We take a look at events local, national and international in 2026.

What could the political New Years resolutions have possibly been, and are they just as forgotten by the 2nd week of February as our personal ones are?

Portrait livestream

Landscape Livestream

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In our last show of 2025, we take a look at the last Full Council meeting for 2025 of Portsmouth City Council.

Was the chamber filled with festive cheer and agreement or were 42 Grinches trying to ruin Christmas? What hint do proceedings give of the 2026 local elections campaigns?

Before the council are:-

11. A briefing on devolution

Notices of motion

12a Aquind - The Council reaffirms its opposition to the Aquind interconnector project.

12b Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Issues in Portsmouth

12c Cross Border Taxi Licensing and Passenger Safety

12d Tackling Knife Crime and Enhancing Public Safety in Portsmouth

12e Local Government Reorganisation - call on the govt not to force Portsmouth to become a larger unitary authority (encompassing Havant, Waterlooville, Gosport & Fareham.

12f Improving Pedestrian Safety on Portsdown Hill Road

12g Investing in Early Years: Expanded Free Breakfast Clubs and Childcare for Working Families in Portsmouth

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After this week’s shock two year delay to the Mayoral elections for Hampshire & The Solent we invite candidates Cllr Martin Tod 🟧 & Anna Collar 🟩to help make sense of the mess.

-What does this mean for devolution?

-Are voters right to be confused and frustrated?

-Will Hampshire (& the Isle of Wight) miss out?

-Why the headlong rush, just to put the breaks on?

-What does this mean for candidates?

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Consultation (closes Jan 11th)

Gov.uk submissions

We take a look at Wednesday’s budget. Rachel Reeves’ 2nd as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Will there be a 3rd? | Who are the winners? | Who the losers? Was it bold or timid? | Does the leaking or ‘testing’ of policy ahead of the budget create more uncertainty? | Will the measures announced help with cost of living, reduce burden for small businesses and pay for services? | Will the Chancellor fill the gaps in local government funding?

Which policy changes are you celebrating? | What are the changes the Chancellor could have made, but didn't?

You can watch the budget in full on the Parliament's Youtube channel.

Chancellor of the Exchequer's Speech

Leader of the Opposition's Speech

Budget document

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On behalf of Let's Stop Aquind, we hosted a public meeting with key speakers from across politics and two sides of the channel.

What is the Aquind interconnector? It’s the controversially funded and designed plan to connect the UK and French electricity grids with a cable across countryside, farmland, parkland and through residential areas from Normandy to Lovedean, digging a trench along congested roads in Portsmouth on the way.

Speakers:-

Cllr Steve Pitt - Leader Portsmouth City Council

Suella Braverman MP - Fareham & Waterlooville

Cllr Antonia Harrison - Havant Borough Council

Cllr Martin Tod - Leader of Winchester City Council

Yoann Collin - President of Mayors, Normandy, France

Donald Brument - President of Non à Aquind

If you'd like to find out more about the campaigns on both sides of the channel:-

https://stopaquind.com

https://www.non-a-aquind.org

Let the planning inspectorate know what you think of the project:- aquind@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

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This week we take a look at Tuesday's Full Council - was it a council or consensus or clash of the councillors?

Notices of Motion

• 11a Planning & Infrastructure bill (Opposing government plans to increase the planning applications decided by officers, and limit those decided by Councillors) - Cllrs Gardner (CON) Cllr Simpson (REF)
• 11b Fair votes (Supporting votes at 16. Proportional representation) - Cllr Hunt (LIB DEM) Cllr Adair (LIB DEM)
• 11c Support for Healthwatch (Strong opposition to government plans to abolish Healthwatch) - Cllr Swann (CON) Cllr Bosher (CON)
• 11d Digital IDs (Opposition to government plans to mandate digital IDs) - Cllr Barrett (LIB DEM) Pitt (LIB DEM)
• 11e
• 11f Allocation of asylum dispersal (Opposing number housing asylum seekers in Portsmouth compared to other areas) - Cllr Standen (REF) Cllr Madgwick (REF)
• 11g Support VALOUR Network (Support to improve military housing) - Cllr Fielding (LAB) Cllr Adeniran (LAB)

Link to agenda and PCC's recorded livestream in comments on the event.

Clips from PCC's Democratic Services recorded livestream.

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Can the controversial Aquind electricity interconnector project between Normandy, France and Portsmouth, England - cutting a swathe through countryside, farmland and disrupting residents digging up residential and vital arterial roads finally get stopped for good?

Five years on, we invite Let’s Stop Aquind and their French counterpart, Non à Aquind back onto the show to share the latest.

https://stopaquind.com

https://www.non-a-aquind.org

Stop Aquind on Facebook

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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 Mike Tuffrey & John Shardlow 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.

More details of British Overseas Voters Forum https://bovf.org.uk

Find out how to register to vote abroad https://www.gov.uk/voting-when-living-abroad

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