General Election | The Lead

Inside Stoke-on-Trent's battle with monkey dust

Austerity and deprivation are just two contributing factors for the rise of monkey dust in Stoke-on-Trent - and more needs to be done to tackle these root causes

By Jessica Bradley

Stoke the embers - how the ceramics industry is firing up for the future

At the height of production, Stoke-on-Trent supported 70,000 jobs in the ceramics industry, earning its moniker the Potteries.

By Antonia Charlesworth Stack

Government cut Stoke-on-Trent Council to the bone then offered 'payday loan'

In 2010 Stoke-on-Trent had central government funding of £95 million a year. That’s now £27 million. It lost £270 million as a result.

By Kevin Gopal

Six towns, one city: The changing face of Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent's identity as both a city and the Six Towns can be confusing for non-Stokies. Here, Sarah, who directs the Six Towns Carnival, examines those identities as the area has changed over the decades

By Sarah Chevolleau

600kg of food binned: Scrap use by dates

Affordable Food Stoke threw away 600 kilos of food that could have been distributed to the community in January - so they're calling for a change to the rules

By Antonia Charlesworth Stack

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.