Trapped MP demands thousands to pay "bad people", cheese gang jailed, and M&S on the move
The Lancashire Lead - April 21, 2024
You often hear news stories or events described as ‘extraordinary’ when the reality is very different. However, in the case of The Times’ report of allegations involving Fylde MP Mark Menzies, it barely scratches the surface.
The newspaper whose sting led to the downfall of Scott Benton’s career as an MP has published an explosive tale which alleges Mr Menzies used campaign funds to pay “bad people” who had locked him inside a flat and demanded thousands of pounds.
Mr Menzies is said to have made a 3.15am phone call to his 78-year-old former campaign manager in which he said he needed the money as a “matter of life and death”. She has since spoken to the BBC and said she was “appalled” by the lack of action from the Conservative Party after she first reported the matter.
“I am not having this brushed under the carpet. The party has been part of my life, I've run every election campaign here for 40 years. I work myself into the ground for the party - all they hear is a 78-year-old little old lady."
Katie Fieldhouse
The report claims the blackmail money was paid from a staffer’s personal account before being reimbursed from campaign funds. A day later, the 52-year-old is said to have asked for another £35,000 for medical bills.
Menzies told The Times he “strongly dispute[s] the allegations put to me” but said the ongoing investigation meant he could not comment further. He has since been suspended by his party.
I’ve also written an opinion piece for The Lead on the wider issue of the Fylde Coast’s scandal-stricken MPs - you can read that here - and I would recommend Patrick Maguire’s column in The Times which examines how Sir Keir Starmer must look at coastal towns if he becomes Prime Minister.
Elsewhere, candidates hoping to replace the disgraced Scott Benton as Blackpool South MP gathered for a hustings event organised by The Blackpool Lead and the Blackpool Gazette. During a two hour event at Blackpool Cricket Club, the would-be Parliamentarians were grilled on issues including sewage, regeneration, inequality and reopening the airport.
The event was streamed live by the Blackpool Gazette and you can watch it back in full or read my take on the night.
This week also saw a landmark moment for Lancashire as Rock FM broadcast under its iconic, and often ironic, name for the final time. The station continues to broadcast from its Manchester studio but has been rebranded as Hits Radio Lancashire after more than three decades under its previous name.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service will also see the end of an era soon following the announcement of its chief fire officer’s plan to retire. CFO Justin Johnson has been in the role for five years. The service attracted international headlines this week after rescuing a very grumpy looking cat.
❓ When I first started drafting this newsletter I hadn’t intended to include any more on Mark Menzies in this section but the stories kept on coming. The Times’ latest report questions the response of the Conservative Party upon hearing the allegations (The Times/£).
🧑⚖️ At Preston Crown Court, a man was this week jailed for the killing of his own father. Austin Duckworth punched and pummelled Steven, 72, having visited his home to get some walking boots. The pensioner died in hospital weeks later (ITV).
↪️ More details on the background of the tragic case, including how the son’s behaviour and mental health changed after having medical treatment, were explained by court reporter Rachel Smith (LancsLive).
📚 Rachel also covered the case of a prison librarian who had an illegal and ‘stupid’ sexual relationship with an inmate before being falsely accused of groping other prisoners (LancsLive).
🧀 The same court heard the cases of Blackburn gang who hid £17.2m of cocaine inside blocks of cheese (ITV) and a spice addict who trashed caravans used to give holidays to grieving children (Lancashire Post).
🐕 The last court case of this week’s newsletter comes with a warning of distressing images. It concerns the case of a dog which was found dead and partially decomposed in a bathtub in the home of a neglectful mum and son in Skelmersdale (LancsLive).
💷 A carer from Preston says an innocent mistake led to the DWP demanding £20,000, leading him to sell his house and move into sheltered accommodation. George Henderson has vowed to continue his fight to clear his name (ITV).
🏍️ The mother of a 17-year-old boy who died in a motorbike crash described him as "an amazing boy, beautiful inside and out”. Ellis Gibbs, an apprentice landscaper at Wyre Gardens, died after crashing with a car at Claughton-on-Brock (Lancaster Guardian).
