Two brothers-in-law making weekly podcasts about local and national politics, without the point scoring and guests get to speak.
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Results Live
In our first attempt at location streaming, we'll be up into the early hours of Friday morning as we report from the count.
We'll be sharing the highs and lows along with the results as the voters' choices are counted and each ward in Portsmouth declares a new Councillor.
Predictions - Election's Eve
Ian & Simon take their best gueses at the outcoms for the 14 wards up for election in Portsmouth.
We were joined by two of the candidates on the Hilsea ballot:
🟦 Scott Payter-Harris (Con)
🟥 Mariam Daniel (Lab)
The other candidates on your ballot in Hilsea are:
🟧 Peter Williams (LibDem)
🟩 Emma Murphy (Grn)
⬜️ Emily Strudwick (PIP)
Hilsea
These were the questions we asked:
What are the key issues facing this ward?
What needs to be done to ensure Hilsea's shops can survive?
How can the need for affordable housing be met while restricting the proliferation of HMOs?
Hilsea Lido has been inactive for years and thus a target for Vandals, how can it be turned back into a useful resource?
Inflation in food, energy bills & even council tax typify the cost of living crisis. With many families struggling, what would you see the council do to help?
One of the island's connections to the mainland sits in the ward. So many houses, people & cars. How would you address traffic and parking problems?
What is the one community resource the people of Hilsea need that they don’t have?
The almost certain outcome of the election is NOC, how would you ensure you get the best deal for Hilsea residents?
ASB and other crime is a problem in most parts of the city and there are some hot spots in Hilsea, what is your solution?
With an ageing population what more needs to be done in Hilsea to support these residents?
If successful, what would be the one thing you’d want to see implemented to improve life for residents of the ward?
The candidates who took part were:
🟧Peter Candlish (Liberal Democrats)
🟥Jane Shepherd (Labour)
Mark Zimmer (Reform UK)
🟦Stephen Gorys (Conservative)
The other candidates standing in your election on May 4th are:
⬜️Jenny Dobson (Portsmouth Independents Party)
🟩Tamara Groen (Green)
Eastney & Craneswater
The questions we asked were:
What are the key issues facing this ward?
What would you see the council do to help local shopping areas survive and thrive?
With many leisure and entertainment attractions bringing large numbers of visitors to the ward. How to fix the challenges and make the best of the opportunities this presents?
Name the one service or facility residents don't have access to that you would see provided?
Inflation in food, energy bills & even council tax typify the cost of living crisis. With many families struggling, what would you see the council do to help?
Parking is a problem here as in most parts of the city. How can we solve parking & end rat-run culture without pitting car users against those choosing active travel?
Anti social behaviour, burglary & theft is blighting the lives of residents. What’s your solution?
If successful, what would be the one thing you’d want to see implemented to improve life for residents of the ward?
In our 5th ward hustings of the 2023 elections in Portsmouth we welcome Central Southsea candidates..
🟧Suzy Horton (Liberal Democrats)
🟥Joshua Allen (Labour)
The other candidates standing in your election on May 4th are:
⬜️Lee Tindal (Portsmouth Independents Party)
🟦Alicia Denny (Conservative)*
🟩Menno Groen (Green)
*The Conservative candidate has agreed to provide opening and closing statements, which was read on her behalf as she has a prior commitment.
The questions we asked:-
1. What are the key issues facing this ward?
2. Albert Road marks the southern edge of the ward. What would you see the council do to help local shopping areas survive and thrive?
3. As well as shops, Albert road is also home to many restaurants and entertainment venues like the Wedgewood Rooms & Kings Theatre. How can the council encourage a thriving night-time economy while respecting residents’ need for sleep?
4. How can the need for affordable housing be met while restricting the proliferation of HMOs?
5. Inflation in food, energy bills & even council tax typify the cost of living crisis. With many families struggling, what would you see the council do to help?
6. Parking is a problem here as in most parts of the city. How can we end rat-run culture and solve parking without pitting car users against those choosing active travel?
7. Anti social behaviour, burglary & theft is blighting the lives of residents. What’s your solution?
8. The almost certain outcome of the election is NOC, how would you ensure you get the best deal for the ward’s residents?
9. If successful, what would be the one thing you’d want to see implemented to improve life for residents of the ward?
This year you’ll need ID to vote in person. 🗳️ No ID. 🪪. No Vote.
With the Labour candidate agreeing to join us at the last minute, our Baffins hustings included:
🟦Joe Standen (Conservative)
⬜️Paul Oakley-Cleife (Portsmouth Independents Party)
🟥Mark Farwell (Labour)
The other candidates standing in your election on May 4th are:
🟧Leonie Oliver (Liberal Democrats)*
🟩Bob Simmonds (Green)
*The Liberal Democrat candidate provided written opening and closing speeches, which were read on her behalf.
