the issues that are leading to decline and increased concern for those living in rural Cumbria and northern Lancashire are liable to continue as long as Labour remain in power. Because Nigel Farage is embroiled in scandal and Andy Burnham looks to be a more charismatic Labour Prime Minister there is also a high likelihood of Labour winning enough Parliamentary Seats after the next Election to govern, at least with the help of the Liberal Democrats and Green Party. And so, the issues that are likely to lead to decline and deterioration in rural Cumbria and northern Lancashire are liable to persist and worsen. These issues are:
- Increased Anti-Social Behaviour and violent thuggery blighting communities
- Immigration continuing to alter local communities in ways that worry more residents
- A continued loss of rural Public transport, and rural minor roads continuing to deteriorate
- Local services and amenities in villages- banks, post-offices, winter road-treatment, primary schools, GP surgeries, Police stations- continuing to be closed
- High taxes and less government support, along with centralisation of shops and banks in major towns and cities leading to money being “drained away” from rural areas- contributing further to their impoverishment and loss of amenities
- A loss of warmth, friendliness and neighbourliness brought about through a decline in Christian values and the arrival of incomers who have no affinity or regard for the area into which they move
- Climate change, and much less of the snowy cold winters that made the beautiful areas of Cumbria and northern Lancashire look special, and uniquely Northern (though this last cannot be blamed on Labour, it still contributes to the loss of how the local communities were in years’ gone by)
All of these are issues that vex folk living in rural Cumbria or northern Lancashire, none of which the much-acclaimed “King of the North” has any interest or inkling in fixing. Instead, the policies he will implement (or not, as the case may be) will lead to the continued decline: There will be loss of community, loss of essential amenities, loss of local transport making life ever more difficult for those who cannot drive, continued rises in anti-social behaviour, less friendly and more selfish neighbours moving in, higher taxes- and effects of immigration totally changing the feel of the once friendly, tight-knit communities that older locals can remember from their childhood.
North West Regional TV Scarce Recognises the Issues Affecting Cumbrians and North Lancastrians
Unfortunately, both the BBC and ITV.Plc are metropolitan focussed, and the mainstream Regional TV services serving North West England are both based at Media City on Salford Quays- and they have a Manchester-and-Liverpool centric outlook and coverage. Areas North of Preston scarce get a look-in: Likewise, the issues, concerns of fears of people who live North of Preston scarce get a look in either.
But this is not good enough. Folk living in Coniston are concerned about deteriorating local roads and the effects of over tourism around their community in summer. Farmers living on the edge of the Bowland Fells, just east of Lancaster are dismayed with regards to the effect of Labour’s taxes on their businesses- and the prospect of Andy Burnham’s Land Value Taxes fills them with utmost horror. Families in Fleetwood and in Kendal are concerned about anti-social behaviour by groups of teenagers blighting their communities when once this was not such an issue. They despair that the putative new Prime Minister thinks that the solution is more Youth Clubs (for the yobs to smash up). Communities in the Lune Valley, north-east of Lancaster are concerned about criminals coming from outside their communities to burgle homes and sell drugs- they want to see a Prime Minister who will crack down on rising crime affecting their area.
And all these viewers get from BBC NW Tonight and ITV Granada Reports is about How Andy Burnham Will be Great for Manchester and Liverpool because he will Splash the Cash there. But for viewers over an hour’s drive north of Manchester, they do not want to know about that. They want support, more money for rural transport, reassurance that taxes will not rise further, and a leader who is serious about dealing with rising crime in rural areas. These issues are not covered in the Regional TV broadcasts that they might watch.
Thousands of South Cumbrians and North Lancastrians, who live in rural areas are aghast at some of the changes that have happened in recent years. They are faced with continued Labour Government, one that is generally hostile to their needs, getting rejuvenated by a man with eyelashes and a dark blue shirt so it can remain in power. This is a cause for despair, not rejoicing for such communities- especially as the only likely saviour for their communities has become embroiled in a scandal over an undeclared £5 million gift.
