Bylines Network

Could Britain move closer to the EU without joining it? A Swiss-style deal could bring single-market access and free movement, but also obligations, compromises and difficult political choices. Niall Ó Conghaile explores what it could mean. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @nialloconghaile.bsky.social

They buried their son. Then…they had to pull him back from the earth. What happened to Mir Raza Ali? | Yumna Zahid Ali

Update: the bookie's application has been rejected, now the community want their library back.  | Adam Green

In Part Three, the final part, I’ll describe what happened on the first day of the event, 25 September 2021 | Ray Casey

A Tyneside pizza company boss who fraudulently secured £150,000 in Covid loans to support his business has been jailed | Peter Morris

The new budget announcement for this upcoming Wednesday needs redistribution alongside devolution in order to be effective  | Peter Sagar

The Budget; the North East needs redistribution as well as devolution The new budget announcement for this upcoming Wednesday needs redistribution alongside devolution in order to be effective northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...

All rivers spill their stories to the sea: a River Tees pollution story. Part Three In Part Three, the final part, I’ll describe what happened on the first day of the event, 25 September 2021 northeastbylines.co.uk/news/environ...

Could Britain’s next relationship with the EU look less like membership – and more like Switzerland? Andy Burnham’s remarks on free movement have revived an intriguing possibility. Niall Ó Conghaile examines what it could actually mean.

Democracies die slowly then suddenly Andy Burnham has rightly said he wants to end 50 years of neoliberalism. But achieving it will require a country governed democratically westenglandbylines.co.uk/politics/dem...

Whitley Bay pizza boss jailed for Covid loan fraud A Tyneside pizza company boss who fraudulently secured £150,000 in Covid loans to support his business has been jailed northeastbylines.co.uk/region/tynes...

University Professor shares exciting insights into how bats socialise and why our world wouldn’t be the same without them | University of Chester

Look out for new articles from @sussexbylines.co.uk We publish 5 days a week, excluding Monday and Wednesday. Some brilliant articles by our citizen journalists coming up, including a review of a controversial plan for the siting of an enormous data centre, and an investigation into dodgy developers

Speed limit imposed on Starlink threatened Ukraine's defences, further straining their relationship with the US

What brings grey-faced dancers, ivy-clad musicians, flaming torches and the beat of drums into a Suffolk wood on a winter evening? It’s an old East Anglian tradition with a decidedly magical atmosphere, writes Kate Viscardi. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @gardeningkate.bsky.social

“It’s all Obama’s fault.” Barack Obama’s 2008 victory seemed to herald a transformed America. Instead, it was followed by birtherism, the politics of ‘replacement’ – and Donald Trump. J ‘Masharubu’ Strauss asks how one led to the other.

Chancellor John Healey and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have announced plans to revise the famous (or infamous) Green Book used to assess proposals for government investment projects to the benefit of regions northeastbylines.co.uk/business/eco...

Film review: Wildwood Wildwood marks Laika’s first feature film in more than half a decade. It looks and sounds gorgeous, but some characters lack depth westenglandbylines.co.uk/society/cult...

Palantir executive and former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson sent Clive Lewis a detailed account of the MP’s criticism of the company. Lewis read the subtext as: “We are watching you. We are monitoring you. Your card is marked.” Why? Aidan Baker explains

Nobody is telling you the truth about immigration. Not the Left. Not the Right Britain cannot have a serious debate about immigration while its politicians are using the issue rather than addressing it northeastbylines.co.uk/news/politic...

All rivers spill their stories to the sea: a River Tees pollution story. Part Two Report by Ray Casey northeastbylines.co.uk/business/all...

Jarrow gets a new Suffragan Bishop The modern suffragan bishopric of Jarrow has historic associations with the dual monastery of Wearmouth–Jarrow (St. Peter's and St. Paul's) northeastbylines.co.uk/region/tynes...

We hear plenty about young people struggling to find work. But what about the over-50s? Nearly 3 million people below pension age are out of work, education or training – and many want to work. Why are they getting so little attention? @eastangliabylines.co.uk

“Andy Burnham should announce a structured national conversation about our relationship with Europe… It should run for 12 to 18 months, with citizens, communities, businesses and civic organisations at the forefront of the discussion.”

