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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Menday posted several pictures alongside Nazi memorabilia, including swastika flags and SS uniforms. He called a section of the UK "subhuman" and consistently posted in support of Nazi ideology. Interestingly, no #Reform members in Woodhouse had met him before the election, as I reported last week.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

It didn't take long for Mr Menday to become the story again. As first reported by @thestar.co.uk, #ReformUK councillor Menday, who won in Woodhouse in #Sheffield by more than 1,000 votes and more than doubled every other candidate, has been suspended by the party just days after his victory.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

The other major story today from #Sheffield is this man: Nathaniel Menday. The controversial Reform UK candidate who said Nazis were visionaries won comfortably in Woodhouse. This is despite some members of his own party in the area never having met him.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A lonely Tom Hunt on the phone after his result was announced. Cannot help but feel sorry for a well-respected council leader

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

BREAKING: #Sheffield council leader Tom Hunt has lost his seat in Walkley by 73 votes. Andy Davies of the Green Party has been elected. It is the headline of a dismal day for the Labour Party here in Sheffield and across the country

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop is here, including my desperate efforts to tackle the #Sheffield Half Marathon. Also is an update on Sheffield Hallam strikes, an intriguing transport pilot, and two Sheffield heroes meeting King Charles! open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Tuesday, March 31

The Sheffield Half Marathon comes and goes, the council's brave transport plans, and another music venue in financial difficulty

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

The corridor will stretch from Sheffield through Attercliffe, Tinsley and Templeborough into Rotherham Gateway, the town centre, and Bassingthorpe. Mr Coppard said the area's industrial past has been "forgotten by some", but this will put it at the "forefront of the UK’s manufacturing renewal".

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Included is the transformation of the former Orgreave site into an "advanced manufacturing hub". South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority claims this will be a "model for UK economic renewal".

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

More major news in #Sheffield. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard will unveil plans for the Don Valley Corridor today. The plans include 18,500 new jobs, 10,500 new homes and a £1.3 billion boost to the South Yorkshire economy.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Some £35 million of the funding comes from central government, with a further £10 million from private investment. The new Crucible will feature 1,500 seats and the 18-month refurbishment is due to begin in the summer of 2028. What great news for #Sheffield

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

BREAKING: #Snooker is staying in Sheffield. It was thought the sport would leave its home after its contract with The Crucible ends next year, but thanks to a £45 million revamp, the sport will stay in Sheffield until at least 2045.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Great story, Liam. I've been reporting on this issue for a while in Sheffield and the wider Yorkshire region. It's a serious issue that needs a solution, as the chart below shows rather starkly. www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Hi Fiona, could you drop me a message about this, please? I'd be interested to hear more for YorkshireLive. Cheers

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

The court heard how he engineered a cult-like status to sexually abuse tens of women. The trial will continue for around eight weeks, and I will be covering it at times throughout that period. You can read the summary of the opening arguments here: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

examinerlive.co.uk

Sheffield church leader created cult to sexually assault women, court hears

Christopher Brain, 68, denies 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I watched the opening arguments of the Chris Brain trial at Inner London Crown Court earlier this week. Brain is accused of 36 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. The 68-year-old ran the Nine O'Clock Service in Sheffield from 1985 to 1994.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

I also reflect on @mileskane.bsky.social rocking @theleadmill.bsky.social to give a big send-off to Sheffield's most iconic music venue, and touch on the #greenbelt protests.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

And then there is a bumper load of events at the weekend, including the wonderful @migmatfest.bsky.social drawing to a close.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Northumbria Police is in hot water after the force disposed of documents relating to the miners' strikes in the 1980s, including the Battle of Orgreave -- @orgreavejustice.bsky.social.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Meanwhile, @unitetheunion.bsky.social members have voted to continue the long-running Veolia strike. It means bin collections will continue to be disrupted across #Sheffield.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop is here: @sheffcitycouncil.bsky.social wants an urgent conversation with the government after new legislation -- on which it was not consulted -- may overturn the city's 2021 referendum on how the council is run. open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday, June 27

In today's edition: The council gets a surprise, a horrifying attack on a Sheffield mosque, and the latest update on the long-running Veolia strike.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The turnout was 36.8%, which is significantly higher than average for local elections. Perhaps shows the growing impact Reform is having in areas across the country.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Sheffield has its first Reform UK councillor. Overnight, John Booker won the Upper Don and Stocksbridge by-election, securing 32.9% of the vote. Mr Booker has been a councillor before, representing UKIP in West Ecclesfield from 2014 to 2019.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

