Columnists

Poppy sellers outside the ground prior to the Sky Bet Championship match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture:: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Charities are being hit by the move to a cashless society: Sarah Todd

A general view of 'St Christmas Place', a seven-week festive celebration and Christmas lights display at St Christopher's Place, London. Picture date: Tuesday November 14, 2023. Photo: Matt Crossick/PA Wire

Christmas haters should not spoil the celebrations: GP Taylor

Beware of fraudsters determined to hijack our online Christmas spending. PIC: Alamy/PA.

Why shoppers need to be vigilant this Christmas - Andrew Vine

'In September a major analysis of NHS staff revealed a pattern of female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons'. PIC: PA

A shift in culture is needed to eradicate abuse in the workplace - Hywel Thomas

'Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said that building on the green belt should be a part of the UK’s answer to the housing crisis'. PIC: PA

We need to build on green belt to solve housing crisis - Bartek Staniszewski

'Those following the build-up to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement may have seen widespread rumours about possible changes to the apprenticeship levy and broader policy'. PIC: Oli Scarff/PA Wire

Don'rt restrict access to Senior Leader Apprenticeships - Dan Lally

'The opposition Theresa May faced from within her own party resulted in her having to announce three separate care policies in one brief election campaign'. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Solving the crisis in social care requires tough decisions - Andy Brown

Home Secretary James Cleverly arriving in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting. PIC: Yui Mok/PA Wire

James Cleverly shows callous disregard for ‘levelling up’ - Jayne Dowle

The new Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine. PIC: PA Wire

Delaying elections in Ukraine would not be a good look - Patrick Mercer

A generic image of a fruit and veg aisle at a supermarket. PIC: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

How do we tackle the increasing scourge of shoplifting? - Dr Alan Billings

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Tier Four devolution has potential to give region what it needs - The YP says

A David Oluwale memorial plaque pictured in 2022 in Leeds. PIC: Steve Riding.

Why we must continue to remember the ill-treatment of David Oluwale - Max Farrar

Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs for Meta, during the AI safety summit, the first global summit on the safe use of artificial intelligence. PIC: Toby Melville/PA Wire

Absence of referendum for East Yorkshire devolution is telling - David Behrens

Christa Ackroyd says parents are not to blame for many children's struggles

Don’t blame parents for the struggles many children face today - Christa Ackroyd

A file phot of university graduates. PIC: Chris Ison/PA Wire

A mental health safety net for university students is vital - Robert Halfon

People taking part in a pro-Israel rally in Parliament Square in London. PIC: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

British universities are no longer safe places for Jews - Bill Carmichael

The Silver Line Helpline was founded by Dame Esther Rantzen. PIC: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

How the Silver Line is a force for good in alleviating loneliness - Daxa Patel

A file photo of a handheld smart meter on a kitchen hob showing the cost of a year-to-date's worth of home energy usage in a home. PIC: Yui Mok/PA Wire

More financial pain for households with energy bills set to rise - The YP says

In the year to December 2022, net migration hit a new record of 745,000, according to revised official estimates. PIC: Peter Powell/PA Wire

Net migration figures show that skills strategy is failing - The YP says

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference. PIC: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Political stability key to British businesses thriving again - Jonathan Reynolds

A school safety zone sign, as pressure grows on Ofsted. PIC: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

All well calling for an end to Ofsted but what will replace it? - Jayne Dowle
It’s all very well calling for an ‘end to Ofsted’, as a new inquiry and a separate report from a leading think tank are recommending this week, but the question is, what would replace it?

Leeds City College and Keighley College have received funding to boost adult numeracy levels in West Yorkshire.

Why we must do more to improve numeracy in the adult population - Ann Marie Spry

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is congratulated after delivering his autumn statement in the House of Commons. PIC: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire

Devolution deal for Hull and East Yorkshire is a positive step - The YP says

Chris Jaume and Dr Abbie Neilson are the co-founders of Cooper King Distillery in Sutton-on-the-Forest, North Yorkshire.

An increase in alcohol duty will be a hike on small firms - Chris Jaume

The chamber of the House of Lords fills up ahead of the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament. PIC: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire

Opportunity to address issues within social care missed - Sue Cawthray

Steve Barclay leaves 10 Downing Street, London. PIC: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Why Defra needs someone with farming experience as Minister - Sarah Todd

A Booths spokesman said: "We believe colleagues serving customers delivers a better customer experience and therefore we have taken the decision to remove self-checkouts in the majority of our stores." (Photo supplied by Booths/Carl Sukonik)

The end of self service tills cannot come soon enough - Christa Ackroyd

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, outside Downing Street. PIC: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Autumn Statement is the last chance to deliver for the North - Andrew Vine

Councillor Carl Les is the leader of North Yorkshire Council. PIC: Bruce Rollinson

Why North Yorkshire is right to double down on devolution - Carl Les

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting of the Cabinet. PIC: Kin Cheung/PA Wire

The Government needs to support family firms - Thomas Martin

A file photo of a teacher and students in a classroom. PIC: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Time to reset inspections as Ofsted is found ‘not fit for purpose’ - The YP says