Baffins
The questions we asked:-
1. What are the key issues facing this ward?
2. Baffins has had a range of independent shops, what needs to be done to protect these?
3. How can the need for affordable housing be met while restricting the proliferation of HMOs?
4. Inflation in food, energy bills & even council tax typify the cost of living crisis. With many families struggling, what would you see the council do to help?
5. Parking is a problem in most parts of the city. As we move to more electric vehicles, and a large number streets only having on street parking, how can this challenge be met?
6. With our households using ever more electricity, what are your thoughts on the Aquind interconnector and what it would mean for the city if it goes ahead?
7. Baffins Pond is a well loved community space, but is regularly blighted by ASB and littering, what more needs to be done to protect it?
8. The almost certain outcome of the election is NOC, how would you ensure you get the best deal for Baffins residents?
If successful, what would be the one thing you’d want to see implemented to improve life for residents of the ward?
Nelson
Who gets your vote in the Portsmouth Nelson ward of Nelson in May's local elections?
We're joined by two of the candidates vying for your votes: Duncan Robinson (Green) & Lee Hunt (Liberal Democrats). Unfortunatley we were not able to secure Robin Head (Labour), Kerryanne Swann (Conservative), Henry Thorpe (Portsmouth Independents Party)
The questions we asked:
What are the key issues facing this ward?
Tipner West (AKA Lennox Point) - positive investment in new housing and maritime economy or vandalism of vital tidal habitat?
How can the need for affordable housing be met while restricting the proliferation of HMOs?
The North End shopping area has seen many shops come and go over the last couple of decades. What should be done to revitalise shopping centres like North End for the 21st century?
Inflation in food, energy bills & even council tax typify the cost of living crisis. With many families struggling, what would you see the council do to help?
Parking is a problem in most parts of the city. As we move to more electric vehicles, and a large number streets only having on street parking, how can this challenge be met?
The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) - the right solution to rising pollution levels or tax on small business?
The subject of antisocial behaviour comes up regularly, what do you believe is the root cause and what more needs to be done to tackle it?
The almost certain outcome of the election is NOC, how would you ensure you get the best deal for Nelson residents?
What things would you like to see the CIL money for Nelson spent on?
If successful, what would be the one thing you’d want to see implemented to improve life for residents of the ward?
St Jude
This year you’ll need ID to vote in person. 🗳️ No ID. 🪪. No Vote.
We were joined by:
🟥Graham Heaney - Labour ⬜️Richard Peckham - Portsmouth Independents Party 🟧Martin Northern - Liberal Democrats
Unfortunately we were not able to secure;
🟦David Chandler - Conservative
🟩Harry Mallinder - Green
These are the questions we asked them:
What do you hear on the doorstep as the biggest issue in St Jude?
St Jude hosts a lot of Southsea’s night-time economy, what needs to be done to keep this sector thriving while balancing the needs of residents?
The most likely outcome of these elections is No Overall Control, how would you look to influence the next administration to get a better deal for St Jude?
Victorious Festival will bring 10s of thousands of people into the ward in late August, is this a welcome attraction or a burden for the residents?
There is a cost-of-living crisis at the moment, what can local Councils do to better support residents?
The work on the sea defences are essential to protect the island is enough being done to protect the aesthetic?
The ward is a parking nightmare, what needs to be done to properly fix this?
Southsea Common has had issues with recreational drugs, do you welcome the banning of Nitrous Oxide?
If you could change just one thing for the ward if you are successful what would it be?
Charles Dickens
In the first of our 2023 ward hustings, we ask Charles Dickens candidates why they should get your vote May 4th.
This year you’ll need ID to vote in person. 🗳️ No ID. 🪪. No Vote.
What do you hear on the doorstep as the biggest issue in Charles Dickens.
Commercial Rd used to be the prime destination for shopping in the city, what would you want to see happen to revive its fortunes?
The most likely outcome of these elections is No Overall Control, how would you look to influence the next administration to get a better deal for Charles Dickens?
There have been many large scale student developments in the ward, does this detract from a sense of community or is it just evolution of it?
There is a cost-of-living crisis at the moment, what can local Councils do to better support residents?
The council owned port is seeing significant growth in cruise liner passengers, is this going to be of any benefit to Charles Dickens or just be bussed past to the more affluent areas of the city?
Charles Dickens has the lowest levels of car ownership in the city but the worst pollution, what more would you want to see done to improve air quality?
Charles Dickens ward experiences significant amounts of anti-social behaviour, do you see the solution as enforcement or education?
If you are successful what would you hope to look different in Charles Dickens at the end of your term?