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🌍 Brits Abroad: Lost Votes 🗳
🌍 Brits Abroad: Lost Votes 🗳
3 1/2 million British citizens living overseas are entitled to vote in UK elections, but only 200,000 are registered to do so.
-What elections are they entitled to vote in?
-How does it work?
-How long does this entitlement to vote in UK elections last?
-Why aren’t more Brits living overseas retaining their right to vote?
We hear from members of the British Overseas Voters Forum to help us separate fact from fiction and understand the struggles Brits abroad face having a say in the future decisions in the UK.
To help our far flung expatriots attend the show live, this show will stream at 12pm GMT Sunday 26th October (dont forget the clocks go back from BST to GMT this sunday in the UK).
2025 Paulsgrove by election hustings
2025 Paulsgrove by election hustings
These are the questions we asked the candidates:-
What are the people of Paulsgrove telling you is the most important issue they want addressed - and if elected how will you as a Councillor address it?
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Good or bad thing for Portsmouth?
How important is it to live in the ward you represent?
The area around Paulsgrove and on Portsdown Hill is often used as an illegal racetrack. Is enough being done to stop this, what's your solution?
How much do you feel national party politics will influence the outcome of this election?
Port Solent and Paulsgrove have very different resident demographics, needs and challenges, how would you address those different needs?
Recent announcements revealed a multi million pound investment in Portsmouth from central government, as well as £2m per year for the next decade for Paulsgrove. What should it be spent on?
Paulsgrove (a council ward in Portsmouth UK) goes the polls in a by election October 23rd 2025 after the resignation in mid September of the Portsmouth Independent Party Councillor Brian Madgwick for health reasons.
We invited all five candidates to take part in our online hustings. The candidates in this election are:-
Georgina Ayling - Green Party
Thomas Hoare - Conservative Party
Sydna Phillips - Labour Party
Michelle Simmons - Liberal Democrats
Joe Standen - Reform UK
Unfortunately the Lib Dem and Green Party candidates informed us they wouldn't be able to make the hustings.
Although the reform candidate had originally accepted and confirmed the date, and despite several communications back and forth this week, informed us the day before the hustings that they had another appointment the evening of the hustings and could not attend.
The two candidates taking part and answering questions were Sydna Phillips (Labour) & Thomas Hoare (Conservative)
Conferences 2025 - fanfare or flop?
Conferences 2025 - fanfare or flop?
It’s been a packed political conference season across the UK — from the bold promises of Reform in Birmingham, Labour’s big pledges in Liverpool to the Lib Dems’ revival talk in Bournemouth, followed by the Greens’ record-breaking Bournemouth weekend before the Conservatives’ closed the season with their reset in Manchester,
What really stood out? Who connected with the public — and who missed the mark?
Join us for this week’s Pompey Politics Podcast as we unpack the five major party conferences of 2025. Sunday October 12th 6:27pm
🎙️We’ll hear first hand comment from party members.
We look at:
💬 The biggest announcements from each
📈 What resonated with voters
🗳️ How the parties are positioning for the next General Election
🎧 Tune in, comment live, and tell us:
👉 Which party spoke to you this conference season?
👉 Which announcement might actually change the political landscape?
How do the parties decide policy? (Sourced from ChatGPT)
How do the parties decide policy? (Sourced from ChatGPT)
🟦 Conservative Party
🟦 Conservative Party
Process:
Top-down and leader-driven.
Policy is largely shaped by the Prime Minister or party leader, ministers, and advisers.The Conservative Policy Forum (CPF) collects views from grassroots members, but its influence is advisory, not binding.
The 1922 Committee (of backbench MPs) can indirectly influence direction by voicing MPs’ priorities or concerns.
The Conservative Research Department (CRD) and think tanks (like Policy Exchange or Onward) often generate ideas that become official policy.
Summary:
👉 The leadership dominates policy-making; members and activists can contribute ideas but don’t have formal power to set policy.
🌹 Labour Party
🌹 Labour Party
Process:
More democratic and rule-based than the Conservatives.
The National Policy Forum (NPF) and Policy Commissions draft policy proposals, feeding into the Labour Party Conference.
Conference votes on policy motions, though the leadership can interpret or prioritise them selectively.
The NEC (National Executive Committee) and Shadow Cabinet also play major roles.
Before elections, the Clause V meeting decides what goes into the manifesto — chaired by the leader and includes key representatives from the NEC, unions, and MPs.
Summary:
👉 Members, trade unions, and affiliates all have input, but the leader and NEC ultimately shape the final policy platform.
🟨 Liberal Democrats
🟨 Liberal Democrats
Process:
The most member-led of the big parties.
Federal Party Conference (held twice a year) votes on policy motions — once passed, these become official party policy.
Policy Working Groups (appointed by the Federal Policy Committee) develop detailed proposals for conference debate.
The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) ensures coherence and drafts the manifesto based on democratically agreed policy.
Summary:
👉 The grassroots literally decide policy through conference votes; leadership can shape emphasis but not override member decisions.
🟩 Green Party of England and Wales
🟩 Green Party of England and Wales
Process:
Entirely member-driven and consensus-based.
Party Conference is sovereign — members propose, debate, and vote on policies.