Were Brexit’s “useful idiots” for Russia guilty of treason – or just rank stupidity? Also in Pecksniff: 61 departed Reform councillors, Kemi Badenoch’s ECHR problem and Liz Truss’s latest bid for relevance. The week in politics, with teeth. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social

One of the world's rarest types of river flows through Norwich. Yet the Wensum and neighbouring Yare may be in their worst ever condition. Restoration could take 30 years and cost hundreds of millions. Who's going to pay? @eastangliabylines.co.uk @celinawords.bsky.social

Scams to look out for, news, and some expert tips on outsmarting the scammers | Peter Sagar

The refurbishment, from a £140m government pot, is being designed for a more efficient, welcoming emergency department with reduced waiting times  | Gareth Lightfoot

The smoke-marked flag, with its bullet holes and splinters, evokes a strong emotional response despite the passing of two centuries since it was flown in battle | Heather Shannon

"The Prime Minister is right to ask for an honest debate, and honesty starts with the numbers. Brexit didn't end migration, it swapped a fluid two-way exchange for a one-way visa ratchet leading to more permanent settling" | North East Bylines

"The Prime Minister is right to ask for an honest debate, and honesty starts with the numbers. Brexit didn't end migration, it swapped a fluid two-way exchange for a one-way visa ratchet leading to more permanent settling" northeastbylines.co.uk/news/europe-...

Save Liverpool Libraries tries to stop a previous library turning into yet another bookmaker shop, but could it still be viable as a library? | Adam Green

Scams and ways to protect yourself Scams to look out for, news, and some expert tips on outsmarting the scammers northeastbylines.co.uk/business/tec...

Special Trafalgar Day for the North East The smoke-marked flag, with its bullet holes and splinters, evokes a strong emotional response despite the passing of two centuries since it was flown in battle northeastbylines.co.uk/region/north...

On the urgency of reforming our electoral system First past the post no longer works for multiparty politics. The solution exists, so why delay electoral reform? By John Cole

The route the Norman army took from Hastings to Dover remains a mystery | Ginny Smith

Michael Palin swimming through a vast shoal of fish. Yorkshire Dales escapism. Celebrity treachery. Bulletproof spies. With clocks going back, Ben Smith has been seeking distraction from the darker evenings – with decidedly mixed results. Read his reviews ⤵️ @eastangliabylines.co.uk

University Hospital of North Tees to get £1mn for emergency department refurbishment The refurbishment, from a £140m government pot, is being designed for a more efficient, welcoming emergency department with reduced waiting times northeastbylines.co.uk/news/health/...

Newcastle/Gateshead: 2050 vision can help save green belt Push to double population of central Newcastle and Gateshead by 2050 could help save green belt northeastbylines.co.uk/news/housing...

Push to double population of central Newcastle and Gateshead by 2050 could help save green belt  | Daniel Holland

We’re told to prepare for emergencies at home. Yet when local authorities ask for the full picture on ecological risk, the answer is often secrecy. How can communities prepare? asks Cllr Gary Champion.

Gary Oldman is still magnificent. The trouble, says Ben Smith, is that Slow Horses may have galloped past the point where it should have stopped. His verdict on series six – plus three other shows for the darker evenings.

Were Brexit’s “useful idiots” for Russia guilty of treason – or just rank stupidity? Also in Pecksniff: 61 departed Reform councillors, Kemi Badenoch’s ECHR problem and Liz Truss’s latest bid for relevance. The week in politics, with teeth. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social

Jason Arday and the press that learned nothing from Leveson The relentless reporting on Jason Arday brought it home – parts of the mainstream media care more about clicks than fair, proportionate coverage | Gemma Gould @gemmagould.bsky.social

Jason Arday and the press that learned nothing from Leveson The relentless reporting on Jason Arday brought it home – parts of the mainstream media care more about clicks than fair, proportionate coverage | Gemma Gould @gemmagould.bsky.social

Even more children can enjoy Bring it on Boro this half term “Giving young people the best possible start in life is key to ensuring Middlesbrough thrives, and I’m pleased we can extend these opportunities to even more families” northeastbylines.co.uk/region/teess...

Pecksniff casts a jaundiced eye at Brexit’s “useful idiots” for Russia. * Lib Dems gird their loins for a December election. * Kemi Badenoch discovers Churchill may not pass her ECHR purity test. And much more...

Why the USA is refusing to support Saudi Arabia against the Houthis Trump refuses to help allied country Saudi Arabia following Houthi strikes northeastbylines.co.uk/news/world-n...

A five year fund gives raises the opportunity to support local red squirrel awareness and conservation initiatives northeastbylines.co.uk/news/environ...

The Environment Agency EA has opened a consultation into its draft decision to grant an environmental permit to Fornax (North East) Ltd for an energy-from-waste plant at Merchant Park, Newton Aycliffe in County Durham | Peter Morris