You can cancel a subscription at any time
LOCAL NEWS
Bodmin
Bude
Camborne, Pool, Illogan & Redruth
Camelford
Caradon
China Clay area
Cornwall Gateway
Falmouth & Penryn
Hayle & St Ives
Helston & South Kerrier
Launceston
Liskeard & Looe
Newquay & St Columb
St Agnes & Perranporth
St Austell & Mevagissey
St Blazey, Fowey & Lostwithiel
Truro & Roseland
Wadebridge & Padstow
West Penwith
Subscribe to Ragged Trouser Productions on YouTube
Watch the daily news briefing on Instagram TV
Follow @GrahamSmithCR on Twitter
As I please
The blog posts below are all free to read once you register with your email address:
Inside the G7: A letter from America
Inside the G7: so true, it has to be made up
I brief, you leak and she’s just been charged under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act
As Cornwall falls off a Covid cliff, will 2021 be the year the Boris Bug triggers yet another coup within the Conservative party?
“Clarification is not to clarify things. It is to put one’s self in the clear” – why the Cormac-gate review must ask the right questions
Out of the mouths of babes: why Cornwall’s Conservatives need to swallow hard, and admit they have got it badly wrong on free school meals
Living by numbers: As the government wrangles over tougher Covid-19 restrictions, is it time to embrace logic and consistency?
Covid-19 and Cornwall at the tipping point: will the lessons be learned?
Remember, remember, the 5th of November and how Cornwall Council ended up sleepwalking into “reasonable” constitutional chaos
Black lives matter everywhere, but who controls the past controls the future: Cornwall’s uncomfortable history with slavery
Will the war against Covid-19 end the same way as most wars, with refugees evacuated by helicopter from embassy roofs even as the politicians declare victory?
Covid-19: A postcard from Midwich, village of the damned
Ring A-Ring O’Roses, A Pocket Full of Posies, and other ways to Keep Calm And Carry On
Look North, in wonder, as Scotland edges closer to affordable local government by pioneering Britain’s first tourism tax
Cornwall is going to be Conservative for a very long time – we just have to get used to it
If you tolerate this, then your children will be next
Is the Newquay airport goose being fattened up for privatisation?
Getting into space is about maths and physics, not public relations: why Cornwall Council should say “no” to Richard Branson
A lesson for Cornwall? Why Brecon & Radnor might not be the Brexit game-changer the bookies are forecasting
After Peterborough: while politicians try to understand what happened, Labour should bring back its £3 supporters’ scheme and then ballot to determine Brexit policy
Why Cornwall should brace for defeat next week
Why only Jeremy Corbyn can beat Nigel Farage, and why it’s all about the turnout – a partisan view
Inside Kennally Care: details start to emerge of how charities and companies are now taking over Cornwall’s health service – with orders to cut spending
Glittering Prizes – The Cornwall Reports New Year Honours
A day in the life of the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator
All the way from Arabia – a sci-fi vision of Cornwall’s future?
Got an allotment? Get ready to once more Dig For Victory, as the new Agriculture Bill looks set to devastate Cornwall
Slow Train Coming: why the Devonwall boundary changes are not entirely welcome news for the Tories
Cornwall’s local government: no place for grown-ups
Cornwall and the idea of a tourism tax: a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
Jumpers for goalposts: Why we need a Cornwall United to get serious about public health, and why the council should start its own football club
In a sleepy part of rural North Cornwall, another revolution is underway
Tragedy, farce, repeat: why County Hall would be an ideal location for Midsummer Murders
Bucaneers and Pirate Ports: time for Cornwall’s LEP to re-think its strategy on Economic Zones
After the football – business as usual with Cornwall’s NHS, and why it’s important to keep an eye on what’s happening in Parliament
The best possible birthday present for Cornwall’s NHS would be management from outside Cornwall
Cornwall, Your Cornwall
A design for life
Bread & Circuses, joining the dots between the Coliseum and a Stadium for Cornwall
Is dementia to blame for Brexit? In Cornwall, it’s a serious question
Why badgers should take extra care on the A38, and why I miss the sight of a squashed hedgehog
Cornwall, the Final Frontier, and how to make “devolution” more inspirational than a stale fart
Struggling in the stormy seas of shrinking ratings, BBC local radio’s “Dementia FM” heads for its iceberg
Newquay spaceport: reach for the stars, but watch your wallet and beware of half-baked big ideas
EXCLUSIVE: Could Truro’s £170 million regeneration project still win planning permission before 6th May?
