Voices

Voices is our comment and opinion section, with an emphasis on stories that often go unheard. The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Great Central Gazette or its members.

10 articles

Photo of Willy Bach. Credit: Roger Harris

Voices

“Enough is enough”: Willy Bach on the record of his successor

Exclusive: Labour peer Willy Bach, former Police and Crime Commissioner, examines the record of his successor ahead of the elections this Thursday, 2 May.

Willy Bach Apr 17, 2024

Photo of people working in a factory by Remy Gieling

Voices

Did crying modern slavery in Leicester benefit the workers?

Without alternatives or safety nets to fall back on, closures of fast-fashion factories left workers worse off

Pankhuri Agarwal Apr 3, 2024

Voices

The Body Shop was the scent of my youth – and it’s young people who could resurrect the brand

I’m exactly the right age (46) to look back with nostalgia on the significant part that The Body Shop played in my teen years.

Caroline Spence Mar 27, 2024

Photo of Malcolm Hunter at Leicester Royal Infirmary

Voices

My experience of emergency admission to Leicester Royal Infirmary

Starting on the 3 November this year, I embarked on a personal journey that provided me with a close-up view of the current state of our underfunded and increasingly beleaguered NHS.

Malcolm Hunter Jan 11, 2024

Voices

Reporter reunited with their long-lost first article, 22 years later

Almost exactly a year from the day my dad died, something beyond incredible happened. And it was all down to him.

Rebecca Rothwell Jan 4, 2024

Photo of the old Leicester Mercury offices on St George's Street, by FHP

Voices

Does independent media hold the solution to our cohesion challenge?

In this article, former Leicester Mercury editor Nick Carter charts his 30-year journey into and through the challenges of media responsibility, particularly regarding issues of diversity, faith and community cohesion.

Nick Carter Dec 7, 2023

Hersh Thaker, former Labour Party candidate for Belgrave

Voices

Leicester's divisive election calls for fresh leadership

Hersh Thaker reflects on this experience as a first-time candidate in one of the most divisive elections the city has ever seen.

Hersh Thaker Sep 5, 2023

The Evington welcome sign with flower boxes in front of it, on Main Street

Voices

Why biodiversity matters, and how we can improve it

The Gazette hears from Helen Pettman, managing editor at the Evington Echo and chair of the Friends of Evington.

Helen Pettman Jul 10, 2023

A photo of a protestor at a War on Want protest

Voices

I’ve worked in precarious jobs for more than 10 years

Panos Theodoropoulos, teaching fellow at University of Leicester, argues here’s what unions should do to support migrant workers.

Panos Theodoropoulos May 18, 2023

Voices

What my co-operative journey taught me about work

In the late 1970s and 80s, I worked as a telephonist for the General Post Office, a public corporation which became British Telecom. It was considered a good gig, especially for a young working class girl from a social housing estate.

Dorothy Francis Mar 30, 2023

Calls for Knighton residents' views on traffic enforcement

Evington Park House to be community owned

The Leicester suffragettes who turned to arson

Voices

“Enough is enough”: Willy Bach on the record of his successor

Did crying modern slavery in Leicester benefit the workers?

The Body Shop was the scent of my youth – and it’s young people who could resurrect the brand

My experience of emergency admission to Leicester Royal Infirmary

Reporter reunited with their long-lost first article, 22 years later

Does independent media hold the solution to our cohesion challenge?

Leicester's divisive election calls for fresh leadership

Why biodiversity matters, and how we can improve it

I’ve worked in precarious jobs for more than 10 years

What my co-operative journey taught me about work