Where are they getting sympathetic news-coverage? Not everyone living in South Cumbria and northern Lancashire can readily switch to ITV Border Lookaround, which may have more topically and overall, geographically relevant news-coverage (even if, in the case of North Lancashire, it does not cover their immediate community). Alas, even ITV Border Lookaround, which covers Cumbria extremely well geographically shies away from in-depth coverage of impacts from Immigration, Antisocial behaviour, etc., for fear of being seen censured as racist or biased against young people. Many folk living North of Preston do not think that Andy Burnham is a good prospect, and many of these are rather terrified of what he portends for their future- Labour remaining in power to continue shafting rural Cumbria and northern Lancashire is quite a big concern.
Much of NW England has Reason to Fear Andy Burnham and the prospect of Labour staying in power past the next Election: Regional Broadcasters won’t cover the Reasons Why.
Furthermore, it is not just the rural areas north of Preston that have real issues with a revived Labour Party, as is likely to happen under Andy Burnham. Broadcasters cover little of it, but even in the major towns and cities, which include Manchester and Liverpool, but also Chester, Warrington, Wigan, Preston, and Blackburn. Further north there’s the built-up part of the Fylde Coast stretching from Lytham St. Annes through Blackpool, Thornton-Cleveleys, north to Fleetwood, the Lancaster/ Morecambe/ Heysham arc in North Lancashire, the Ulverston-Dalton-Barrow-in-Furness arc and Kendal/ Windermere in South Cumbria, the Workington/ Whitehaven/ Cleator Moor area in West Cumbria, and the City of Carlisle in North Cumbria.
The two latter urban areas of West and North Cumbria are outside the traditional transmission boundaries of the mainstream NW English Regional TV broadcasters, but are still part of North West England: Excluding these areas means that folk living at the northern edge of transmission boundary get a wholly incomplete picture of the issues around them. That is so for South Cumbrians and North Lancastrians who cannot easily get ITV Border Lookaround (with its excellent coverage of Cumbria).
The issues that the main NW England TV broadcasters tend not to cover (for fear of backlash, or not being seen as right-on PC), issues that affect millions of folk are:
- The impact of increased Immigration on communities, especially where this causes increased crime
- Increased teenager-committed Antisocial behaviour and thuggery- and the need for individuals and the affected communities as a whole to have more robust means of protecting themselves legally.
- Violent children in Schools, and whether teachers actually need stronger means of punishment and deterrence to protect themselves and other pupils- up to and including the administration of pain- to enforce a calm learning environment for pupils.
- Whether women and other vulnerable adults- i.e. small men with Asperger’s Syndrome- need to be able to protect themselves with pepper spray legally if they are attacked when out and about.
- The impact of Parental Alienation by custodial parents on their children and the non-custodial parent following acrimonious divorce, and whether the Courts and Justice System should recognise it more.
- Whether there should be much more rigorous checks on gay couples adopting kids than on a husband and wife wanting to adopt: Or whether- in the interests of minimising risk after what happened to baby Preston Davey gay couples should be banned from adopting children.
- The impact of the decline of Christianity and of belief in God on communities as a whole, and whether Christianity should be encouraged and spread to encourage better community cohesion, less selfishness and less indifference to others’ suffering.
- The possible need- as a matter of course- for Social Services to monitor where small vulnerable children (often little girls) or vulnerable adults (i.e. with Downs Syndrome) live in large-male heavy households on the grounds that (without a woman around to shield the vulnerable person)- large men have an ability to hurt vulnerable children or vulnerable adults if they get very angry and lose their rag.
- Whether there should be clinics, possibly supported by the NHS, for men to go to get help if they have wrong sexual urges towards minors, to get advice and medication to dampen and remove such urges before they commit any sex offences towards children and damage both their lives and those of potential victims.
- Taxes and regulation on the rich and on businesses may already be too high for the health of the economy in NW England and across the UK. Some areas of Public Spending may need cutting and/ or taxes on consumption should be increased instead to pay for vital Public Services whilst cutting economically-damaging high marginal Income Tax rates.
- Free Speech, and the right of folk to post opinions on the Internet that cause offence (with the proviso that they don’t directly encourage violence).
