It’s been hard keeping the secret for the past 12 months, but breakfast show presenter Trevor Ford can finally share his good news. He’s landed a role in the new Danny Boyle TV series Pistol which recreates the rise of the infamous 1970s punk rock band The Sex Pistols. The series which starts on the Disney Plus channel on Tuesday (31 May) will be broadcast worldwide and all episodes can be streamed. Director Danny Boyle has an international reputation for his work on Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire. He also directed the opening ceremony of 2012’s London Olympics. Trevor, who hosts the breakfast…
Author: Martin Hovden
Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: In just a few weeks Southport residents have the opportunity to elect councillors in the town’s seven wards (areas). They are there to represent and help the residents of the town. And I’m sure they do their best to wave the flag for their particular area. But do we really need so many of them? Each ward (Ainsdale, Birkdale, Cambridge, Dukes, Kew, Meols, Norwood) has three representatives on Sefton Council – so that’s 21 in total for Southport. Like many voluntary groups, charities and community activists, our local politicians do some good work in the…
Just had the best Saturday night out in Southport for such a long time. Even the threat of snow couldn’t put me off hitting the streets. But this was a Saturday night out with a huge difference – no booze, no loud music, no fights (well, I have calmed down in recent years). Best part for me was when I was asked to roll up my sleeve – and was injected with the Covid vaccine. What a high that was. I’m in the 65-69 age group of vulnerable people and thought it would be a few weeks before I had…
Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Here’s a chance to catch the National Theatre’s stunning interpretation of the Frankenstein story for free on Youtube. And listen out for the brilliant soundtrack – thanks to young Southport composer ALEX BARANOWSKI (pictured). Alex was my guest on LIVE SOUNDS on Dune FM more than 10 years ago and it was an honour and pleasure to play his creative and original music on the show. When I went to his Birkdale home to interview him for the Southport Champion, the very talented Alex was working on the soundtrack for a European film. It was…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden (pictured) writes: As the dust settles after last week’s general election, time to reflect on what we should do better next time – for the sake of democracy. As someone who has covered local and national elections here on Merseyside for more than 40 years, it worries me a great deal that political parties (and their supporters) are using social media to spread propaganda, mainly about their opponents – and they’re doing it anonymously. In my day (from the early 1970s onwards), candidates would use their local newspaper to get their message across. They would…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Damien Moore has retained his Southport seat for the Conservatives with an increased majority of more than 4,000. Labour’s Liz Savage came second but with a boost to her vote share, while Liberal Democrat John Wright trailed in last place with a much reduced number of votes. Mr Moore (pictured) won 22,914 votes (up from 18,541 in 2017) with Liz Savage on 18,767 (up from 15,627) with Mr Wright on 6,499 (down from 12,661). These are the Southport results (with share of vote in brackets) declared just after 2.30am: CONSERVATIVE DAMIEN MOORE 22,914 (47.6%)…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: With less than 24 hours before polling stations open, a respected opinion polling organisation today (Wednesday) predicts a tough fight down to the wire between the Tories and Labour in tomorrow’s general election. Political pundits in recent weeks have been predicting a comfortable majority for Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his Get Brexit Done mantra. However, Yougov claim he is on course for a much smaller majority, perhaps even leading to another hung parliament. As for Southport where Tory Damien Moore (pictured) defends a 2,900 majority, Yougov predicts he will retain the seat, dashing…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Man-flu prevented me from attending Monday night’s Southport Election Hustings, staged by Christ Church in Lord Street, featuring all three candidates in Thursday’s general election. So I’m grateful to Mark Hague and his team who filmed the whole event. The video lasts two hours and the first half includes questions about Brexit, rough sleeping in the town centre and services at Southport Hospital (I’ve saved the second half for tomorrow). As expected, Labour’s Liz Savage and Liberal Democrat John Wright declared themselves as Remainers, while Tory Damien Moore (defending a 2,900 majority) is Pro-Leave.