Barlow's Brew

World Mental Health Day

Regional Editor for Newsquest North West Richard Duggan

'Sometimes asking "Are you okay?" is all you need to do'

Esther McVey's latest column for the Guardian

Esther McVey's latest column for the Guardian

Local government

Esther McVey: 'Make it clear we want the recycling centres kept open'

From left, Dawn Williams, Jan Stewart of Cheshire Dogs Home, Maria Harrison, Louise Burrows, Jenny Hartley and Tipsy the French Bulldog

From left, Dawn Williams, Jan Stewart of Cheshire Dogs Home, Maria Harrison, Louise Burrows, Jenny Hartley and Tipsy the French Bulldog

Care home residents knit blankets and raise funds for Cheshire dogs home

Esther McVey MP laying broadband cable

Esther McVey MP laying broadband cable

Esther McVey: 'Reliable broadband should not just be a luxury for urban areas'

Doctors want to see the community hospital and Bexton Court site (pictured) developed to provide a new medical centre

Doctors want to see the community hospital and Bexton Court site (pictured) developed to provide a new medical centre

Local government

Esther McVey: "Securing a site and creating modern GP practice needs to be priority"

An elderly patient with a carer and, inset, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson

An elderly patient with a carer and, inset, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Opinion: 'There was no plan to fix social care crisis and there still isn't'

National government

Opinion: Whisper it quietly, but Brexit really isn’t working, is it?

We are all looking at ways of keeping down our energy costs while simultaneously keeping ourselves warm

We are all looking at ways of keeping down our energy costs while simultaneously keeping ourselves warm

Opinion: Good winter neighbours help – but the heat is on for more ‘warm hubs’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has come up with a scheme where every household will be loaned £200 (PA)

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has come up with a scheme where every household will be loaned £200 (PA)

National government

Opinion: Was lower energy bill promise just another Vote Leave lie?

An aerial view of the proposed Winnington Works development

An aerial view of the proposed Winnington Works development

1

Opinion: Park huge development plan until town access is improved

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

National government

Opinion: PM is socially distanced from the truth

Rising numbers of Covid cases could see up to a quarter of staff off work

Rising numbers of Covid cases could see up to a quarter of staff off work

1

Opinion: Government’s dither and delay is the norm and we pay the price

Dads are 50 per cent more likely to leave the engines running than mums, the survey found

Dads are 50 per cent more likely to leave the engines running than mums, the survey found

1

Opinion: One in three children breathing in unsafe levels of air pollution

Leighton Hospital

Leighton Hospital

Local government

1

Opinion: ‘Government should actually keep its ‘levelling up’ promise’

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon

5

Opinion: ‘I’ve vowed never to set foot in a Wetherspoon pub again’

Manchester Airport has apologised to Knutsford residents

Manchester Airport has apologised to Knutsford residents

2

Opinion: Flight path fury reaches new heights as airport apologises

Sir David Amess

Sir David Amess

1

Opinion: We can register displeasure at the ballot box not with violence

Looks like a lot of people are in for a rough old winter

Looks like a lot of people are in for a rough old winter

1

Opinion: No one is safe from effects of staggering energy price rises

Many people are suffering from bad backs due to working from home

Many people are suffering from bad backs due to working from home

1

Opinion: Are you suffering with 'Covid back' after working from home?

Abuse, aggression and violence has increased over the past five years

Abuse, aggression and violence has increased over the past five years

2

Opinion: Has rudeness, aggression and hostility become normalised?

Baby Boomers considered it important to wear masks at garden event, but there wasn’t a mask in sight at the pub (getty images)

Baby Boomers considered it important to wear masks at garden event, but there wasn’t a mask in sight at the pub (getty images)

1

Opinion: Facemasks should be mandatory

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and Lib Dem MP for Chesham and Amersham, Sarah Green after her by-election victory Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey and Lib Dem MP for Chesham and Amersham, Sarah Green after her by-election victory Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Opinion: Never underestimate ability of angry middle-class people to campaign

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson speaking to MPs in the House of Commons in London on easing coronavirus restrictions in education settings. Picture date: Tuesday July 6, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read:

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson speaking to MPs in the House of Commons in London on easing coronavirus restrictions in education settings. Picture date: Tuesday July 6, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read:

Opinion: Will bypassing parental consent extend to Covid-19 vaccinations?

HS2 should have been scrapped a long time before now

HS2 should have been scrapped a long time before now

2

Opinion: Scrap HS2 – a ridiculous vanity project and huge waste of money

There has been no other year group in history that has had to put up with online learning , ‘bubbles’ being sent home and teachers self-isolating

There has been no other year group in history that has had to put up with online learning , ‘bubbles’ being sent home and teachers self-isolating

1

Opinion: Admiration for students who had learning disrupted by pandemic

Steve Baker, right (pictured with MP Chris Grayling) during the Vote Leave Campaign.
Photograph: Anita Ross Marshall

Steve Baker, right (pictured with MP Chris Grayling) during the Vote Leave Campaign.
Photograph: Anita Ross Marshall

4

Even high-profile supporters think Brexit might have been ‘a mistake’

Champion grower Terry Price with his award-winning gooseberry which triumphed at last year's Goostrey show

Champion grower Terry Price with his award-winning gooseberry which triumphed at last year's Goostrey show

1

Opinion: 'What a strange and slightly disturbing world we live in'

Delamere Old Pale, image courtesy of Ian Hulme

Delamere Old Pale, image courtesy of Ian Hulme

The amazing days out you can enjoy by rail in Cheshire

What sort of society have we created where people think it’s OK to film a fatal collision?