All of these are topics considered controversial for different reasons, discussion of these topics may be considered, respectively as: Racist, Anti-Youth, Medieval, Anti-Women, Homophobic, Jesus-freakery, Anti-Men, Plain Old Disgusting, For The Rich, and Encouraging Hate Speech. But millions of folk living in North West England are affected by one or more of these issues- so broadcasters need to find some courage and speak with boldness about such topics as viewers need them to.
There is likely to be a backlash from the usual quarters in the Left-Wing Media and the Labour Government, but by daring to cover the issues that are nonetheless important to millions of viewers NW England Regional TV broadcasters would get a surprising amount of support. And, as long as the issues discussed have plenty of evidence supporting them, and programmers can demonstrate truthful reporting, there’s nothing the Government or OFCOM could or should do- unless, that is, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham intends to stifle independent news-broadcasting!
The issues listed- Rising Immigration, Youth Antisocial behaviour, Violent out-of-control children in schools, Vulnerable people being attacked, Parental Alienation, Communities becoming less friendly and more atomised as Christianity completely loses any influence, High marginal Tax Rates damaging the Economy, and the Stifling of Free Speech- all of these are liable to worsen the longer Labour remains in power. These are issues that affect both rural areas and cities alike across the English North West- and viewers would like to see news or broadcast programming covering some of these issues.
There is little or no evidence of Andy Burnham himself will be an improvement on Keir Starmer in any of these issues- he has the same excessive favouring towards ethnic minorities, the same soft-touch ideas around Youth crime, the same authoritarian tendencies (as was evidenced by his reaction to a right-wing march in Manchester in April 2026- as I mentioned earlier), the same “No violence against Kids in Any Circumstances Has Any Place in 2026 Britain” ethos, the same Tax The Rich Till The Pips Squeak attitude.
The Metropolitan, Right-on Politically-correct BBC NW Tonight and ITV Granada Reports shy away from mentioning issues that affect millions of folk living throughout North West England. Even ITV Border Lookaround, which serves Carlisle and rural areas in Cumbria, is squeamish about covering anything liable to cause a little controversy and backlash from the authorities, even though most viewers would be assuredly glad if these issues were covered.
It is Legitimate to Expose the Left as Bad for the Region’s Future on the Basis of National Security and the Risk of Folk’s Safety
It would not be a matter of bias for broadcasters to explain to viewers of Regional TV in NW England that continued Labour Government- especially if they were in Coalition with the Green Party and Liberal Democrats after the next Election- would be a risk to folk’s safety. As the primary, fundamental responsibility of Government is Defence of the Realm and Protection of the UK’s citizenry, this is grounds to warn people that voting “Labour” or “Green” is risky: Defence of the Realm is non-negotiable, so it means any political stance or policies by any Parties that seriously undermine the Police, the Courts, the Army and Navy in protecting people should be reported on.
It is clear to most folk that if any senior Government minister is found to have been sharing secrets with the Chinese or the Iranians, then that should be exposed and the minister concerned sacked and even arrested and prosecuted. Why? – because sharing top military secrets with a state that is hostile to this country’s interests puts British citizens at risk of harm- possibly from a cyber-attack or worse. It is very serious.
What is less serious about Political Parties who go ultra-soft on violent thugs, allows thousands to come into the UK from hostile lands, which just let rapists and convicted wife-beaters out of jail simply because jails are full, fails to fund the Armed Forces properly? Does not all that expose British citizens to direct risk? For example, this Labour Government want to raise the age of Criminal Responsibility from ten to 14 years old (see article link here: https://www.gbnews.com/politics/age-of-criminal-responsibility-uk-raised-labour-youth-justice). The Labour Government let out almost 50,000 criminals from prison under their “Early Release Scheme” between September 2024 and February 2026 (link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/08/more-prisoners-recalled-than-released-early-under-labour/).The Liberal Democrats oppose all forms of corporal Punishment, want to reduce prison sentences and only have prison for the most serious offenders (article link here: https://restorativejustice.org.uk/blog/rjc-supports-liberal-democrats-amendment-call-restorative-justice). The Green Party is also squeamish about sending criminals to prison, preferring “community sentences” instead for thugs (article here: https://greenparty.org.uk/2024/12/11/the-government-cannot-build-its-way-out-of-the-prison-crisis-say-greens/).
