Tag: Government

Warbreck Hill’s Unity College Becomes Unity Academy

Posted by

Unity Academy in Blackpool has a long history, undergoing several transformations over the years. Originally, it was known as Warbreck High School, a secondary school serving the Blackpool area. In 2000, the school transitioned from a single-sex institution to a co-educational school and was renamed Beacon Hill School. This marked a significant change, allowing both boys and girls to study together, adapting to the evolving educational landscape of the time. A decade later, in March 2010, the school underwent another major rebranding, becoming Unity College. This was part of broader educational reforms aimed at improving the standard of education and… Read more »

Chris Webb: Representing his hometown in Parliament

Posted by

Chris Webb, born on 26 April 1986 in Blackpool, is a British Labour Party politician currently serving as the Member of Parliament for Blackpool South since May 2024. He is notably the first MP in six decades to represent his hometown in Parliament. Webb is the son of a local postman and a teaching assistant. He attended St Mary’s High School in Blackpool and later studied British politics and legislative studies at the University of Hull. During his time at university, he was actively involved in student life, serving as the president of the rugby league club and participating in… Read more »

Paul Maynard Becomes Blackpool North MP and Advocate for Disability Rights

Posted by

Paul Maynard, born on 16 December 1975 in Crewe, Cheshire, is a British Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool North and Cleveleys from 2010 until 2024. He was educated at St Ambrose College in Altrincham and later earned a first-class degree in history from University College, Oxford. Before entering Parliament, Maynard worked as a political adviser and speechwriter. Throughout his parliamentary career, Maynard held several governmental positions. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport from July 2016 to January 2018 and again from July 2019 to February 2020. In May 2019, he… Read more »

Lorraine Beavers, Labour MP of Blackpool North and Fleetwood

Posted by

Lorraine Beavers is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Blackpool North and Fleetwood since the general election on 4 July 2024. She won the seat by defeating the incumbent Conservative MP, Paul Maynard, with a majority of 4,647 votes. Her victory was part of Labour’s broader success in the election, marking a shift in political representation for the constituency. Before entering Parliament, Beavers had a long-standing career in local politics. She was the deputy leader of the Labour opposition group on both Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, where she was… Read more »

Joan Humble Elected MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood

Posted by

Joan Humble, born Jovanka Piplica on 3 March 1951, is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Blackpool North and Fleetwood from 1997 to 2010. She married Paul Humble in 1972 in Halifax. Her working life began in a delicatessen before she pursued higher education at Keighley Girls’ School (now Greenhead High School) and Lancaster University, where she earned a BA in History in 1972. She then joined the civil service, working at the Department of Health and Social Security in 1972 before moving to the Inland Revenue in 1973. She left the… Read more »

Stephen Barclay Becomes Commissioner of the Treasury

Posted by

Stephen Paul Barclay, born on 3 May 1972 in Lytham, is a British Conservative politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for North East Cambridgeshire since 2010. He held several ministerial roles under Prime Ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak, including Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2023 to 2024. After the Conservative Party’s defeat in the 2024 general election, he briefly served as Shadow Environment Secretary before becoming Chair of the Finance Committee in December 2024. Barclay was raised in a family where his father worked in IT for 55 years,… Read more »

Showzam! is Back in February 2025

Posted by

SHOWZAM! is back, bringing something magical to Blackpool this February for Half-term. Showzam’s love, magic and mystery returns to Blackpool from 14-22 February. It brings an exciting blend of live performances, incredible illusions, and show-stopping variety to Blackpool. Enjoy cutting-edge street acts, mind-blowing tricks from world-class magicians, and fun-packed entertainment for all the family. The 2025 festival will also feature unique workshops and experiences, including a Grand Theatre heritage tour with afternoon tea, a magic school for budding young magicians, and talks on Blackpool’s history with joke and magic shops. Celebrated magician Paul Zenon will host interactive sessions exploring classic magic… Read more »

Revoe Sports Village

Posted by

The Revoe Sports Village is a major community development project in Blackpool aimed at revitalising the Revoe area with enhanced sports and recreational facilities. It is part of Blackpool’s £39.5 million Town Deal, with £6.5 million specifically allocated for the sports village. The project involves creating community sports pitches and other amenities to promote physical activity and social engagement. It is closely linked with Blackpool Football Club’s plans to construct a new East Stand at Bloomfield Road, enhancing the club’s infrastructure while providing additional community benefits. However, as of January 2025, the project has faced delays due to escalating costs,… Read more »

Blackpool Multiversity

Posted by

Blackpool Multiversity is an ambitious project aimed at transforming higher education in Blackpool by creating a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral campus in the town’s centre. Spearheaded by Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC), the Multiversity seeks to integrate digital and business education, skills development, and innovation to position Blackpool as a premier destination for higher education and training. The campus will collaborate closely with businesses of all sizes, ensuring that the curriculum is co-created with employer partners to meet current and future workforce needs. This partnership aims to attract employers to the area by providing facilities for workforce upskilling. The Multiversity plans… Read more »

Victoria Atkins Becomes MP for Louth and Horncastle

Posted by

Victoria Atkins was born on 22 March 1976 in London, the daughter of Sir Robert Atkins, a former Conservative MP and MEP, and Lady (Dulcie) Atkins, a Conservative councillor and mayor. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of three and was privately educated at Arnold School, a co-educational school in Blackpool, and studied law at the University of Cambridge where she was an undergraduate student at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Atkins was called to the bar (Middle Temple) in 1998. She worked as a barrister in the field of fraud in London. Since leaving Arnold School in Blackpool… Read more »