What sort of society have we created where people think it’s OK to film a fatal collision?

Opinion: When is taking that photo or video very much the wrong thing to do?

The received wisdom is that Boris Johnson likes to think of himself as a Winston Churchill figure, but to me, he is more of a General Haig on the eve of the Battle of the Somme, calculating the number of acceptable deaths

The received wisdom is that Boris Johnson likes to think of himself as a Winston Churchill figure, but to me, he is more of a General Haig on the eve of the Battle of the Somme, calculating the number of acceptable deaths

1

Is ‘freedom day’ best option as infection rates continue to soar?

Gareth Southgate consoles a devastated Bukayo Saka. Picture by PA Wire

Gareth Southgate consoles a devastated Bukayo Saka. Picture by PA Wire

England football

1

EURO TALK: Feelings of heartbreak, pride and sadly, a fair bit of shame

“Put in the effort now and take the pressure off yourselves in later life”

“Put in the effort now and take the pressure off yourselves in later life”

Opinion: 'Your actions as a teenager will have consequences in later life'

The proposed development site at Longridge

The proposed development site at Longridge

1

'No amount of cycle paths will make up for bulldozing Longridge nature reserve'

Is there really a need for High Speed 2?

Is there really a need for High Speed 2?

4

I believe HS2 is a monumental white elephant and vanity project

The council is only falling in line with many other councils that have been charging for this service for many years

The council is only falling in line with many other councils that have been charging for this service for many years

1

We’ve been lucky with green bins

Leon Goretzka celebrates equalising for Germany against Hungary

Leon Goretzka celebrates equalising for Germany against Hungary

1

EURO TALK: It had to be them, didn't it?

Opinion: 'What is wrong with people who think it's OK to abuse shop workers?'

Opinion: 'What is wrong with people who think it's OK to abuse shop workers?'

Opinion: 'What is wrong with people who think it's OK to abuse shop workers?'

'Let us never forget the army of people helping us through the Covid pandemic'

'Let us never forget the army of people helping us through the Covid pandemic'

2

'Let us never forget the army of people helping us through the Covid pandemic'

Christian Eriksen leaves the field on a stretcher after collapsing in Denmark's game against Finland on Saturday. Picture by Friedemann Vogel/Pool via AP

Christian Eriksen leaves the field on a stretcher after collapsing in Denmark's game against Finland on Saturday. Picture by Friedemann Vogel/Pool via AP

EURO TALK: A week where football was put into perspective

Are people now used to the ‘new normal’?

Are people now used to the ‘new normal’?

3

Are people now used to the ‘new normal’?

Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown

Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown

Two crises for the price of one

The number of disadvantaged children eligible for free school meals is estimated to have risen by hundreds of thousands since the coronavirus outbreak

The number of disadvantaged children eligible for free school meals is estimated to have risen by hundreds of thousands since the coronavirus outbreak

1

Opinion: Who will the government look after if it won’t take care of hungry children?

The number of disadvantaged children eligible for free school meals is estimated to have risen by hundreds of thousands since the coronavirus outbreak

The number of disadvantaged children eligible for free school meals is estimated to have risen by hundreds of thousands since the coronavirus outbreak

Opinion: Who will the government look after if it won’t take care of hungry children?

Opinion: Dashcam footage requests feel a little ‘Big Brother is watching you’

Plant Power founder Lawrence Hill

Plant Power founder Lawrence Hill

Opinion: Vegan products are big business

Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan

Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan

1

Opinion: You cannot separate the country’s economic health from public health

Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan

Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan

Opinion: You cannot separate the country’s economic health from public health

Robert Jenrick MP has given himself powers to build Brexit lorry parks across England

Robert Jenrick MP has given himself powers to build Brexit lorry parks across England

If Jenrick wants it, Jenrick gets it

Will it all be over by Christmas?

Will it all be over by Christmas?

1

Opinion: If only we had someone competent in government to give us clear, concise and accurate information

Will it all be over by Christmas?

Will it all be over by Christmas?

Opinion: If only we had someone competent in government to give us clear, concise and accurate information

Little Olive was a rescue dog and proved to be a much tougher little dog than anyone gave her credit for

Little Olive was a rescue dog and proved to be a much tougher little dog than anyone gave her credit for

Understanding rescue dogs

Different views: Some say ‘Boris Johnson has done a good job combating the virus’ I’d say that not one fact supports that assertion. Photo: PA

Different views: Some say ‘Boris Johnson has done a good job combating the virus’ I’d say that not one fact supports that assertion. Photo: PA

OPINION: Twitter Tory zealots talking gibberish with spurious ‘facts’

Tyson Fury - a more caring sensitive individual it is hard to imagine. Picture: PA

Tyson Fury - a more caring sensitive individual it is hard to imagine. Picture: PA

Barlow’s Brew: Tyson Fury The Gypsy King

A fixed stare and an upright tail can mean trouble

A fixed stare and an upright tail can mean trouble

There are no excuses in the dog world