Press & Media Senior Coordinator IISS - The International Institute for Strategic Studies Former BBC journalist. Part-time #AvGeek & Japanophile
Here
- Tweets 8,095
- Following 1,143
- Followers 3,050
- Likes 1,408
I love my city but I’d rather it grab the headlines for doing things like finding kings under car parks or winning the Premier League than probably being the first to delay the easing of lockdown...
9
17
124
Matt Hancock tells Parliament: “We will look at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland separately when we make the decision on tiering on Wednesday”
16
29
108
I can write any story in a sentence, 3 pars or as many words as required but this one I’ve struggled with for a year and a day. Probably best just to say: I miss you dad
14
68
Bursting with pride to hear my niece Tammy has qualified as a Doctor today! I think that deserves a🍺
2
70
Leicester's MPs say they've been in conference calls with Whitehall, who've said: Leicester pubs, cafes, hairdressers, bars and restaurants CAN re-open (not clear when); leisure centres gyms, swimming pools must stay closed
13
34
59
Clearer map. (The grey area on first version apparently showed areas previously under consideration for lockdown).
Black line = city boundary
Red line = lockdown zone
16
55
53
I know you don’t follow me for personal tweets so apologies that this is one! 2019 has, by and large, been awful for me but I’m so lucky to have amazing family, friends & colleagues that have been my support all year. Thank you. Here’s to a better 2020! 🍾
7
56
To my colleagues in Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire this morning seeking clarity - welcome to my world.
3
4
53
LibDem gain Burbage from Conservatives at County Hall.
Rhiannon Carter 🟢 138
Maddie Lee 🔵 880
James Ross 🔴 401
Barry Walker 🟠 1496
Turnout: 29.68%
2
6
46
3,623
Folks, I don’t want to annoy you but... there are to be further discussions (not in Leicester) that won’t start til 6pm... how long they’ll take is anyone’s guess. But certainly nothing before 6 now...we’re told...
11
22
45
Leicester, Oadby & Wigston are confirmed in the 'high' tier. Everywhere else in Leics & Rutland in 'medium' tier. So, people in Leicester CAN now meet in gardens under the Rule of 6....great timing...
6
19
43
Now hearing there’ll possibly be an announcement at 5 about the Leicester, Oadby & Wigston lockdown. Nobody is sure but we’ll try to bring you news and reaction as soon as we can @BBCLeicester
6
9
43
Normally I’d moan about it (yes, I know, how rare...) but the city council is starting to put up the Christmas lights from this Sunday. And you know what, this time it’s made me smile 🙂
8
47
Oadby & Wigston Council Leader (LDem) to Leics County Leader (Con) "You did not have the good manners to talk to me or communicate" your advice to govt that all county areas except mine should come out of lockdown. "This is a complete slap in the face" to Oadby&Wigston residents
1
32
42
Review of Leicester lockdown now expected on Monday... but hey, we've been caught out by this before haven't we? Not heard from *anyone* in this city who's happy with how information on this is being handled.
4
18
40
“Retweet with comment” Well I can’t think of anything broadcastable right now...
BBC to cut 450 jobs in its English regional TV news and current affairs, local radio and online news
bbc.in/3dNRhe5
8
2
37
PHE data on Covid-19 cases in Leicester:
(16th June): 2,494 cases since start of pandemic, 658 in previous two weeks.
(23rd June): 2,987 cases since start of pandemic, 866 in previous two weeks.
5
37
36
Leicester city council now confirm they WILL be included in the first roll-out of rapid Covid-19 tests. They’ll be working out where these are used in the coming days.
3
7
39
Unanimous cross-party call from County Hall this afternoon for a rethink on the restoration of the Ivanhoe Line thru NW Leics.
All county cllrs want to see it connect into central Leicester
5
7
37
3,158
Well done to Morrison’s supermarket staff tonight facing a long lecture in “proper retail” from a clearly expert shopper complaining he “didn’t like” the way the security guard challenged his lack of a mask. They all had a lot more patience than me. 👏
3
1
34
Health Secretary tells the Commons Covid-19 vaccinations will start in Leicester "in the coming days" and the next list of hospital hubs - including Leicester - will be set out today.
3
10
30
Mum’s the latest graduate of my Panic Photo-taking on a Phone course. Useful as it got a bit too snowy on the A607 towards Belvoir Castle earlier. Cars were turning back towards Melton. Take care out there.
2
4
34
Booster-ified on Sunday. No side-effects. Thank you #NHS LRI vaccination team @Leic_hospital for the efficient, friendly service 🙂
1
33
You might want to avoid the bottom end of Lancaster Road, Leicester at the moment.
