News

A map released by the Environment Agency during the recent floods in Leeds highlighting 'severely affected' areas runs an almost identical course to the proposed HS2 route, raising questions about the feasibility of the multi-billion pound project. Phase 2 plans for the high speed railway follow parts of the Aire and Calder Navigation on approach to Leeds train station, but most of the proposed land for development was under water this weekend as the river overflowed. Pictures from Woodlesford Lock show...

From the outset, 2015 shouldn't have been a momentous year. "Yet for many and varied reasons, most of them unpleasant", writes Martin Hannan in The Scotsman, "it will be remembered for decades to come". Looking through the TLE archives from 2015 the breaking news stories are a reminder of the testing times we face as ideological warfare simmers and boils to the point of eruption. Attacks on Charlie Hebdo at the start of the year were followed by the heartbreaking terrorist...

Callum Towler, Stephen Adams and Owen Black chat about the the outcome of the Paris climate summit, exploring the inability for a lot of people to care about something so seemingly far into the future, how we consume and whether the prevailing political model can ever achieve sustainability.

British military personnel have been deployed to Afghanistan just three days before Christmas. Reports suggest that the Taliban is close to taking the town of Sangin in Helmand province just months after British forces withdrew all combat troops. The MOD has said that a small number of personnel has been sent to Camp Shorabak in Helmand but will not be deployed outside of the camp. Apparently the troops will only be providing an "advisory role" to the Afghan National Army...

By Rose Taylor As the waters recede and families begin to count the cost of the floods that killed more than 300 people, injured over 1,000 and destroyed countless properties in Tamil Nadu, for one woman it has heralded the start of a better life. NagammaNagammal was discovered drenched and starving in a partially destroyed goat shed where she had been living for 17 years, after being abandoned by her husband – because she had leprosy. “No one came to...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Jossy Yendall, 28, was selected as a finalist for Ms Galaxy 2016 but was told at the last minute she was not eligible - because she was not born a female. Shocked Jossy claimed she said from the outset she is transgender and even published it in the first sentence on her application web-page. The activities co-ordinator, who hopes to be a model, said she felt discriminated against because of her gender transition - which...

Caitlyn Jenner was briefly a saint to the left thanks to her global coming out as a woman. When Bruce became Caitlyn the world became just a little more accepting of transgender people and for that she deserves credit. However, many on the left, especially social justice advocates, have snapped back now it’s become clear that Caitlyn shares the same political beliefs as Bruce – and those beliefs are conservative. Bruce Jenner was a Republican whose views on social issues,...

It was a disaster waiting to happen. In a highly publicised press conference, Tommy Robinson and Quilliam announced that the former had seen the error of his ways and decided to part with the English Defence League, a hard-line anti Islam group. Many prominent organisations and personalities had expressed scepticism at the time, dismissing it as nothing but a PR stunt to bolster the images of both Quilliam, a counter extremism think tank founded by former members of the radical...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The final PMQs before the New Year had an extra-terrestrial vibe and I don’t mean the Tory backbenchers from Cocoon. It began with the PM praising UK astronaut Tim Peake, and everyone who was watching at home. Well we did Dave, you turned your head 180 degrees, like a lizard, and flicked your tongue at the screen. Corbyn wished everyone a happy Christmas even “Tim who wasn’t on this planet,” which inevitably set the Tories...