Hello and welcome to The Southport Lead.
After the year-long process which was Phase One of The Southport Inquiry, chair Sir Adrian Fulford handed down 67 recommendations of what should be done to prevent future tragedies of the same kind.
They were all accepted by the government but the the proof of the pudding will be in whether changes are actually made. Today’s edition focuses on some of those changes and the pleas of survivor Leanne Lucas who has been campaigning on the issue of safer knife use.
Southport briefing
🗓️ The new target date for the completion of works on Southport Pier is during 2028. While Sefton Council had originally forecast work would last 14 months, the actual project will take longer than that and include a winter shutdown on site. Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Dale Cunniffe, project manager from A E Yates, the project construction and engineering company, said the expected completion date was mid-2028 and that this will be brought forward if possible. He explained said 40% of the main structure had been removed and they would be starting to replace the steel within the next few weeks. The pier has been closed since 2022 and its refurbishment was made possible through £20m of government funding. A council spokesperson told The Southport Lead: “An incredible amount of work has gone into getting to where we are today, which is tangible restoration and refurbishment works taking place on Southport Pier. Lots of factors can affect the timeline of any major restoration project such as weather and health and safety requirements. We are delighted that work is well underway and we want to take this opportunity to thank our contractors AE Yates for their ongoing work. We look forward to updating residents on how the works progress over the coming months.”
🎖️ A World War II veteran who served as an auxiliary sergeant alongside the Royal Corps of Signals was finally given a medal recognising her service as she celebrated her 100th. Irene Cavanagh, who celebrated her century on Wednesday, served during the Second World War and spent her wartime service at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. Her War Medal 1939–45 arrived just in time for her landmark birthday, following work by her family, supported by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, to clarify her medal entitlement and help progress the application. Irene said: ‘It’s been such a wonderful surprise. I never expected all this fuss for my birthday. I’m very proud of my wartime service and delighted to have my medal. It’s been lovely to have everyone here celebrating with me.” Irene marked her centenary at Locharwoods of Birkdale care home in Southport, surrounded by family, representatives from SSAFA, serving military personnel, veterans and members of the Royal Signals Association. Her medal was presented by Captain Royston Smith-Straney, MBE (retired) and SSAFA volunteer with the Merseyside Branch. Captain Smith-Straney said: “As a veteran and SSAFA volunteer, it is a real privilege to present Irene with her medal on such a special day. Her service deserves to be recognised, and to do so on her 100th birthday makes it particularly poignant.” The celebrations also included a surprise appearance by a WWII Jeep, decorated for Irene’s birthday, together with flowers, cards and a certificate recognising her wartime service. Irene’s granddaughter-in-law Melissa Walmsley added: “We’re incredibly proud of Irene. To see her reach her 100th birthday and finally receive recognition for her wartime service makes this an especially wonderful day for all the family.”
🤔 Patrick Hurley says he has “profound concerns” for the future direction of the BBC amid the first changes brought in by new director general Matt Brittin. The Southport MP raised the issue in an open letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in which he warned the purpose of the BBC is being diminished as its focus shifts during efforts to modernise and dramatically cut costs. The director general Matt Brittin, who previously worked as one of Google’s most senior executives, has talked about introducing more AI and warned that TV channels and radio stations may be forced to close due to changing audience habits. Reflecting on the decision to axe Radio 4 programmes such as Thinking Allowed, Free Thinking, and You and Yours, Hurley said: “These are precisely the kinds of programmes that distinguish the BBC from commercial broadcasters. They inform, educate, challenge and enrich our national life. Their value cannot simply be measured by audience figures, podcast downloads or engagement metrics. He added: “There is a fundamental distinction between efficiency and public value. A programme may attract a relatively small audience and still make an extraordinary contribution to our intellectual, cultural and democratic life. Indeed, providing things that the commercial market would otherwise neglect is one of the principal reasons the BBC exists. I am also concerned that these changes form part of a wider pattern. I have increasing concerns about the continuing erosion of BBC local journalism, including reductions in regional news and political coverage. As you know, these services are essential for communities across the country. Bearing all this in mind, there are obviously serious questions about whether the BBC’s new leadership fully understands the institution it has been entrusted to protest. Hurley said he was not asking the government to intervene but instead use the licence renewal process as a way to implement measures which protected the BBC’s obligations.