Truro City Council goes back to the drawing board with plan for a new “arms length” company
EXCLUSIVE: the inside story of how County Hall’s planning boss blamed his own “arrogant” team for their “limp and disinterested” defence of £170 million Truro regeneration scheme
Covid-19: Cornwall is once again safer than anywhere in England
The battle for Rame Head: High Court judge reserves judgement in planning case with national implications
EXCLUSIVE – the Cornwall Council questions which could produce a “hit list” for leisure centre closures
And planet shall speak unto planet: nearly 60 years after the first Telstar transmission, Goonhilly listens in to Mars
No evidence that crowded beaches spread Covid-19, scientist tells MPs
Royal Cornwall hospital told to improve, to prevent “never events” in surgery
Fur flies over bid to open a rabbit farm at Mylor Bridge
St Austell brewery boss accuses government of “arrogance and ignorance” over Covid lockdown rules
Is it one law for celebrities, and another for local people? Amanda Holden’s visit to Cornwall puts Covid enforcement under the spotlight
Keep politics out of Covid politics, says Lib Dem councillor
Cornwall Council aims to increase spending to £1.3 billion, putting up household bills by nearly 5%
Huge gorse fire lights up the sky over Cornwall
EXCLUSIVE: Cornwall Council cabinet member considered “leaning on committee” before planners rejected his £170 million regeneration of Truro
EXCLUSIVE: Knives out for “Teflon Tim” Dwelly, as the cabinet member responsible for the failed regeneration of Truro says “don’t blame me”
“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” – inquest opens into how £170 million regeneration of Truro got wrecked before it even started
Blow for Cornwall Council as planners vote 9 – 6 to reject £170 million redevelopment of Truro
Elderly people discharged from hospital and sent to residential care miles from home
Sale of Edward Hain hospital edges closer, but still no sign of a replacement
Cornwall to keep Covid marshals until May at the earliest
Covid-19: Royal Cornwall showground opens for mass vaccinations on Monday – 67,595 jabbed so far
County Hall hires private consultants to help rescue its private management of publicly-owned leisure centres
Cornwall Council apologises after review finds “missed opportunities” to prevent domestic abuse and murder
Covid-19: Stithians mass vaccination centre is now open, but what happens next?
Worried about Cornwall’s G7 summit? Next weekend sees an online planning meeting to consider what to do about it
Covid-19: More than half of Cornwall’s over-80s vaccinated with one dose, but only 14.6% have had both jabs
Covid-19: Cornwall’s mass vaccination centres will be at Stithians and Wadebridge
All care home residents to be vaccinated by Sunday, promises health chief, but government still cannot say how many people in Cornwall have had jabs so far
This ain’t rock and roll, this is genocide: Cornwall’s MPs vote with the government to keep future trade deals away from court scrutiny
With their eyes on the May elections, Cornwall councillors turn down a 7.8% pay rise
Covid-19: rate of new infections in Cornwall continues to fall as lockdown measures take effect
Branson in orbit – Cornwall Council breathes a huge sigh of relief as tycoon’s triumph keeps Newquay spaceport alive
Cornwall prepares to host the world’s most expensive, and dangerous, photo-opportunity as St Ives gets set to become G7 garrison town
Cornwall to host G7 summit of world leaders
Covid-19: A grim week for the Royal Cornwall hospital, with seven deaths in one day and more than 20 since Christmas. More than one patient in 10 now has Covid
Covid-19: another 290 new cases in Cornwall in 24 hours, although rate of increase appears to be slowing
Covid-19: Two weeks into Lockdown 3, and Cornwall’s roads are 21% busier than during Lockdown 1
Bodmin is the Covid capital of Cornwall, as infections soar
Devon & Cornwall police figures show that 19 out of 20 Covid “offenders” are getting away with it
Government’s Covid vaccination programme expects people to reach Bristol in only 45 minutes, or wait for a local GP appointment
Covid-19: infection spreading faster in the South West than anywhere else
Covid-19: “We asked to be put into Tier 4” says County Hall, as all six of Cornwall’s MPs vote in favour of Lockdown 3
Crown Prosecution Service “discontinues” Public Order charges against Truro Black Lives Matter protestors
Cornwall’s MPs prepare to debate Covid Lockdown 3
From Covid Tier 1 to full national lockdown in only four weeks: Cornwall goes back to the future
Covid-19: Cornwall’s runaway infection hits new high
Covid-19: Cornwall’s rate of infection now worse than Newcastle, as Tier 4 status looms
Covid-19: Cornwall now recording more than 1,000 new cases per week
Cornwall in Covid Tier 3: this is what it means
Covid-19: Cornwall records 261 new cases in a single day
Get ready for surge in Covid patients, NHS bosses tell local hospitals
Cornwall’s fishermen accuse government of “betrayal” as MPs prepare to vote on EU trade deal
Police turn away Covid Tier 4 holidaymakers on the Isles of Scilly – but virus refugees continue to arrive at Newquay
Covid-19: mutant virus now accelerating spread of the disease across Cornwall
Cornwall’s Covid numbers treble in six days, yet for only £41 a London virus refugee can fly to Newquay
In the bleak midwinter: Cornwall braces for national Covid Lockdown 3
Covid-19: the number of new cases in Cornwall now rising sharply
Branson scraps Saturday’s rocket launch, blaming Covid-19
Covid-19: Cornwall has just recorded 141 new cases in 4 days, suggesting November’s recovery was “a dead cat bounce”
Covid-19: Are new cases in Cornwall starting to increase again?