↪️ A fundraiser has been set up to support his family and so far raised more than £5,000. You can donate here.
🙏 A Lancaster woman has spoken for the first time about her mum's brutal death in a bid to find the murderers 30 years on (Lancashire Post).
🌳 The inquest of a mum-of-one who died as a result of taking ecstasy before going into Restricted Forest Festival at Blackburn’s Witton Park heard a “perfect storm” caused her death (LancsLive).
😔 Alan Hague BEM, a long serving scout leader in Morecambe, was remembered fondly after his death (Lancaster Guardian) and Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle spoke powerfully about the loss of his father Lord Doug Hoyle (BBC).
"It's the gap, it's the void that he's left. I've known nothing else than my father there to turn to, to advise me, not only as a father but as a friend and as a brother in that sense. As an only child he was my elder brother."
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
👃 Fleetwood residents angry at the stench from a nearby landfill site staged a public protest. Neighbours say the smell is so bad it regularly wakes them up and prevents them from opening windows (LancsLive).
📷 Blackburn with Darwen Council has apologised to a pensioner who was left frightened by a worker who was seen taking pictures of her back garden. It transpired the council employee was actually investigating fly-tipping complaints (Lancashire Telegraph).
🛑 Traders in Kirkham say takings are down by as much as 40% as a result of 18 months of roadworks. The work is for a regeneration project but one business is now planning to close for good (LancsLive).
Meanwhile, one neighbourhood will soon be demolished to make way for Blackpool’s Multiversity development. Susan Newton spoke to some of the home and business owners who will be moved out to allow the demolition work (LancsLive).
🏔️ Climbing mountains in the Lake District may seem very tempting, but it can also be extremely dangerous. Lancaster teenager Ben Longton recalled his harrowing ordeal when fell down a freezing waterfall and broke his leg on Scafell Pike (Lancashire Post).
From about 8pm to 2am I just thought I was dead. I just thought, 'I am going to fall asleep and die here' because it was better than freezing. I was lying there and I kept closing my eyes to try and sleep, and I was imaging some guy with some stairs up the gill just saying, ‘C’mon then, just walk up these.’
Ben Longton
🪧 Some different perspectives on Blackpool here, both of which tie in into election campaigns. First, there’s the villagers demanding more investment in their historic community with support from the Lib Dem candidate (LancsLive).
↪️ Then, there’s the 72-year-old foodbank volunteer who spoke of her love for the town amid its battle with deprivation during a visit from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (LancsLive).
👷 Lots of planning issues in the news this week, with Preston’s contested Ashton Park plans set to be decided (Blog Preston), villagers in Skerton, Lancashire, speaking out against plans for an Asda petrol station to sell alcohol 24 hours a day (Lancaster Guardian), and permission for a new M&S store just off the M65 (Lancashire Telegraph).
↪️ That decision will lead to the closure of its Blackburn town centre store and came after M&S had threatened to leave the area entirely if the new plans were refused (Lancashire Post).
👩🏭 Other development news includes updates on a new factory which will bring 100 jobs to outskirts of Preston (Blog Preston) and the announcement of a major timber firm moving into the Botany Bay Business Park (Lancashire Telegraph).
↪️ Not a real development, but some AI images of how Accrington could be changed proved to be a big talking point (LancsLive).
😮💨 Back in Blackburn, Amy Fenton’s feature on life in ‘Vape City’ is well worth a read (LancsLive) and tributes have been paid to former Lancashire Telegraph photographer John Napier (Lancashire Telegraph).
Elections in focus
🎤 As mentioned above, seven of the nine of the candidates vying to become Blackpool South’s next MP took part in a hustings event on Thursday. Organised by The Lead and Blackpool Gazette, the event saw candidates quizzed by Local Democracy Reporter Shelagh Parkinson and members of the audience.
“Whoever is elected, I hope is true to their work. I hope they are full of integrity, continue this frankness and are willing to welcome something different.”