Bit soggy
4
7
33
5,846
Getting underway with City Council Planning to consider Leicester City Football Club’s extension of King Power Stadium ⚽️ 🏟
2
4
29
I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a looooong wait at Leicester City Hall this afternoon for an update on the lockdown...
7
5
29
I’m told an official map of the areas affected by the #Leicester lockdown is being published in the next 15 mins or so
9
7
26
On @BBCLeicester with @9amben @dmuanjones at Leicester counts.
No results yet… but we’ve already fallen out
2
3
30
5,013
Inside the new £14.3m St Margaret’s bus station in Leicester… more @BBCLeicester in the morning.
Formal opening on Sunday, operational for local services on Monday
8
6
28
Just popped round the corner to my local shops (yes I live in Leicester) and 2 estate agents, a florist, butcher & kebab shop are open. Is that surprising when we were only asked to go back into tighter lockdown after 9pm last night? And the advice so far has been err...
11
4
25
Happy Monday by the way! It is for Rolston Knight who finally got his British passport after years of struggle #Windrush
2
6
22
..and O&WBC Leader John Boyce has also written to Matt Hancock: "I would like you to correct the inaccurate statement...that you had consulted all Council Leaders. This is clearly not true as you and I have never spoken."
1
15
25
Test & Trace one of the most complex systems we’ve ever worked on says Baroness Dido Harding (Executive Chair of NHS Test and Trace). Leicester, Leics & Rutland have been leading work and sharing best practice on this already.
8
3
23
What you won’t be getting from me: a picture of my ‘home office’. There are enough upsetting scenes around right now.
7
25
To summarise changes following local elections. Council *leaders*:
Blaby 🔵➡️🔵
Charnwood 🔵➡️🔴
Harborough 🔵➡️🟡
Hinck & Bos 🟡➡️🟡
Leicester City🔴➡️🔴
Melton 🔵➡️🔴
NW Leics 🔵➡️🔵
Oadby & Wig 🟡➡️🟡
Rutland 🔵➡️🟡
5
11
22
6,210
Breaking - Agreement struck in Charnwood for a minority Labour administration with Green Party support. Greens say that’s to be reviewed in a year.
Will be put to full council for approval on May 22nd
4
25
3,633
All 5 Police & Crime Commissioner candidates will get together for a debate on the @BBCLeicester Facebook page on Thursday at 1830.
You can join us then and email me your questions now [ address on my profile ]
The studio’s being prepared!
4
12
27
2,800
Just to let you know... I've gone quiet here as I'm in the process of leaving my BBC role.
It's been an amazing time and who knows, I might return - again - to the BBC at some point.
I'll let you know who my shiny new replacement is as soon as I know!
Thank you
16
23
2,510
City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby apologises and regrets what has been seen as “setting a bad example” over visits to his partner during lockdown, reported in a Sunday newspaper today. Will be on @BBCLeicester in the morning.
16
13
21
Just ahead of tonight's Annual Meeting in Harborough, LibDem group leader Cllr Phil Knowles confirms he'll lead his party in an agreement with Greens & Labour to run the district council. Cllr Barbara Johnson nominated as Chair. The
🔴
🟡
🟢
traffic light deal is on after all...
1
11
20
1,887
Final vote on ending the City Mayor role:
14 FOR
7 ABSTAIN
31 AGAINST
The motion fails.
10
3
19
5,169
My guesstimate:
Leicester, Oadby & Wigston are in the new 'high' risk tier, the rest of Leicestershire & Rutland are in the 'medium' tier. That would fit the current arrangements.
7
5
21
Back in Belgrave after a weekend working with the whole @BBCLeicester team on the disorder in our city…thankfully more peaceful this morning
2
1
22
I’m told although the decision on tier allocation for each area of England is due to be made today, the announcement is expected in the Commons tomorrow. Of course there may be leaks but that’s the official process.
4
3
20
We’re live now with the BBC Leicester mayoral debate on Facebook and iPlayer.
(The local Conservative Party has declined to take part)
2
6
19
43,672
Biggest gig in town tonight... they’re queuing round the gardens... live at de Montfort Hall Leicester, yes... give it up for ... your Covid jab! 💉
1
2
21
Thank you! But you know it was a huge team effort today.
That’s what we do @BBCLeicester and right across BBC England on days and nights like this! Very proud of my colleagues
2
1
21
2,292
We need to know exactly what the situation is on the ground in our own city before we take more action - City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby tells @ChrisMasonBBC re surge in Covid-19 cases here
6
5
18
Latest analysis of Covid-19 data from Leicestershire County Council shows Melton's infection rate heading up again:
8
13
19
Studio is set for a debate with those wanting to be Leicester’s next Elected Mayor!
