Dear readers — A national row over Zionism has thrown the council into turmoil, with Labour threatening to end the coalition that currently runs this city. Last week, after the national Green party passed a motion declaring that Zionism is racist, Labour leader Fran Belbin issued an ultimatum to the local Greens: reject the motion or end their truce. If our political parents split, what does that mean for this city? That's today’s big story.
Plus, the world’s biggest hairdryer and a five-bedroom Victorian mansion which needs a lot of love.
In case you missed it
On Tuesday, beloved nature contributor David Bocking lifted the lid on the war raging in Sheffield’s rivers. Choose your fighter: the American signal crayfish (bigger, heartier and tastier) or the white-clawed crayfish (a bit sickly, but our native variety). From the moment the American reached our shores, it looked like they would totally eradicate their white-clawed cousins but, thanks to organisations like Yorkshire Crayfish Forum, our boys are holding on. “As brilliantly-written and engaging as ever,” said one reader.
And on Thursday, Dan wrote about his experience being taken in by Sheffield's most prolific hoaxster. Rob Beal has been duping journalists since 2009, first by pretending to be an aircraft accident expert, then a French football insider, and most recently a senior civil servant. Three years after discovering the truth, Dan finally decided to confront Beal about his lies. After we published the piece we were contacted by yet more of Beal’s victims, while Beal began bombarding Dan with messages, including one in which he said he knew where his mum lived. (He seems to think this is a threat, but he’s clearly not met Dan’s mother.)
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The big picture: Fantastic Mr Fox 🔥
Over 1,000 people attended the annual Parkwood Springs Lantern Festival on Saturday. The festival, which has been running at the beauty spot since 2007, saw dozens of brightly coloured homemade lanterns parade through the woods to the viewing platform which overlooks the city, where dance group Mr Fox performed one of their legendary fire shows.
The big story: Sheffield Labour and Greens fall out over Zionism motion
Top line: The coalition that runs Sheffield council could be about to collapse, after Labour leader Fran Belbin issued an ultimatum to the Greens. Council insiders say the authority is in a state of alarm, with an all-staff meeting scheduled for later in the month moved to this morning to discuss the situation.
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