Embedded Files
They think it's all over..
They think it's all over..
We’re delighted to announce we’ll be hosting an online public meeting on behalf of Let’s Stop Aquind.
We’ll hear from elected officials and campaigners from both sides of the channel as the fight continues to put a stop to this truly bonkers idea.
What is the Aquind interconnector? It’s the controversially funded and designed plan to connect the UK and French electricity grids with a cable across countryside, farmland, parkland and through residential areas from Normandy to Lovedean, digging a trench along congested roads in Portsmouth on the way.
Confirmed speakers:-
Cllr Steve Pitt - Leader Portsmouth City Council
Suella Braverman MP - Fareham & Waterlooville
Cllr Antonia Harrison - Havant Borough Council
Cllr Martin Tod - Leader of Winchester City Council
Yoann Collin - President of Mayors, Normandy, France
Donald Brument - President of Non à Aquind
Full Council 11/11/25
Full Council 11/11/25
Council or consensus or clash of the Councillors?
Council or consensus or clash of the Councillors?
We take a look at the PCC's full council meeting November 11th 2025 - what were the key items on the agenda ? Where was there contention, confusion or chaos, and where was there contemplative, collaborative, calm, consideration and consensus?
Click the dropdowns below for more details of the Notices Of Motion & Questions from Members. and for the links to those parts of the debate.
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion
11a Planning & Infrastructure bill (Opposing government plans to increase the planning applications decided by officers, and limit those decided by Councillors) - Cllrs Gardner (CON) Cllr Simpson (REF) Watch this debate
11b Fair votes (Supporting votes at 16. Proportional representation) - Cllr Hunt (LIB DEM) Cllr Adair (LIB DEM) Watch this debate
11c Support for Healthwatch (Strong opposition to government plans to abolish Healthwatch) - Cllr Swann (CON) Cllr Bosher (CON) Watch this debate
11d Digital IDs (Opposition to government plans to mandate digital IDs) - Cllr Barrett (LIB DEM) Pitt (LIB DEM) Watch this debate
11e <removed to be discussed at next council meeting>
11f Allocation of asylum dispersal (Opposing number housing asylum seekers in Portsmouth compared to other areas) - Cllr Standen (REF) Cllr Madgwick (REF) Watch this debate
11g Support VALOUR Network (Support to improve military housing) - Cllr Fielding (LAB) Cllr Adeniran (LAB) Watch this debate
Questions from Members
Questions from Members
Watch this section of the meeting
12.1 Cllr Dorrington to provide update on what is being done to improve A-level STEM provision in the city. (Cllr Gerada LAB) - written answer to be provided.
12.2 Cllr Hunt to confirm what is being done to stop people burning things causing smoke issues in their gardens in Southsea. (Cllr Fielding LAB)
12.3 Cllr Candlish to answer why the no. 18 bus route uses Kent Rd instead of Portland Road & Osborne Rd. (Cllr Smyth LAB)
12.4 Cllr Pitt to confirm PCC are not requesting a delay to local elections in 2026 and would not support one. (Cllr Madgwick REF)
12.5 Cllr Ashmore to stop environmental services using pesticides blamed for a number of pet illnesses in Anchorage park. (Cllr Dent REF)12.6 Cllr Mason to report on council officers' meeting with developers of the former John Lewis building and update on lack of progress. (Cllr Heaney LAB)
12.7 Cllr Pitt to update whether Southsea Farmers Market might soon cease trading on Palmerston Rd. (Cllr Smyth LAB)12.8 Cllr Candlish update on closure of alleyway to west of Wimbledon Park - will it be reopened soon? (Cllr Smyth LAB)
Five years on, is the end in sight?
Five years on, is the end in sight?
Can the controversial Aquind electricity interconnector project between Normandy, France and Portsmouth, England - cutting a swathe through countryside, farmland and disrupting residents digging up residential and vital arterial roads finally get stopped for good?
Five years on, we invite Let’s Stop Aquind and their French counterpart, Non à Aquind back onto the show to share the latest.
🌍 Brits Abroad: Lost Votes 🗳
🌍 Brits Abroad: Lost Votes 🗳
3 1/2 million British citizens living overseas are entitled to vote in UK elections, but only 200,000 are registered to do so.
-What elections are they entitled to vote in?
-How does it work?
-How long does this entitlement to vote in UK elections last?
-Why aren’t more Brits living overseas retaining their right to vote?
We hear from members of the British Overseas Voters Forum to help us separate fact from fiction and understand the struggles Brits abroad face having a say in the future decisions in the UK.
To help our far flung expatriots attend the show live, this show will stream at 12pm GMT Sunday 26th October (dont forget the clocks go back from BST to GMT this sunday in the UK).
More details of British Overseas Voters Forum https://bovf.org.uk
Find out how to register to vote abroad https://www.gov.uk/voting-when-living-abroad
2025 Paulsgrove by election hustings
2025 Paulsgrove by election hustings
These are the questions we asked the candidates:-
What are the people of Paulsgrove telling you is the most important issue they want addressed - and if elected how will you as a Councillor address it?
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Good or bad thing for Portsmouth?
How important is it to live in the ward you represent?
The area around Paulsgrove and on Portsdown Hill is often used as an illegal racetrack. Is enough being done to stop this, what's your solution?
