Will Mr Burnham’s business rates plan work? Thursday, 3 September, 2026 One of Andy Burnham’s first announcements was a 20 percent cut in business rates for pubs. The proposal is welcome. Although many pubs would still be paying more than they were in 2023 and 2024, because it follows substantial increases in recent years, any reduction will be welcomed by a sector under significant pressure. I used to work in the pub trade and know how significant the fixed cost... Articles for the Herald and Post
Will nationalisation reach a better destination? 27th August 2026 A little over a year ago, the Wessex Route – better known to us locally as South Western Railway or SWR – became the first rail franchise to return to state... Articles for the Herald and Post
Time to scrape the Barnacles off the boat, Mr Burnham 20th August 2026 Australian political strategist Sir Lynton Crosby has always believed in the power of simplicity. I remember 21 years ago in the 2005 general election he worked... Articles for the Herald and Post
That vocational education ambition, revisited 13th August 2026 "Unfortunately, for too long, we’ve had too many of our young people leaving school without the necessary skills or direction - and ending up on a dead-end... Articles for the Herald and Post
The final whistle for the PE Premium? 6th August 2026 Less than a year ago, I used this column to raise my concerns about the future of the Primary PE and Sport Premium. At the time, I had been questioning... Articles for the Herald and Post
Update - Housing target in East Hampshire 5th August 2026 Damian has written to Angela Rayner today to urge her to reconsider the government's current housing target for East Hampshire... Local News
Sugar-rush surge creates headache for Healey 30th July 2026 Andy Burnham arrived in Number 10 with people knowing little about his policy intentions. A couple of the Cabinet appointments looked carefully judged to try to... Articles for the Herald and Post
Reporting Back - July 2026 27th July 2026 Click here for the latest edition of Reporting Back: Reporting Back on East Hampshire - Regency Day, farming and much more Reporting Back newsletter
We need more MICE! 23rd July 2026 It’s Farnborough Airshow Week. Every two years Hampshire hosts one of the world’s premier business events, bringing together the global aerospace industry and... Articles for the Herald and Post
Water resources in East Hampshire - update 16th July 2026 Damian issued the following statement today: The availability of water in the northern part of the East Hampshire constituency, including the Alton area, has... Local News