🎤 A Southport band is releasing a new single this month which features the voice of Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Bobhowla will release ‘Tainted: Revisited’, a song inspired by the infected blood scandal, on Friday 30th October. The single incorporates the Prime Minister’s voice, which they secured with his personal backing, describing what happened as ‘a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale.’ Singer-songwriter Howard Doupe has haemophilia and has been campaigning for justice for victims of the scandal since the 1980s. He first wrote Tainted in 2022 and the new single reworks that and retains Burnham’s vocals. Howard said: “Andy’s contribution remains exactly where it was. The rather remarkable difference is that the voice on the recording now belongs to the Prime Minister. It’s an unexpected twist to a song that remains hugely important to me, particularly because the infected blood community’s fight for justice and compensation is still continuing.” He added: “Since the inquiry was announced by Theresa May’s Government, after years of pressure from campaign groups and a change in political will, campaigning turned to getting wider public knowledge out there. Now, its final hurdle really is the actual distribution of the allocated entitled compensation to all infected and affected groups within society. It’s a process that has sadly stalled over the past 12 months - despite funds being allocated by the Government.”
Southport attack survivor makes safer knife plea in meeting with government and retailers
By Jamie Lopez
The yoga teacher who survived the Southport attack pressed the need to make changes to knife sales in a summit of government and retail leaders.
Leanne Lucas launched Let’s Be Blunt CIC with the aim of reducing knife harm. Rather than focusing solely on responses after incidents, the non-profit aims to lead a proactive, prevention-led approach.
As well as encouraging people to use safer, blunt-tipped knives in the likes of homes, schools and businesses, it also seeks to encourage safer knife designs and to raise awareness about the dangers and alternative options.
Leanne was among the attendees of summits hosted this week by Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones. Focused on identifying practical steps to strengthen safeguards around the sale and online marketing of knives, the meeting involved members of law enforcement, major retailers, online marketplaces, trade associations, Trading Standards, the Advertising Standards Authority and campaigners.
The irresponsible advertising of knives and sales was a major theme in the report published after Phase One of the Southport Inquiry and concerns surrounding this were sufficient for it to be explored further in Phase Two.
In his recommendations, inquiry chair Sir Adrian Fulford said Phase Two would consider further measures relating to knives/bladed items sales, including restrictions on sharp‑tipped knives, prohibiting some online sales and strengthening online age‑verification and age verified delivery standards.
Speaking after the summits, Leanne said: “Having survived the Southport attack, I live with the consequences of knife harm every day, and I founded Let’s Be Blunt to help prevent others from experiencing that devastation.
“Every knife has a lifecycle - from design and manufacture to marketing, display, sale, storage and access - with opportunities for prevention at every stage. Everyday pointed-tip kitchen knives must be part of the discussion about stronger safeguards.
“Retailers must take responsibility for what they stock and how knives are marketed, stored, displayed and sold, giving staff the education, training and support to put policies into practice. We need businesses to make bold commitments, follow them through and become role models across the sector. We cannot wait for the next tragedy to make simple, practical changes, whether knives are sold in shops or online.”
In his report, Sir Adrian noted that the Home Office had launched a public consultation last December 2025 on proposals to introduce a licensing system for the sale and importation of knives and bladed articles and requested that the inquiry be updated on its progress and any emerging proposals.
In the first summit, the minister challenged online retailers and marketplaces on how they will ensure knife listings comply with the law and what further action they will take to prevent irresponsible marketing. At a second summit, businesses with physical shops were pressed to strengthen standards for displaying and selling knives in stores and support a renewed Responsible Retailers’ Scheme, a voluntary code that promotes best practice in the sale and display of knives.