The interior of a Ford is seen as flood waters recede in the village of Catcliffe after Storm Babet. PIC: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Are scientists not explaining findings on climate change clearly? - Andy Brown
There are times when I wonder whether scientists are simply not explaining themselves clearly enough. Complex terminology doesn’t always help to explain what is happening.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt speaks to the media outside BBC Broadcasting House in London. PIC: James Manning/PA Wire

Local authorities need financial support in the Autumn Statement - The YP says

A file photo of a handheld smart meter on a kitchen hob showing the cost of a year-to-date's worth of home energy usage in a home. PIC: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Why I am sceptical about Ofgem’s review of standing charges - Jayne Dowle

A stock photo shows a woman's hands using a laptop keyboard. PIC: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Everyone deserves a seat around the digital table - Tim Rogers

Former home secretary Suella Braverman outside her home. PIC: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Policing a protest is a complex operation - Dr Alan Billings

'The likely sight of Nigel Farage selling himself on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will be an exercise in bear baiting.' PIC: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Nigel Farage will face ritual humiliation on I’m a Celeb - David Behrens

Members of the media photograph Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron (right) and Minister for Development in the Foreign Office Andrew Mitchell arriving in Downing Street. PIC: James Manning/PA Wire

Data is key to improving social mobility - Justine Greening

Richard Holden, chairman of the Conservative Party, arrives in Downing Street, London, for the first meeting of the new-look Cabinet following a reshuffle on Monday. PIC: James Manning/PA Wire

Trust in the Tories across the North is running low - The Yorkshire Post says

A pharmacist stocks shelves at a chemist. PIC: Julien Behal/PA Wire

The regulatory regime failing patients on homecare medicines - Baroness Morris

Poet Ian McMillan

Solving the mystery of the writing workshops - Ian McMillan

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove leaves Downing Street, London, following a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday. PIC: James Manning/PA Wire

Levelling up being further frustrated by avoidable delays - The YP says

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron (right) and Minister for Development in the Foreign Office Andrew Mitchell arrive in Downing Street, London, for the first meeting of the new-look Cabinet following a reshuffle on Monday. PIC: James Manning/PA Wire

David Cameron is the embodiment of a broken political system - Bill Carmichael

The coffin of Sir Bobby Charlton is carried by pallbearers out of Manchester Cathedral after the funeral service. PIC: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Sir Bobby Charlton was authentic to the core - Daxa Patel

A meeting of the new-look Cabinet at 10 Downing Street, London. PIC: Kin Cheung/PA Wire

Why aren't manufacturers switching to renewable energy? - Daniel Coates

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer pictured at the Conservative Party annual conference in October. PIC: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Creative industries have become a powerful economic engine - Lucy Frazer

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron during a meeting of the new-look Cabinet following a reshuffle on Monday. PIC: Kin Cheung/PA Wire

What is David Cameron doing back in Government? - Jayne Dowle

Former prime minister Boris Johnson was known as ‘trolley’ due to his tendency to change direction. PIC: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

How did Boris Johnson become Prime Minister? - Matthew Flinders

A file photo of an online energy bill. PIC: Jacob King/PA Wire

Drop in inflation to be welcomed but concerns for families remain - The YP says

Matt O’Neill is executive director for growth and sustainability at Barnsley Council.

How we can help town centres across the country thrive again - Matt O’Neill

A customer scans and pays for a bottle of juice from a supermarket at an automated self-service checkout terminal. PIC: Adobe

A most welcome move by Booths to ditch self-checkouts - Sarah Todd

'Bradford Council is currently paying for 196 children to stay in privately-run homes, at an average cost of almost £312,000 per child per year.' PIC: Dr Simon Ross Valentine

It is the job of the state to keep our children safe - GP Taylor

George Jabbour next to a tanker in Sinnington preventing the discharge of sewage into the river.

Cross-party consensus on tackling pollution of rivers - George Jabbour

South Bay beach in Scarborough takes a battering from Storm Babet last month. PIC: Richard Ponter

Issues affecting elderly people in coastal towns are overlooked - Andrew Vine

A poster on a telephone exchange box on Charlotte Street in London, showing a couple allegedly kidnapped by Hamas in Gaza amid Israel's siege on the territory. PIC: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

The purpose of the October 7 attacks was to wreck negotiations - Paul Andrews

New Home Secretary James Cleverly leaving Downing Street, London, after being appointed in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ministerial reshuffle. PIC: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire

Sacking of Suella Braverman was inevitable - The Yorkshire Post says

A file photo dated 13/10/21 of a chimney at British Steel Ltd steelworks in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. PIC: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The flaws in the Government’s steel strategy has been exposed - Nic Dakin

'The Bank of England has just told us that this situation isn’t going away any time soon and we must expect the misery to continue well into next year.' PIC: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Relentless cost increases are hitting people now - Andy Brown

'I received my home and contents insurance renewal email a couple of weeks ago, and once more found myself wading into the breach of rip-off Britain.' PIC: Alamy/PA.

Consumers have been left fighting their own corner - Jayne Dowle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in Kyiv, Ukraine, earlier this year. PIC: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/PA Wire

The contagion of war risks spreading across the world - Patrick Mercer