…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth was today desperately trying to damp down the embarrassment he has caused to Labour’s general election campaign. He was secretly recorded on the phone telling a friend that Labour was on course for defeat on Thursday. On Labour’s election chances, Mr Ashworth is heard saying: “I’ve been going round these national places, it’s dire for Labour… it’s dire.” He added: “I’m helping colleagues, banging on about the NHS for them but it’s awful for them, and it’s the combination of Corbyn and Brexit… outside of the city seats…it’s…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Tory bosses were today desperately trying to defuse the outcry over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cold and deliberate refusal to look at a picture of a four-year-old boy on a hospital floor. Mr Johnson shocked viewers when they saw him pointedly avert his eyes when a TV reporter asked him to look at the picture of the boy, on the front page of yesterday’s Daily Mirror. People were stunned by the PM’s lack of empathy and he caused even more derision when he grabbed the TV reporter’s phone and put it in his pocket.…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Tory bosses in London have been warned the collapse of the Liberal Democrats in Southport has put their candidate Damien Moore at great risk from a Labour win in the resort. The warning is contained in a private memo written by Tory pollster Michael Brooks to Conservative national campaign director Isaac Levido. Today’s Daily Telegraph claims Mr Brooks says in the confidential memo that the collapse of the Lib Dem vote in the Midlands and the North, in seats such as Southport, Derby North, Northampton South, Copeland and Calder Valley “has overwhelmingly benefitted Labour,…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: With just days to go to the general election, a top pollster has urged Lib Dem supporters in Southport to vote tactically for Labour if they want to keep the Tories out. Much respected journalist Peter Kellner (pictured) has listed our town as one of 50 key battlegrounds in the UK where Pro-Remain voters can stop Boris Johnson taking us out of the EU. “Tactical voting is not new, but it has a special significance this week,” explained Mr Kellner, former president of polling experts Yougov and a former reporter with the BBC 2 Newsnight…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Liberal Democats have turned to the church to help them win back Southport from the Tories in next Thursday’s general election. The Lib Dems were pushed into an embarrassing third place by Labour in 2017, but candidate John Wright is determined to secure victory this time round. Hoping to help him achieve that aim is Rod Garner (pictured), former vicar of Holy Trinity Church in the town centre, who writes in the party’s latest election leaflet: “I am looking for an MP with an independent mind who will be responsive to the needs and…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: The left-leaning Channel 4 News came up with some fascinating pre-election views of Labour supporters on Monday night. Political editor Gary Gibbon revealed the findings of a special focus group of 12 pro-Brexit Birmingham residents who all voted Labour in 2017. When asked for their views on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn all were critical of him, claiming they felt let down over Brexit and had no idea what Labour stands for these days. One declared: “At least Tony Blair was a good leader”. As for Tory leader Boris Johnson (pictured with his dad Stanley),…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Southport Liberal Democrat attempts to spin success for themselves in next month’s general election have come crashing down to earth. In their latest Focus election leaflet – being delivered this week door-to-door – there is a bold graph on its front page (repeated on its back page) claiming their candidate John Wright is neck and neck with Tory Damien Moore, and they dismiss Labour’s Liz Savage as having “no realistic prospect of winning in Southport”. And to back up their claims, they reveal the predictions have come from “well-respected election experts at the Electoral…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: There’s just a month to go to election day and one way of gauging how confident a party is of victory is whether their leader visits your constituency. Such visits provide a high-profile plug for your town and lots of Press interest. However, if your leader is a Marmite public figure (you either love or hate them), there are lots of risks if the visit goes wrong. In this election, all three leaders are such figures. They attract praise and anger equally. So, will any of the parties risk sending their leaders to our…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Pro-Remain businesswoman Gina Miller has launched a tactical voting website to stop the Pro-Brexit Conservative Party winning a majority – but is telling Southport residents not to bother voting tactically as the resort is a “safe” Tory seat. And she predicts Liberal Democrat John Wright will beat Labour’s Liz Savage to second place. Launching the Remain United site, Mrs Miller said she wants to