Jake Burke, audience member
🥊 Before the event, Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden had conceded the by-election is going to be tough for the party but it insisted it will give a good fight (LancsLive).
💰 Archie Mitchell reports on a Blackpool focus group which shows voters have turned against “Richy” Rishi Sunak ahead of the by-election (Independent).
👮 As well as the by-election and local elections, next month will also see voters given the chance to elect Lancashire’s next Police and Crime Commissioner. Paul Faulkner spoke to each candidate for their manifesto pledges (Lancashire Telegraph).
Residents will be given a chance to help shape the experience inside the new Eden Project Morecambe at an event taking place next week. "Rhythm Makers', a drop in event with in-depth workshops and children’s activities, will take place at Morecambe Winter Gardens on April 23 and 24 (Beyond Radio).
Thanks to the All Things Georgian blog and Libby Ashworth for enlightening me on this week’s entry - the story of Dr James Barlow. You may think Cesarean sections are a fairly recent procedure but Dr Barlow was carrying them out in Lancashire some 200 years ago.
Dr Barlow first practised in Chorley before moving to Blackburn and is believed to be the first person in the country to successfully perform the procedure.
In fact, he published his ‘Essays on Surgery and Midwifery: With Practical Observations and Select Cases’ book in 1822 and occasionally caught the attention of the press with his surgical work.
On April 21, 1821, the Lancaster Gazette reported one such case, involving a 42-year-old mother who struggled with constant pain and walking difficulty. It published:
The caesarean operation was performed on the wife of George Ridgedale, of Blackburn, by J Barlow, Esq. in the presence of J Chew M.D and Mr Dugdale, surgeon. The child is a fine boy, and likely for life, but the mother had long laboured under great disease, and only survived the operation 52 hours.
I don’t want to get ahead of myself but it feels like we could finally be getting past the run of miserable weather. If you’re fancy getting out for a walk somewhere, there’s plenty of inspiration to be had in Ribble Valley’s Walks with Taste.
In the same neck of the woods, Clitheroe Castle is hosting a “weekend of swordsmanship” to mark the upcoming St George’s Day. A castle trip is always a winner with family and it looks like there's a lot to enjoy with demonstrations, talks and craft activities available. Full information is available here from Lancashire County Council.
There’s been plenty of exciting What’s On news over the past week so read on for a selection of some of those which have caught my attention.
🍻 Blackpool boxer William Goldie-Galloway is behind the town’s latest new bar. Notorious, an R&B bar, will open on Queen Street on May 4 (Blackpool Gazette).
🍺 Over in Preston, Winkley Street Ale House owner Paul Yates is celebrating one year of running the place. He spoke to Sophie Swain about the city’s “community of craft beer drinkers” (Blog Preston).
🪘 There’s an even bigger celebration coming as Preston Caribbean Carnival prepares for its 50th anniversary next month. Organisers are promising it will be bigger and better than ever before after being awarded funding from Arts Council England (Blog Preston).
🎢 There’s lots of sadness about the loss of the Grand Prix ride from Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Well, thrill-seekers will get one last chance to ride it when a closing party is held in June. The event will also feature a car meet, DJ’s and live musicians (Blackpool Gazette).
🥔 Not so much a recommendation as a message of good luck to 18-year-old Holly Shorrocks who will open a jacket potato shop in Darwen next month (Lancashire Telegraph).
🍷From a new business to a battle to save an old one, support is also offered to a village trying to save its historic pub. Residents in Blacko want to reopen the near-300-year-old Grade II listed Cross Gaits pub as a community hub (Burnley Express).
↪️ Those wanting to offer their support can do so by filling out this form
☕ Good luck to Mini & Mighty, the Haslingden-based, family-run coffee shop which has been names as a finalist at this year’s North West Family Business Awards (Lancashire Telegraph).
✈️ And finally, everyone’s favourite jets have been confirmed for this year’s Blackpool Air Show. Organisers confirmed the Red Arrows will return for this year’s display in August.
Thanks for reading this week’s edition. I’d love to hear your feedback so please get in touch at jamie@thelead.uk with any thoughts.