In my formative years I spent a lot of time exploring the exotic night-life of the North, and one thing that never ceased to amaze me was the courageousness of the local lady folk. Mini skirts in Newcastle in freezing cold weather, high heels on the cobbled paths of Leeds' Corn Exchange and low cut tops on a wind-swept night in Manchester always made me feel rather guilts for chucking a jumper on over my shirt and wearing a nice padded...

King's College London has withdrawn a speaking invitation offered to Boris Johnson followed remarks about Barack Obama's heritage. The London Mayor hit out at Obama after the US President made a trip to the UK to campaign for the UK to remain in the EU. Johnson said "part-Kenyan" Obama might have an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire" which prompted him to back the Remain campaign, which will compete with Vote Leave in June. In his Sun column he suggested Obama purposefully removed...

UK retailer BHS is on the brink and could file for administration as early as Monday, according to sources close to the owners. Department store chain British Home Stores could join Woolworths on the scrapheap of high-street staples. The loss-making store was bought out by financiers, lawyers and accountants with no retail experience and came close to closure last month with a rescue deal from creditors keeping the company solvent. But time could have run out for BHS. Sources close...

When I told my friends and family I was going to Turkey the overwhelming response was, “don’t go”. Granted I was staying 40 miles north of the Syrian border and 40 miles west of a civil war in an area of Turkey that all Western Governments had advised against “all but necessary travel” to, but my gumption was that Turkey is safe for tourists despite all that is going on around it. I was, however, undeniably anxious about visiting Gaziantep,...

I don't know how it happened, but it seems that almost overnight London has become a breeding ground for chalk board wankers. Every aspect of gastronomy in the capital has become completely up itself. Like there's not a punter out there who would ever dream of eating a loaf of bread if it hadn't been kneaded on the thighs of a virgin using flour blessed by Trapist monk and salt from the deepest depths of the Himalayas. Gastronomy is booming,...

Review by Leslie Byron Pitt Arabian Nights – The Restless One is the type of film in which you can easily imagine certain cliques chomping at the bit to discuss and lavish praise upon. However, if the film doesn’t hit the same sweet spot, you can easily see the same cliques instantly dismissed as some sort of Philistine. At one private joke. Almost as if they’re laughing at you. It’s hard not to think this. You just spent a good...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Government has announced that it is willing to take up to a quarter of Tata’s UK steel assets and offer hundreds of millions of pounds to help finance their debts if a buyer can be found for the loss making plants. This part-nationalisation was unveiled after business secretary Sajid Javid said the Government would consider a “co-invest” in the British steel industry. Plans could mean the Government procuring a minority stake in various UK...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Turkish appeals court has decided to overturn 275 convictions from 2013 involving a military chief in retirement and a host of other senior figures, accused of plotting a coup against his Government. At the time the case was seen as a chance for Erdogan to clip the wings the military and secularist establishment. This case appeared to shift the balance of power at the heart of the Turkish establishment. In 2013, ex-military chief General...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Today’s first question gave Nigel Adams, Con, a chance to fawn over the Queen on her 90th birthday and the PM was more than happy to indulge in a royal love in. It was a bit saccharine, but she is our monarch whether you like it or not. Republican Corbyn clearly doesn’t and made a half-hearted attempt at a happy bday. The same greeting you would share with an unhelpful secretary, with a 43-years-young balloon...