It is almost an Article of Faith on the Left that no-one under the age of 18 should see the inside of a prison: And that means the Left is okay for violent 16-year-old young men to burn houses, beat little men half to death, and batter other smaller children senseless- to face no deterrent except (perhaps) a good talking to. Corporal Punishment by the authorities has already been outlawed so what “teeth” would there be to deter young men who might be so inclined?
The Regional TV broadcasters covering NW England scarce mention any of these issues, they certainly do not equate ultra-liberal Criminal justice with proper protection of British citizens (which must be the first priority of any government). But folk living in Cumbria and rural Lancashire are concerned about rising crime, of being able to stay safe, etc. They are concerned about public resources being taken from their communities so that Public transport, roads, local Police Stations, local hospitals and schools are all reduced whilst local businesses- farms, shops, post-offices, pubs are taxed to extinction. Which Regional TV broadcasters are unashamedly championing their causes and fighting their corner?
If certain political Parties are a threat to both domestic and National security, both Local and National Broadcasters have a duty to be candid and to speak truth to power: Especially if one of those political parties is in Government!
Making Lancashire and Cumbria Great Again
If Andy Burnham, and indeed the entire Labour movement (such that it has become), offers nothing for the repair and restoration for once-great and beautiful rural Northern communities local and Regional TV broadcasters have a duty to advise folk to vote for political parties that offer a restoration of law and order, prioritising Defence of the Realm and looking after the needs of Northern rural areas. As I have pointed out before, if a major political Party in the UK pursues policies that leave folk at real risk of physical harm, it is not politically biased to point this out, so if a Labour Government fails to prioritise spending on Defence over Welfare for their core-supporters, if they release violent criminals in their thousands to deal with a Prison-overcrowding crisis, and the Labour Government plan to raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility to 14 whilst advising the Courts not to jail anyone under the age of 18 year old that is a fundamental dereliction of the Main Duty of any Government over all else- Protection of the Citizenry and Defence of the Realm. Nothing in what our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has to say, indicates that he grasps just how much this has to be addressed to demonstrate that he has the answers, and there’s every indication- from his statements- that he wants to tax land and high-value property (i.e., farms) to help regenerate urban areas.
Both the mainstream NW Regional TV broadcasters are so urban-focussed and urban-centric that they are ill-suited to the task of properly dissecting what an Andy Burnham Government means for Cumbria and northern Lancashire. They are even less able to advise folk living in the rural communities northwards of Preston just which of the political Parties will either address the growing tide of Lawlessness spreading across North West England- out from Greater Manchester and Merseyside northwards across Lancashire and into Cumbria. Or indeed which Political Parties have the most appropriate policies for rural northern NW England- i.e., Tax Cuts, support for farmers, more support for rural transport and local rural services like Post Offices, Surgeries, Schools, Pubs, Shops, Reading Rooms, etc.
Which Political Party is likely to start to deal with the Global Warming that has already robbed Cumbria of it’s snowy cold winters that once provided a sense of wonder and awe for those visiting the beautiful Lakeland countryside- and in a way that could yield results without trashing the economy? Both Reform UK and the Tories are likely to have policies that Make Lancashire Great Again (MALA) or Make Cumbria Great Again (MACA), to borrow a well-known political phrase. It is true that they plan to roll back on Net Zero because it is harmful to the Economy, but that cannot be taken to mean that no-one on the Right believes Global Warming is happening. Conservatives are more minded towards preserving the countryside, and it is more than possible that the modern change in Cumbrian winters will find a sympathetic ear in a Conservative Government but they will not wreck the Economy with Net Zero to try and bring snowy winters back to the Lake District (for which folk may be thankful).
Alas, no-one in any senior position at either the BBC or ITV.Plc would be seen dead promoting either Reform UK or the Tories over Labour, so that is a problem! If neither National or Regional TV broadcasters can even bring themselves to admit that maybe, just maybe, Reform UK has more sensible, advisable policies on Law and Order or Immigration than Labour it means those same Broadcasters are incapable of reporting- without fear or favour- on how the policies offered by different Political Parties will affect the future of folk living in Cumbria and Lancashire. If that is indeed so, a completely new, Regional TV service will need to be set up for those folk who live North of Preston, one that is not run by either the BBC or ITV.Plc (so that even rules out ITV Border Lookaround having any role). Support for the Left and disdain for political Parties that want strong immigration controls is now so entrenched in the Management of both the BBC and ITV.Plc that there may be no other option.
