After seven months in the role, council leader Terry Fox tells us about his difficult upbringing, his arguments with his coalition partners and why he hated being called a scab
How can it be that an interview with the current council leader (and previously deputy leader) does not raise the issue of the ombudsman report that found the council had 'misled the public, misrepresented expert advice and acted with a lack of honesty' over the tree felling scandal. If you want to earn a reputation for investigative journalism then ask the hard questions.
"The sky isn't going to fall in tomorrow because of climate change." Aren't climate scientists telling us that the sky already is 'falling in' because of climate change? Because we are still putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere year on year, our world is warming to levels where the very lives of our grandchildren are under threat. Statements like this from a council leader are completely irresponsible, and explain why Sheffield is lagging behind other local authorities when it comes to acting to protect us.
Hi, thanks for this piece. It’s really useful. I’m a local climate activists and have been for 15 years now. At present I’m convening the Green New Deal UK hub in South Yorkshire. Yes, of course we need to take people with us on climate change but with good leadership that shouldn’t be difficult because many actions are win win. Insulation and retrofit create warm homes and cheaper bills and masses of local jobs for the work and in the supply chain. However, the sky is falling in, the forests are on fire, the Gulf Stream is slowing and may stop, the sea level is rising and there are points of no return. Sir David King says “ I believe that what we do in the next 3-5 years will determine the future of humanity”
We are not bringing people on board, SHeffield scored zero for its climate action plan when assessed against other Local Authorities. This is because it hasn’t got a climate action plan. In the meantime Nottingham is on course to be net zero bu 2028!! It can be done
Fox “To see someone fling words like that around in a loose way in this city is something I will not tolerate.”
I think the striker calling him a scab is appropriate, Fox had *already crossed* the picket to enter the university building. The only instance I can think of where it would be appropriate to cross a picket would be to drag other people out of a building. Seems like Fox has forgotten basic Labour movement principles, the fact that he was a miner isn't some 'get out'.
Thanks for this piece - it’s refreshing to get something that gets closer to the personality and personal history of one our cities leaders - greens and Lib Dems next?
How old was Terry Fox when he 'worked down the pit' at Orgreave? It was closed down in 1981 and I'm pretty sure that child miners were outlawed in the mid 19th Century.
I’m also very concerned about Cllr Fox’s lack of understanding about the urgency of taking action to combat the climate crisis. Linked to this I found his remark ‘I’m from a different generation’ and ‘this new generation has no idea’ very revealing. I’m probably around the same age as Cllr Fox but very much accept that the mess our generation has made of many things is going to exact a huge payment from the generations behind us. We must recognise our need to adapt our views - and certainly not stand in the way of changes as simple as (eg) moving the bus stops, when plenty of mitigating steps are available to those needing the most support.
Nice to get a bit closer to the human behind the politician and respect to Terry’s backstory and family history …..but sadly he shows himself to be badly out of touch when it comes to the environment. He talks of taking people with him but he’s moving so slowly the tidal wave will catch up and overwhelm him very quickly if he doesn’t hit the accelerator. As for crossing a picket line in order to have a meeting to decide to not cross said picket line? ….Well you couldn’t make it up could you. It’s the same sort of dimwittedness from the old-school Sheffield Labour Party which led to the tree felling fiasco. They appear to have learnt very little.
Another good read. Politicians are known for saying things that mean nothing it's par for the course!!. Regardless of that l thought it was an interesting piece and hopefully you get to interview others who "run" S.C.C. l doubt any will come forward!.
I won't tolerate this scab attempting to ban me from parking outside of my own flat with his council's ludicrously unfair and misguided Kelham Island parking scheme. Why on earth should I have to pay £2100 a year to continue parking outside where I live as I have been doing without issue for free for 4 years, where other residents in other buildings are allocated priority access to parking spots for a bargain price of £93 under the new scheme. Yet another disastrous and ill considered proposal from SCC.
‘Have we fell out? Yes of course we have’
How can it be that an interview with the current council leader (and previously deputy leader) does not raise the issue of the ombudsman report that found the council had 'misled the public, misrepresented expert advice and acted with a lack of honesty' over the tree felling scandal. If you want to earn a reputation for investigative journalism then ask the hard questions.
"The sky isn't going to fall in tomorrow because of climate change." Aren't climate scientists telling us that the sky already is 'falling in' because of climate change? Because we are still putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere year on year, our world is warming to levels where the very lives of our grandchildren are under threat. Statements like this from a council leader are completely irresponsible, and explain why Sheffield is lagging behind other local authorities when it comes to acting to protect us.
Hi, thanks for this piece. It’s really useful. I’m a local climate activists and have been for 15 years now. At present I’m convening the Green New Deal UK hub in South Yorkshire. Yes, of course we need to take people with us on climate change but with good leadership that shouldn’t be difficult because many actions are win win. Insulation and retrofit create warm homes and cheaper bills and masses of local jobs for the work and in the supply chain. However, the sky is falling in, the forests are on fire, the Gulf Stream is slowing and may stop, the sea level is rising and there are points of no return. Sir David King says “ I believe that what we do in the next 3-5 years will determine the future of humanity”
We are not bringing people on board, SHeffield scored zero for its climate action plan when assessed against other Local Authorities. This is because it hasn’t got a climate action plan. In the meantime Nottingham is on course to be net zero bu 2028!! It can be done
Fox “To see someone fling words like that around in a loose way in this city is something I will not tolerate.”
I think the striker calling him a scab is appropriate, Fox had *already crossed* the picket to enter the university building. The only instance I can think of where it would be appropriate to cross a picket would be to drag other people out of a building. Seems like Fox has forgotten basic Labour movement principles, the fact that he was a miner isn't some 'get out'.
Thanks for this piece - it’s refreshing to get something that gets closer to the personality and personal history of one our cities leaders - greens and Lib Dems next?
How old was Terry Fox when he 'worked down the pit' at Orgreave? It was closed down in 1981 and I'm pretty sure that child miners were outlawed in the mid 19th Century.
I’m also very concerned about Cllr Fox’s lack of understanding about the urgency of taking action to combat the climate crisis. Linked to this I found his remark ‘I’m from a different generation’ and ‘this new generation has no idea’ very revealing. I’m probably around the same age as Cllr Fox but very much accept that the mess our generation has made of many things is going to exact a huge payment from the generations behind us. We must recognise our need to adapt our views - and certainly not stand in the way of changes as simple as (eg) moving the bus stops, when plenty of mitigating steps are available to those needing the most support.
Nice to get a bit closer to the human behind the politician and respect to Terry’s backstory and family history …..but sadly he shows himself to be badly out of touch when it comes to the environment. He talks of taking people with him but he’s moving so slowly the tidal wave will catch up and overwhelm him very quickly if he doesn’t hit the accelerator. As for crossing a picket line in order to have a meeting to decide to not cross said picket line? ….Well you couldn’t make it up could you. It’s the same sort of dimwittedness from the old-school Sheffield Labour Party which led to the tree felling fiasco. They appear to have learnt very little.
Wasn't such a building called Manor Castle!
Another good read. Politicians are known for saying things that mean nothing it's par for the course!!. Regardless of that l thought it was an interesting piece and hopefully you get to interview others who "run" S.C.C. l doubt any will come forward!.
I won't tolerate this scab attempting to ban me from parking outside of my own flat with his council's ludicrously unfair and misguided Kelham Island parking scheme. Why on earth should I have to pay £2100 a year to continue parking outside where I live as I have been doing without issue for free for 4 years, where other residents in other buildings are allocated priority access to parking spots for a bargain price of £93 under the new scheme. Yet another disastrous and ill considered proposal from SCC.