stop Prime Minister Boris Johnson winning a majority so he can’t have his Brexit Bill approved in the House of Commons. She explained: “Utilising modern, expert polling techniques and specifically…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: BREXIT PARTY leader Nigel Farage (pictured) has told his candidates in seats won by the Tories in 2017 not to stand, it was revealed today. Southport was won by Conservative Damien Moore in the last general election, with a 2,900 majority. The decision will be warmly welcomed by Mr Moore who faced a possible split in the Pro-Leave vote. It follows last week’s announcement by UKIP that they are not going to stand in the resort and urged residents to vote Tory. These are the 2017 results in Southport: CONSERVATIVE 18,541 (38.66%) LABOUR 15,627…
We’ll stand in Southport unless you drop your Brexit deal, Farage tells Johnson Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Nigel Farage has given Prime Minister Boris Johnson just two weeks to drop his Brexit deal or face a battle for Southport. Speaking today (Friday) at the launch of the Brexit Party general election campaign, Mr Farage said Mr Johnson’s current deal is not Brexit and he urged the PM to ditch it and leave the EU on WTO (World Trade Organisation) terms. If Mr Johnson does not agree to a pact, said Mr Farage, his party will stand in every…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: As Southport begins its five-week general election campaign, we’re set for angry, heated debate, claim and counter claim, bruised egos and regret. Yes, it is the most important election our country has faced in recent times and Brexit has proved to be ruthlessly divisive. But whatever happens between now and the result, please remember we’re all human, so let’s show tolerance and understanding of the other person’s point of view. I say this because I’ve noticed when stories I write about the Southport campaign appear on our local news websites or on my Facebook…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Pro-Europe campaigner Gina Millar (pictured) is urging Liberal Democrat supporters in Southport to switch their vote to Labour to oust Tory MP Damien Moore. The London businesswoman has launched a website that reveals if Remain supporters vote tactically it will prevent a Conservative majority in the House of Commons and help stop Brexit. And the website – tactical.vote – advises Lib Dems in the resort to switch to Labour, adding: “Look at the results of the previous election in Southport and then vote for a party that might not be your first choice, but…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Southport’s teenage Brexit Party parliamentary hopeful Darcy Iveson-Berkeley (pictured) has been caught up in the confusion over whether leader Nigel Farage will ask some of his candidates to stand aside to help the Conservatives. With the general election now set for 12 December, there has been much speculation as to whether the Brexit Party will withdraw their candidates in Tory-held constituencies. Tory MP Damien Moore currently has a 2,900 majority in Southport and is facing a bruising battle with Labour and the Liberal Democrats. If the Brexit Party contests the seat, it’s likely they…
Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden (pictured) writes: Just a few weeks ago I speculated Southport would be a simple TWO-horse race in a future general election. Not any more. After Tuesday’s decision to hold the election on Thursday, 12 December, our town is now on course for a THREE-horse battle – thanks to the recent dramatic rise in the national polls of the Liberal Democrats. The seat is currently held by Conservative MP Damien Moore, who won a 2,914 majority over Labour’s Liz Savage in the 2017 general election. That was the year the Lib Dems were pushed into an…
Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: It was standing room only earlier today when more than 100 people packed into West Lancashire Crematorium for the funeral of local newspaper photographer Martyn Snape (pictured). The amazing turn-out was yet another example of the tremendous respect and love Martyn attracted during his 45-year career, covering the Sefton and West Lancs area. And the arrival of his coffin in a Land Rover (pictured) was a surprising but much appreciated reflection of his passion for motor cars. Martyn, one of the most likeable, professional and sincere photographers I have ever worked with, died in Queenscourt…
Councillors John Dodd, Daniel Lewis and Yaso Sathiy, will be holding their next Advice Centre on Thursday 27th June. They will be available from 10.30am-11.30am at BoxTree Kitchen for Queenscourt café, Manor Road/Cambridge Road roundabout to assist residents with any local issues, problems or complaints. Alternatively, the Lib Dem councillors can be contacted on the following: John Dodd 510134, E-Mail: mail@johndodd.co.uk Daniel Lewis 07981 129056, E-mail: daniel.lewisld@gmail.com Yaso Sathiy, 07738 339462, E-mail: yasosathiy@gmail.com Meols Ward covers Churchtown, Crossens and areas of Marshside.