Regional TV Broadcasters must Deeply and Sympathetically Cover all topics and issues that directly affect the lives of Viewers in Cumbria, Northern Lancashire and on the Isle of Man
In conclusion, neither BBC North West Tonight nor ITV Granada Reports provide a fundamentally topically and locally relevant Regional TV News-service for viewers who live north of Preston. Folk need news and topical coverage that speaks to, and offers sympathetic coverage and advice on matters that are of direct concern to them. For instance, South Cumbrians, living in towns and villages like Kendal, Ings, Ulpha, Millom and Kirkby Lonsdale- all areas that get at least one of the mainstream Regional TV services for NW England- are concerned:
They are concerned that their communities have lost some of the uniqueness and pleasantness that set them apart, and that Public services have been lost. South Cumbrians are concerned that Antisocial Behaviour is spreading out from the major towns and cities further south and it is bringing devastation to their communities. They are concerned that mass-immigration has led to an influx of Asians and Africans that have totally altered the characteristic and feel of the local area.
Above all Cumbrians are concerned that the winters have become mild and rainy with frequent flooding, snow making just fleeting visits to the highest fells. Gone are the sparkling, snowy winters with hard frosts of yesteryear, which brought a unique Northern beauty and character that set Cumbria apart, especially with the oft-snowbound roads (which certainly marked Cumbria out from other parts of NW England). Above all, these spells of severe winter weather in past years helped bring communities together, everyone rallied around to help neighbours in need. Folk are concerned at the loss of Christian values leading to a breakdown in the sense of civic duty to others in need that many folk used to have.
A Local Tribune for Cumbrians and North Lancastrians
Where is the Public Tribune of Cumbrians and North Lancastrians in their real and understandable concerns? Does it exist, and does it- more than sympathetically cover the issues and concerns of communities- offer practical advice to Cumbrians and North Lancastrians who feel despair, worry and alarm? Like, for instance, Practical Steps for Getting Involved in the Council to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour, or Legal, Effective Self-Defence Measures When Out and About, or Setting Up A Community Interest Company To Run a Community Hospital when the NHS Is about to Close Your Local Surgery.
The existing Regional TV services for NW England and the Isle of Man offer nothing like this, except for the main centres of population, and even then it would seem some topics (i.e., about Immigration) are off-limits! Not even ITV Border Lookaround, which covers most of Cumbria provides in-depth coverage of all folk’s real concerns, and this Regional TV programme covers a rural area. There is a fear, in the Broadcasting Community, of covering issues or concerns that might lead to the authorities coming down hard on them for Racism or being Anti-Youth, or Too Pro-Christian: News flash, to the Broadcasters- We have a Labour Government that wants to Stifle Criticism of – Immigration, Youth Gangs, the Loss of Christian Values, so they need to stop being timid and boldly speak Truth to Power on Matters of Concern for All Their Viewers Wherever They May Live: It’s not as if though journalists lose their lives- as they do in Russia when they provide coverage embarrassing to the Kremlin. The risk of merely losing a job or having PC Plod visit one’s home is almost nothing in comparison. It is the job of broadcasters and journalists to cover all issues dispassionately, without fear or favour. That is what they should be doing, day after day!
If you live in Cumbria and northern Lancashire and despair at the seeming irrelevance that you are fed each night from your TV- and wish broadcasters to report on all issues of concern to you without fear or favour you can email them: You can email ITV Granada Reports at: granada.reports@itv.com, and you can email BBC North West Tonight at: nwt@bbc.co.uk. You can let them know you will be switching over to ITV Border Lookaround which has more rural and Cumbria-sympathetic coverage, and that you may even consider helping set up a Community Interest Company (.CIC) to provide local news that is topically-relevant for your local community. Broadcasters need to realise that they must provide news and coverage relevant to the local communities that they serve, to be more concerned about the news and topical coverage their viewers want- rather than to worry about the current UK Labour Government’s Thought Police!