As the Omicron variant surges across the North West, The Northern Agenda podcast gives an update on how it is impacting the NHS across the region.

Northern Agenda editor Rob Parsons discusses the Covid situation with Helena Vesty, the NHS, social care and patients writer at the Manchester Evening News.

They explain the pressures on health staff, the impact on social care, and what it means when a NHS trust declares a critical incident.

Tim Farron also joins Rob on the podcast, talking about the issue of second homes and holiday lets in his Cumbrian constituency, Westmorland and Lonsdale.

The Lib Dem MP expresses his concerns about a 'Lakeland clearance' that is seeing residents being forced out of the area, as landlords attempt to profit from the tourist pound.

The former Lib Dem leader also speaks to Rob about how farmers are turning against the Tories, and his party's performance after the North Shropshire by-election victory.

And in our weekly segment, the podcast takes a look at the politics of another region in the North.

This time, local democracy reporter Joe Cooper tells the Northern Agenda five things you need to know about York - including its fraught council, who have recently been told to "grow up".

The Northern Agenda is a Laudable production for Reach. It is presented by Rob Parsons and Daniel O'Donoghue, and it is produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin.

You can subscribe to the daily Northern Agenda newsletter here: http://www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk/