General Election | The Lead

Pristine beaches, poisoned water: Blackpool let down by water companies

Raw sewage was released into open water on the Fylde Coast more than 1,500 times in 2022. The result is Blackpool's hard-fought status as a safe place to swim is in jeopardy.

By Louisa Gregson

Hidden prehistoric settlement unearthed at new homes site in Bispham

Experts from the University of Salford, drafted in to inspect the area, found evidence of 'low-level occupation of the landscape'

By Michael Holmes

Two men charged after wounding and violent disorder in Blackpool

Ethan Miles and Peter Waite the latest to be charged after disorder in Blackpool

By Luke Beardsworth

Funeral date set for murdered Blackpool toddler Damion Russell over a year after his death

Mystery still surrounds the reason for the 13-month delay in burying the infant

By Paul Faulkner

Residents in Thornton urged to wash home-grown produce due to potential contamination from chemical plant

Wyre Council and the Environment Agency are investigating whether a chemical called Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has contaminated local gardens and allotments

The fall and rise of Blackpool as a cinema town

Cinema was once an important piece of Blackpool’s allure of affordable glamour, with seventeen movie theatres operating in the town at its peak. Now, almost a year after the final Odeon has gone dark, the local council is opening a nine-screen multiplex of its own.

By Antonia Charlesworth Stack

Security pulled back, CCTV off and water disconnected ahead of Warbreck House fire

The owner of the site, in Bispham, has blamed Blackpool Council, the government and United Utilities. But many of their claims are contentious

By Michael Holmes

Blackpool Victoria Hospital staff failed to properly examine heavily pregnant woman before giving her drug

Giving the heavily pregnant mother the drug was proved to be negligent - but it was deemed insufficient to prove a connection between the negligience and complications suffered during birth

By Michael Holmes

Scaffolding up as The Grand Theatre restoration begins

A £450,000 project to restore and repair The Grand in Church Street is up and running

By Ed Walker

Hopes of commercial Blackpool Airport flights given boost

Labour's Louise Haigh vowed that if there is demand, then the possibility can be investigated

By Shelagh Parkinson

Live: General election 2024 updates, results and analysis as the UK votes

Join The Lead for our election night coverage with correspondents in the North of England and our national editors and Westminster Editors in London, plus contributions from our correspondents and writers throughout Thursday 4 July into Friday 5 July.

Reform UK candidate Mark Butcher denies using ChatGPT for 'heartfelt' campaign posts

Mark Butcher admitted to using technology to reply to comments on Facebook for speed purposes, but denied using ChatGPT.

By Jamie Lopez

Destitution is the great silent issue this election

Starmer has promised no return to austerity politics, but that commitment alone is not enough to heal the problem.

By Hannah Fearn

Blackpool mum-of-three dealing with damp and mould facing eviction for raising issue

A mum-of-three was hit with a Section 21 eviction notice after informing her landlord of issues with her home - Shelagh Parkinson reports from the hustings event organised by The Blackpool Lead and Blackpool Gazette

Bolton predicted to show nowhere is safe for Conservatives in the general election

Bolton West is the Conservatives’ most secure seat in Greater Manchester - but YouGov has them losing

By Kevin Gopal

Teesside's so-called Red Wall predicted to be 'substantially rebuilt' in general election

Polling firm YouGov has Labour down to win all of the Teesside seats, with a share of the vote ranging from 39% in Stockton West to 52% in Stockton North

By Kevin Gopal

Warrington: Forged in tragedy, united in resilience and on the brink of political change

Warrington is a town of reconciliation and community. But its seems even this town cannot forgive 14 years of Tory misrule

By Zoë Grünewald

Charities watchdog considering fresh evidence in Mark Butcher investigation

The Charity Commission continues to investigate complaints about a soup kitchen linked to Reform UK candidate Mark Butcher

By Kevin Gopal

Paul Maynard defends parliamentary investigation into him at Blackpool North and Fleetwood hustings

Housing, immigration and Conservative scandal all topics of discussion at our hustings event in Cleveleys

By Luke Beardsworth

The Lead is back in print - ahead of the general election on 4 July

The Lead publishes in Warrington, Altrincham & Sale, Hyndburn, Lancashire, Bury, Burnley and Rossendale in print for the first time - with second editions appearing in Blackpool, Teesside, Bolton and Stoke-on-Trent

By Luke Beardsworth

The Lead is now on Substack.