By Charlotte Ndupuechi. This year more than ever, I’ll be wearing my white poppy. As the month of remembrance draws near, many people will be automatically reaching for the red poppy without actually understanding what this symbolises. When wearing my white poppy, I often get asked about it –...
Opinion Pieces
Opinion: Southampton Forward – really ?
by Charlie Hislop A few weeks ago the Southampton Culture Trust announced it is now to be known as Southampton Forward. The Facebook post said it was exciting news. I was excited for news too, I had been waiting months to find out what was happening. I was looking...
Reader’s letter: shop workers don’t feel safe – we need to do more
By Cllr Beccy Greenhalgh. Last week I gave my maiden speech at a Southampton City Council meeting as a Labour Party councillor for Coxford. I gave it in support of a motion by Cllr Noon which was passed, which said: “Southampton city Council stands with unions and employers in...
Letter: Help save Foxlease Girlguiding activity centre in New Forest
In May this year, Girlguiding UK said they intend to close five training and activity centres at the end of 2023 including Foxlease at Lyndhurst in Hampshire. We have worked tirelessly since that announcement, setting up Foxie’s Future to find a solution so that those in Girlguiding and the...
Opinion: Gaza – the Freedom Flotilla visits Southampton
By Charlie Hislop. Fishing is essential to the livelihoods of the people of Gaza, but for the, fishermen going out in their boats has been likened to entering a ‘military zone’. The Israeli-imposed limit as to how far the fishermen can go out varies – frequently set at six...
Reader’s letter: local people lobbied Southampton MPs as part of Greenpeace Warm this Winter event
by Southampton Greenpeace group. “Constituents met with Caroline Nokes MP on a video call and Alan Whitehead MP in central Southampton as part of the nationwide Warm This Winter mass lobby. Several local people came along to the meetings and shared their experiences of how the current rise in...
Reader’s letter: Let them eat turnips!
by Charlotte Ndupuechi. It feels like we are falling down yet another rabbit hole of totally ridiculous situations in the UK. The Credit Crunch, the Bankers Crash, Covid and now the cost of living crisis. It seems the incompetent UK government are set to drive us from one absurd situation...
Letter: Southampton councillor Barrie Margetts responds to not being permitted to stand for reselection by Labour Party
by Cllr Barrie Margetts. “I am disappointed to not have been permitted by the Labour Party to put myself forward for reselection to stand in the upcoming Council elections as a Labour candidate. I remain supportive of the current leader of the local party, Councillor Kaur. Councillor Kaur is...
Reader’s letter: NHS patients and staff are suffering – and the government are to blame
“The NHS is safe in our hands.” Remember that quote from David Cameron? Twelve years on and the current crisis in Emergency care is anything but safe. Seeing long lines of ambulances unable to deliver their patients to hospital is shocking. Harm is undoubtedly being caused to patients and...
Opinion: How I learnt to stop worrying about The X Factor
by Lewis MacLean. Recent English Eurovision contender and runner up Sam Ryder needs no introduction. He will go down in history as the closest we got (since Bucks Fizz) to winning what England generally condisers the most biased and contentious global competition of all. However, enthusiastic Sotonites who turned...