How much do you feel national party politics will influence the outcome of this election?
Port Solent and Paulsgrove have very different resident demographics, needs and challenges, how would you address those different needs?
Recent announcements revealed a multi million pound investment in Portsmouth from central government, as well as £2m per year for the next decade for Paulsgrove. What should it be spent on?
Paulsgrove (a council ward in Portsmouth UK) goes the polls in a by election October 23rd 2025 after the resignation in mid September of the Portsmouth Independent Party Councillor Brian Madgwick for health reasons.
We invited all five candidates to take part in our online hustings. The candidates in this election are:-
Georgina Ayling - Green Party
Thomas Hoare - Conservative Party
Sydna Phillips - Labour Party
Michelle Simmons - Liberal Democrats
Joe Standen - Reform UK
Unfortunately the Lib Dem and Green Party candidates informed us they wouldn't be able to make the hustings.
Although the reform candidate had originally accepted and confirmed the date, and despite several communications back and forth this week, informed us the day before the hustings that they had another appointment the evening of the hustings and could not attend.
The two candidates taking part and answering questions were Sydna Phillips (Labour) & Thomas Hoare (Conservative)
Conferences 2025 - fanfare or flop?
Conferences 2025 - fanfare or flop?
It’s been a packed political conference season across the UK — from the bold promises of Reform in Birmingham, Labour’s big pledges in Liverpool to the Lib Dems’ revival talk in Bournemouth, followed by the Greens’ record-breaking Bournemouth weekend before the Conservatives’ closed the season with their reset in Manchester,
What really stood out? Who connected with the public — and who missed the mark?
Join us for this week’s Pompey Politics Podcast as we unpack the five major party conferences of 2025. Sunday October 12th 6:27pm
🎙️We’ll hear first hand comment from party members.
We look at:
💬 The biggest announcements from each
📈 What resonated with voters
🗳️ How the parties are positioning for the next General Election
🎧 Tune in, comment live, and tell us:
👉 Which party spoke to you this conference season?
👉 Which announcement might actually change the political landscape?
How do the parties decide policy? (Sourced from ChatGPT)
How do the parties decide policy? (Sourced from ChatGPT)
🟦 Conservative Party
🟦 Conservative Party
Process:
Top-down and leader-driven.
Policy is largely shaped by the Prime Minister or party leader, ministers, and advisers.The Conservative Policy Forum (CPF) collects views from grassroots members, but its influence is advisory, not binding.
The 1922 Committee (of backbench MPs) can indirectly influence direction by voicing MPs’ priorities or concerns.
The Conservative Research Department (CRD) and think tanks (like Policy Exchange or Onward) often generate ideas that become official policy.
Summary:
👉 The leadership dominates policy-making; members and activists can contribute ideas but don’t have formal power to set policy.
🌹 Labour Party
🌹 Labour Party
Process:
More democratic and rule-based than the Conservatives.
The National Policy Forum (NPF) and Policy Commissions draft policy proposals, feeding into the Labour Party Conference.
Conference votes on policy motions, though the leadership can interpret or prioritise them selectively.
The NEC (National Executive Committee) and Shadow Cabinet also play major roles.
Before elections, the Clause V meeting decides what goes into the manifesto — chaired by the leader and includes key representatives from the NEC, unions, and MPs.
Summary:
👉 Members, trade unions, and affiliates all have input, but the leader and NEC ultimately shape the final policy platform.
🟨 Liberal Democrats
🟨 Liberal Democrats
Process:
The most member-led of the big parties.
Federal Party Conference (held twice a year) votes on policy motions — once passed, these become official party policy.
Policy Working Groups (appointed by the Federal Policy Committee) develop detailed proposals for conference debate.
The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) ensures coherence and drafts the manifesto based on democratically agreed policy.
Summary:
👉 The grassroots literally decide policy through conference votes; leadership can shape emphasis but not override member decisions.
🟩 Green Party of England and Wales
🟩 Green Party of England and Wales
Process:
Entirely member-driven and consensus-based.
Party Conference is sovereign — members propose, debate, and vote on policies.
The Policy Development Committee helps structure and maintain the Policies for a Sustainable Society (the Greens’ living policy document).
Elected leaders and spokespeople must stay consistent with conference-approved policy, though they can prioritise aspects in campaigns.
Summary:
👉 Strongly democratic and bottom-up — every member can help make and change policy.
🩶 Scottish National Party (SNP)
🩶 Scottish National Party (SNP)
Process:
Policy is shaped by National Conference, which votes on motions from branches and affiliated groups.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) and parliamentary leadership (Scottish Government ministers, MSPs, MPs) also influence direction heavily.
In practice, the Scottish Government’s programme (if the SNP is in power) dominates policy priorities.
Summary:
👉 Officially democratic through conference votes, but in government the leadership and ministers have the strongest hand.
Paulsgrove by-election hustings
Paulsgrove by-election hustings
We're delighted to announce our Paulsgrove by-election hustings
Confirmed as attending so far:-
Thomas Hoare (Conservative)
Joe Standen (Reform)
Sydna Phillips (Labour)
Join us live Sunday October 19th 6:27pm
Recent episodes:
Recent episodes:
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