Covid-19: Cornwall set to stay in Tier 1, but London faces lockdown
“Big Brother” surveillance caused by Covid-19 is only temporary, promises Cornwall councillor
Covid-19: Cornwall gets first jabs, as local GPs stand by to join in mass vaccination programme
Councillors try to put the brakes on County Hall’s sale-of-the-century, as the wheels start to fall off their officials’ quest for “estate transformation”
Brexit: The stark reality for Cornwall’s fishing and farming sectors laid bare in new report
It is not “inevitable” that Cornwall is heading for Tier 2 Covid status, says public health expert
EXCLUSIVE: The curious case of the council tax write-off and the hole in the ground in Hayle is set to have its day in court
Seven more Covid-19 deaths brings Cornwall’s total to 227
Branson now says he’s ready to launch his rocket two weeks early, on 19th December
The devil is in the detail: Cornwall’s farmers close in on life without European subsidies
Cornwall’s MPs expected to back the government in Tuesday’s Covid-19 vote, as yet another national crisis boils down to internal Tory Party divisions
North Cornwall MP Scott Mann welcomes cut to overseas aid budget
Covid-19: more than 100 test positive at Bodmin meat factory
Back to the future with local Covid-19 rules – it will all end in Tiers
EXCLUSIVE: How Truro New Town developer made £1.35 million profit just by watching the grass grow
Covid-19: rate of infection in Cornwall might be slowing
Covid-19: outbreak confirmed at Bodmin food plant, as Budehaven secondary school forced to close
Under the hammer: Cornwall’s community hospitals edge closer to sale of the century
Approval of planning permission in Rame Head AONB to be challenged at Judicial Review
Callington Community College forced to close as Covid-19 blows in from the east
Royal Cornwall Hospital records eight “never events” in six months
Covid-19 vaccine: Cornwall won’t be left out, says public health chief
Covid-19: Cornwall left out of government’s new mass-testing programme
EXCLUSIVE: Cornwall Council gets ready to U-Turn over Cormac-gate
Victory for anti-poverty campaigners as government U-Turns on free school meals
Newquay Airport to close until mid-December because of Covid-19 lockdown
St Ives MP Derek Thomas rebels and votes against Covid-19 lockdown 2
Cornwall heading for a deep blue rinse next May, if pollsters are right
Cornwall’s waste tips will stay open during Lockdown 2
Covid-19: Cornwall now recording 43 new cases each day, as virus spreads to rural areas
Covid-19: Cornwall Council renews call to run Test and Trace, also asking for more handouts
EXCLUSIVE: County Hall’s compulsory purchase threat alarms Hayle landowners
Cornwall’s 30-year plan might last only months
Covid-19: Trick or Treat rules are a nightmare, as central and local government send out opposite messages for Halloween
Covid-19: Plymouth bracing for Tier 2 restrictions
Cornwall Council to fund free school meals during Christmas holidays
Don’t come to Cornwall from Covid-19 lockdown areas, urges council (but please don’t ask about our new flights from Manchester)
All six of Cornwall’s MPs vote against extending free school meals to holidays during Covid-19
Cornwall Today to close with immediate effect, blaming Covid-19
Cornwall Council launches new campaign to maintain its own European Union links beyond the end of the year
We don’t want a “circuit-break” – Cornwall’s MPs tell Labour leader
Newquay spaceport boss quits
EXCLUSIVE: Cornwall Council confirms it is to run its own mini bus service for school transport and adult social care
Visit Cornwall? What our Covid-19 numbers would mean if England had regional travel rules
Edward Hain hospital at St Ives will not re-open, rule health chiefs
Cornwall councillors told to keep information about local Covid-19 cases secret, “to prevent panic”
Cornwall Council’s deputy leader expects another Lib Dem-Independent coalition after next election
Covid-19: Cornwall’s doctors join criticism of “Test & Trace” chaos, claiming “true rate of infection is hugely underestimated”
Covid-19 EXCLUSIVE: People would panic if they knew how we are making decisions, says Public Health Cornwall
Could Cornwall be merged with Devon, Somerset and Dorset? Government ponders major shake-up of local councils
Government withdraws Covid-19 testing capacity from Cornwall in bid to fight the Coronavirus elsewhere
Academic subjects retreat from Cornwall as university student numbers decline
Public Health Cornwall survives, but still has no detail about how it will work with the new National Institute in the campaign against Covid-19
Councillor John Fitter quits Conservatives as shrinking council forces scramble for seats
Truro New Town just got even bigger, as council buys more farmland at Langarth
Cornwall to pilot new national initiative to help save important wildlife sites
The Perch garage murders which shocked Wadebridge in 2003 to be re-examined in the Court of Appeal
From Beirut to Falmouth people ask “how much do we know about things that might explode?”
Labour leader’s visit to Cornwall leaves his own members “deeply offended,” according to party’s general election candidate
EXCLUSIVE: Cornwall’s proposed 30-year £150 million sheltered housing deal runs in to trouble
Cornwall councillor Dulcie Tudor quits Liberal Democrats
Snob yob holidaymakers leave Polzeath looking “like a war zone”
Only 16% of calls to Devon and Cornwall police are about crime, as the force resumes its place at the top of Britain’s “safe places” league table