Tonight from 7pm on Facebook 💻📱and on @BBCLeicester 📻 from 10am tomorrow.
4
6
19
5,160
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Cllr Huw Williams quits Conservatives blaming govt handling of the pandemic: "Too many jobs and in some cases people’s life’s work are being placed at risk by the poor handling of this situation"
2
9
14
Update from Dept for Health, re Leicester lockdown: "...current restrictions remaining in place for a further two weeks as cases remain high...next review of these measures will take place by 11th September".
10
20
19
The East Stand extension is approved. The “hybrid” part of this development (all the other buildings) approved in principle but with further details - or any major variation - to be separately considered.
2
20
Big rises in local Covid infection rates /100k in week to 11th Nov:
(England 270.5)
Leicester 518.6 (14th)
Oadby&Wig. 492.9 (18th)
Blaby 427.5 (40th)
Melton 415.9 (45th)
NW Leics 388.0 (61st)
Charnwood 383.1 (63rd)
Hinckley&Bos. 364.2 (69th)
3
11
19
Leicester’s Labour MPs release a joint statement saying the £270k spent on staff severance at the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office is “outrageous”. Ask for urgent explanation & confirmation that last CEO Mike Veale won’t receive any pay out.
2
10
18
3,564
On what would’ve been County & Blaby District Cllr Ernie White’s 78th birthday, family & former colleagues gather at a memorial unveiled to him in Fosse Meadows. “He definitely didn’t want a road named after him!” several people tell me. A good man much missed.
6
17
Relaxed dinner and cosy night on the sofa with a box set? No, give a slapped together plate of pasta and a planning meeting please!
2
15
Sir Keir Starmer tells @BBCLeicester it’ll be the local party that selects a candidate to replace Claudia Webbe for Labour in Leicester East and … Keith Vaz as candidate? “I don’t think that’s going to happen”.
4
4
17
Health Secretary Matt Hancock to make statement in the Commons later - focusing on local lockdowns I’m told. Probably around 5pm... we’ll bring you the latest @BBCLeicester
6
16
18
At Town Hall Leicester as 24 new city cllrs (including 2 returnees) are introduced to the council chamber.
A big change from 2019.
A big change from last month!
2
2
17
2,857
Leicester City Mayor tells @BBCLeicester he estimates "around half" of city primary schools, due to open tomorrow, won't be open for some/most pupils. Headteachers make the decision
2
3
16
Covid infection rates /100k in week to 29th Nov:
(England 153.1)
Oadby&Wig. 287.6 (15th)
Leicester 275.0 (21st)
Blaby 200.9 (65th)
Melton 166.0 (100th)
NW Leics 148.6 (127th)
Harborough 146.0 (130th)
Charnwood 122.7 (170th)
Hinckley&Bos. 94.6 (227th)
6
16
Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe has lost her appeal over a conviction for harassment. We await news on her sentencing.
6
8
16
A thoroughly decent, hard-working leader, never lacking good sense (including in humour). What a shocking loss.
2
18
Right… so nominations have now closed for the local elections across Leicester, Leicestershire’s districts, boroughs and in Rutland.
Now we wait to see the names!
🍿
(Or possibly 🍺)
4
3
16
3,957
Thanks to Rolston Knight for speaking up today @BBCLeicester @bbcemt about #WindrushGeneration issues that almost destroyed him. Wants to see government apology matched with actions.
1
4
12
5 candidates named in Leics & Rutland Police & Crime Commissioner election:
Fizza Askari - One Leicester
Aasiya Bora- Green Party
Rupert Matthews - Conservative
Rory Palmer - Labour
Ian Sharpe - Liberal Democrats
6
15
17
4,438
'Corrected' Covid case numbers in week ending Oct 1st compared to pre-glitch figures were doubled in Oadby & Wigston, Melton and NWLeics. In Charnwood, 55 cases became 141. Harborough saw 22 cases turn into 47. Quite some revisions!
2
9
13
Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe says she’s “alarmed” at the surge in Covid cases apparently centred on her constituency...calling Matt Hancock’s announcement, before official data could be highlighted locally, as “callous” and casual.
1
8
12
Why aren’t Leicester & Leicestershire first in line for new mass testing pilots? Dept of Health say areas were chosen by COVID rates and “expressions of interest”. More with @JCarpenter82 @BBCLeicester after 8
3
2
14