MP Abitsam Mohamed did sign the agreement. She said: " Like many of my colleagues, I didn’t become an MP to make disabled people poorer." You can read the full story, including reactions from more Sheffield MPs here: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

examinerlive.co.uk

All Sheffield MPs have signed to block PIP cuts - except disability campaigner

All Sheffield's MPs have signed an amendment to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - except one

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Dr Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has not signed the amendment, despite all five of her Sheffield-based Labour colleagues having done so. Her office told me they would not be making a comment.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

As an increasing number of Labour MPs rebel against the government's welfare reforms, I asked the only Sheffield MP why they did not sign an amendment to potentially reject disability benefit cuts.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

There was also a pro-Palestine rally outside a Sheffield factory that may or may not have supplied parts for F-35 fighter jets, and South Yorkshire leaders responded to the child grooming sex scandal inquiry You can find the latest edition is here: thesheffielddrop.substack.com/p/the-sheffi...

thesheffielddrop.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Wednesday, June 18

Water dominates in today's Sheffield Drop, with warnings over how to use less from Yorkshire Water and warnings about swimming in Sheffield and South Yorkshire's many lakes and reservoirs.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

The latest edition of The Sheffield Drop has landed in your inboxes - and it's all about 💧: - Yorkshire Water is urging residents to limit their usage - Police are warning kids against open-water swimming - Meanwhile, South Yorkshire's most senior firefighter is arguing for a water safety minister

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

💧Today's edition of The Sheffield Drop is out. ✈️ Progress on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, updates on the Hillsborough Park development, and a rather interesting football talk all feature. open.substack.com/pub/thesheff...

open.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Monday, June 16

A slightly quieter edition today: Oliver Coppard gets to work on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport, an 11-year-old girl is killed by a Ford van, and further road safety measures are announced.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Despite having only launched yesterday, The #Sheffield Drop has reached 100 subscribers already. Thank you all for joining with me. Please do get in touch about why you subscribed and what you'd like to see from the newsletter.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

In The #Sheffield Drop today: Public consultation for the council's plans to build on the greenbelt, a new Rock N Roll Circus headliner, and a possible @peakdistrict.bsky.social visitor's charge. And there's a little #swimming anecdote... thesheffielddrop.substack.com/p/the-sheffi...

thesheffielddrop.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop 💧 Friday May 30

Welcome to the first Sheffield Drop. In today's edition: controversial greenbelt consultation opens, Bryan Adams on his way to Sheffield, and a potential charge to visit the Peak District.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

So, if you're interested, please subscribe and follow along as we build a new community of Sheffield people who love this city and want to learn a bit more about it.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

But more than that, we would love for you to be a part of it. We'll have a community noticeboard where we would love to feature submissions from our wonderful members.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

It will be curated by me and will deliver a rundown of the biggest and most relevant news from the previous few days straight to your inbox, all to have with your morning coffee.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Some exciting news! We are launching The #Sheffield Drop - a bulletin newsletter published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays that will provide you with everything you need to know about the Steel City thesheffielddrop.substack.com

thesheffielddrop.substack.com

The Sheffield Drop | Substack

The Sheffield Drop provides you with the best coverage of the city. From the headlines making the news to the latest interesting events, we’ll give you the inside track on everything you need to know....

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

🏠 I was at a fiery council meeting when the amendment to Sheffield's Local Plan was narrowly voted through earlier this month. You can read the report from that meeting here: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

examinerlive.co.uk

Anger as controversial plans to build on 14 greenbelt sites greenlit

The proposals split the council in two

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Here is my report from #Sheffield council yesterday - it was a pretty fiery meeting at times, but ultimately, the controversial greenbelt plans were passed

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I will have a report from a spicy council meeting this afternoon for @yorkshirelive.co.uk - and there will be plenty of coverage on this issue over the coming weeks and months.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

#Sheffield council passed the amendment, meaning plans to build more than 3,500 homes on the greenbelt are one step closer. The Local Plan, of which this is a small part, will now go to public consultation. The council hopes to implement it by July 2026.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

We are hearing from angry residents who are petitioning against #Sheffield Council's plans to build in greenbelt land. The council is voting today - and there was a rousing applause following the opening petition statement.

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Well, that didn't go very well. Massive to get Partey next week

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Responsible journalism suspended for the next two hours

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

The public gallery was full with Harvey's family, while the local and national press all descended on the court to hear the teen's plea. You can read more in @yorkshirelive.co.uk report from court here: www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-n...

examinerlive.co.uk

Harvey Willgoose 'stabbed through heart at school' as teen admits manslaughter

Harvey Willgoose Sheffield school stabbing: Boy, 15, pleads guilty to manslaughter but denies murder

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Andrew Dowdeswell @adowdeswell.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

A trial before a jury will begin on June 30. Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told the court: "The defendant was arraigned today. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the other charge. The murder trial will commence on June 30."

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