The Policy Development Committee helps structure and maintain the Policies for a Sustainable Society (the Greens’ living policy document).
Elected leaders and spokespeople must stay consistent with conference-approved policy, though they can prioritise aspects in campaigns.
Summary:
👉 Strongly democratic and bottom-up — every member can help make and change policy.
🩶 Scottish National Party (SNP)
🩶 Scottish National Party (SNP)
Process:
Policy is shaped by National Conference, which votes on motions from branches and affiliated groups.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) and parliamentary leadership (Scottish Government ministers, MSPs, MPs) also influence direction heavily.
In practice, the Scottish Government’s programme (if the SNP is in power) dominates policy priorities.
Summary:
👉 Officially democratic through conference votes, but in government the leadership and ministers have the strongest hand.
Paulsgrove by-election hustings
Paulsgrove by-election hustings
We're delighted to announce our Paulsgrove by-election hustings
Confirmed as attending so far:-
Thomas Hoare (Conservative)
Joe Standen (Reform)
Sydna Phillips (Labour)
Join us live Sunday October 19th 6:27pm
Points made - not scored?
Points made - not scored?
National digital ID cards?
Paulsgrove by-election candidates announced
Portsmouth City Council full council meeting 23rd September
We take a look at political news local and national, discuss and through some ideas back and forth.
Are these changes really needed? Are they well thought out?
What did we miss? (over the summer)
What did we miss? (over the summer)
Returning from our summer break & in the first episode of our Autumn 2025 season we ask :-
Did anything happen over the summer?
What were the events of comment for you locally, nationally and internationally?
Full Council Report July 2025
Full Council Report July 2025
We review Portsmouth City Council’s meeting of the Full Council July 15th 2025 - what were the big items on the agenda? Which were controversial ? Where was there harmony? Where was there heated debate?
In this meeting the council discussed:-
🗳️ an update on the government's Local Government Reorganisation and what that means for Portsmouth.
🏢 The planning squeeze on Portsmouth as it's forced to allow the building of more and more homes
💨Improving air quality in the city
🌊 Is the council reacting fast enough to the threat of the climate emergency?
👨🦽➡️The lack of disability accessible equipment and the city's play parks.
🏘️The unintended consequences of 'lawful development certificates' - and how this could increase HMO developments
🚬Tackling rogue traders selling illegal tobacco & vapes
💩 Southern Water - will massive increases in bills result in massive reductions in sewage pollution in our area?
Join us 6:27pm. Sunday. Live on Facebook, YouTube & LinkedIn.
Available later that evening wherever you get your podcasts.
Menopause Matters
Menopause Matters
Joining us this week is Claire Hattrick she'll be talking about challenges facing menopausal women, what employers can do to support & retain staff as they experience menopause & what help is available.
Polluted Portsmouth
Polluted Portsmouth
With air pollution in our congested city contributing to respiratory illness and shortening the life expectancies of residents - we ask local air quality campaigners what improvements have been made, and what more could be done?
We hear from thee clean-air campaigners and interview PCC Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation, Cllr Peter Candlish.
Mayor's Musings
Mayor's Musings
We ask former Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Jason Fazackarley about his and Lady Mayoress, Helen Mitchell's highs & lows for their year representing the city of Portsmouth and its residents.
What questions would like us to ask a former Lord Mayor?
Mayor's Musings - Landscape
Mayor's Musings - Landscape
Mayor's Musings - Recorded livestream - Portrait
Mayor's Musings - Recorded livestream - Portrait
What do YOU think?
What do YOU think?
We took a brief look at some of the key events, local, national or worldwide from the last couple of weeks as chosen by our audience, and share our observations.
Israel (& the USA) bombing Iran's nuclear sites.
The Welfare Reform bill
Government u-turn on holding another inquiry into grooming gangs
Portrait or Landscape? You decide
Portrait or Landscape? You decide
Pride UK in Portsmouth
Pride UK in Portsmouth
Portsmouth this year hosts UK Pride, and with Pride itself rapidly approaching, we hear from Tally Aslam, Co-Chair of the Portsmouth Pride Trust.
What’s on the itinerary for June 7th?
How are Pride navigating the politics?
Protest, great day out or both?
Time for a smartphone ban (in schools) ?
Time for a smartphone ban (in schools) ?
With several countries around the world enacting bans on smartphones in schools, and on social media access for children, we ask -
Is their pervasive use having an detrimental impact on learning, concentration, mental health?
Should the UK also instigate a ban?
What’s happening in today’s classrooms, and what might the solutions be?
We’re joined by Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education on Portsmouth City Council, 🟧Cllr Nick Dorrington, 🟥Cllr Mark Coates who happens to be a teacher, along with Rachael Speed, also a Teacher.
This week saw Portsmouth City Council’s Mayor Making ceremony and Annual General Meeting.
We interviewed Cllrs Graham Heaney (LAB) & George Madgwick (PIP) to hear what happened when there were two parties with the next largest number of councillors after the Lib Dem administration.
How do you make a Mayor?
How do you decide who takes the 2nd spot when more than one group has the same number of councillors?
Why didn't PIP join the other members of the council on stage for the ceremony?
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